Public Transport Victoria is urging Gippsland rail users to reconsider train travel early next month.
Maintenance and level crossing removal works closer to Melbourne will see modifications to many Traralgon and Bairnsdale line services.
“Coaches will replace trains on the Gippsland line from Tuesday 2 January until Wednesday 17 January,” a V/Line spokesperson said in a media release.
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“Coaches will replace Traralgon trains between Southern Cross Station and Pakenham, connecting with trains between Pakenham and Traralgon. Some trains from Pakenham will have altered departure times to connect with coaches.”
“Coaches will replace trains for the entire journey for customers travelling between Melbourne and Rosedale, Sale, Stratford or Bairnsdale.
“Customers travelling between Pakenham and Traralgon on scheduled Bairnsdale services can take a train, connecting with coaches between both Pakenham and Melbourne and Traralgon and Bairnsdale.”
Some services will be entirely bus-driven on Wednesday 10 January. Details of which services are affected and a full temporary timetable are available on the V/Line website.
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“Please allow an extra 60 minutes for your journey,” the spokesperson added.
“There is limited space for bikes on V/Line trains and coach replacement services.
“In Melbourne, coaches will arrive and depart from the Southern Cross Station coach terminal located on Spencer Street, opposite Little Bourke Street; Flinders Street Station on Flinders Street opposite Degraves Street.
“Coaches do not stop at Clayton, customers please take a metropolitan service to and from Dandenong.
“Coaches do not stop at Richmond, customers please take a metropolitan train to and from Flinders Street or Southern Cross stations.
“No pets or hot food allowed on replacement coaches.
“Customers require a valid myki or paper ticket to travel on all V/Line replacement coach services. Please touch on and touch off your myki to ensure you pay the correct fare.
“Customers needing special assistance please call 1800 800 007 before travelling.”
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So, the relevant authorities schedule both track works and road works during the so-called quieter school holiday period in January, where the replacement coaches will most likely be impacted by the scheduled road works. Is this a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Once again, Daniel Andrews believes that the south eastern train network ends at pakenham.