V/Line service cancellations as fire danger shuts key lines

V/Line service cancellations were announced for regional Victoria today, Friday January 9, with trains and replacement coaches not operating in designated fire districts under catastrophic fire danger ratings, as reported by Rail Express.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Temperatures are expected to reach about 42°C, and Catastrophic Fire Danger ratings have been issued for the North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera districts, as noted in a Transport Victoria update. In those danger zones, scheduled V/Line trains and replacement coaches will not operate.

The disruption affects multiple corridors, including the Bendigo Line, Echuca Line, Swan Hill Line, Seymour Line, Shepparton Line and Albury Line. V/Line has also set out how other routes will run, with some services continuing under the Extreme Heat timetable or planned works arrangements.

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Regional Victoria train services: what’s running and what’s suspended

Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough

On the Ballarat Line, trains will keep running between Southern Cross and Wendouree in line with the Extreme Heat timetable, according to the V/Line Extreme heat timetables.

Maryborough Line train services are suspended between Maryborough and Ballarat. The Ararat Line is also partly suspended, with trains not running between Ararat and Wendouree.

Bendigo Line suspended: replacement coaches and timetable

Bendigo Line train services are suspended. A limited number of replacement coaches will operate between Southern Cross and Kyneton, and they will not stop at Footscray or Watergardens.

To city: coaches will depart Kyneton at 5am, then run every 30 minutes from 6am to 9am. Services then switch to hourly departures from 9.06am to 11.06pm, with the last service leaving at 11.40pm.

From city: coaches will depart Southern Cross at 6.25am and run every hour until 3pm. From 3pm to 6.25pm, services will run every 30 minutes, then every hour from 6.25pm until midnight.

The Echuca Line is suspended, and the Swan Hill Line is suspended.

Geelong and Warrnambool

Geelong Line trains will continue to operate between Southern Cross and Waurn Ponds under the Extreme Heat timetable.

On the Warrnambool Line, train services are suspended between Warrnambool and Waurn Ponds.

Traralgon and Bairnsdale

Traralgon Line services will continue between East Pakenham and Traralgon in accordance with planned works in the metropolitan area.

Bairnsdale Line trains will also continue between East Pakenham and Bairnsdale in accordance with the occupation timetable.

Seymour Line suspended, plus Shepparton and Albury impacts

The Seymour Line is suspended. A limited number of replacement buses will operate between Craigieburn and Donnybrook. Services from Donnybrook to Craigieburn will run every hour from 5.45am to 11.45pm, and services from Craigieburn to Donnybrook will run every hour from 6.40am to 11.40pm. Passengers can travel on a Metro train between Craigieburn and Southern Cross.

Train services on the Shepparton Line are suspended, and train services on the Albury Line are suspended.

V/Line advised passengers to check its website for the latest travel updates.

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