V/Line disruptions continue with services added

Vic Department of Transport

Services are gradually returning to V/Line’s busiest lines, although coaches will continue to replace the majority of V/Line services over the coming days as hundreds of frontline staff isolate to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Two services have been added to each of the Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong lines for Wednesday, 21 September. A total of 12 services will run on each of those lines, six in the AM peak and six in the PM peak.

On the Gippsland line, there will be a full train service between Melbourne and Traralgon as timetabled, with coaches continuing to replace Bairnsdale services to and from Melbourne.

There will also be a full train service on the Seymour line.

Coaches will run at all other times and on all other lines.

Passengers are asked to check the V/Line website for the timing of train and coach services before travelling tomorrow.

Seven positive tests among drivers and operational staff means that around 300 V/Line operational staff are still isolating to keep everyone safe, and as a result disruptions will continue for the coming days.

Replacing most trains with coaches will allow for services to continue to operate, giving passengers certainty while helping to contain the outbreak.

V/Line’s COVIDSafe plan has a number of general contingency plans for different types of service disruptions, allowing it to modify services and put alternate transport options in place quickly whenever services are disrupted, including due to a COVID-19 exposure.

A number of controls have been in place during the coronavirus pandemic to keep drivers and passengers safe including mandated mask wearing, QR codes, additional cleaning, temperature testing for staff, maintaining physical distancing requirements and measures in common areas, encouraging good hygiene practices, as well as regular communications with our staff about working in a COVIDSafe environment.

/Public Release. View in full here.