The shutdown, which impacted every V/Line service across Victoria from the morning of Wednesday, July 8, affected Seymour, Shepparton and Albury line commuters.
“Communities across my electorate rely on these trains every single day,” state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said.
“People reasonably expect that if they need to get somewhere, they can get there.
“Instead, they were left standing on platforms with no certainty, no clear alternative and barely a replacement coach in sight.”
Ms Cleeland said the impacts were far more significant than a missed train.
“We’ve had locals missing medical appointments they’ve waited weeks for, students unable to get home, commuters stuck in Melbourne with no way back after a full day’s work,” she said.
“People have been forced to spend hundreds of dollars finding another way home, at a time when families are already being crushed by the cost of living.”
As of noon on Thursday, services had gradually begun to resume after the Australian Rail Track Corporation advised rail operators using the National Train Communications System that it was safe to begin operating trains.
V/Line had also conducted its own testing and operational checks to ensure communications between network controllers and train crews were “stable, continuous and reliable”.
A spokesperson said some service delays might still be in place, and V/Line acknowledged the hindrance on travellers.
“Passengers are advised to continue to check the V/Line website and app for up-to-date information as services are progressively restored,” the V/Line spokesperson said.
“We acknowledge this has been inconvenient to many people, and thank passengers for their patience as we work with Telstra and ARTC to safely restore services.”
Ms Cleeland said the suspension spoke to a more significant issue.
“People in regional Victoria already put up with fewer services, longer travel times and constant disruption,” she said.
“They shouldn’t also have to wonder whether the whole network will collapse every time something goes wrong.”
For up-to-date information on service delays and cancellations, visit transport.vic.gov.au/disruptions/disruptions-information
