THIRD SHUTDOWN OF ENTIRE V/LINE NETWORK DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION

Regional train passengers are owed a full explanation after another “communications fault” shutdown the entire V/Line network, cancelling dozens of services during the morning peak.

The disruption left thousands of people travelling from Shepparton, Albury, 7UDUDOJRQ %DLUQVGDOH %DOODUDW *HHORQJ %HQGLJR :DUUQDPERRO DQG 6ZDQ +LOO stranded at the platform from 5am today.

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Shadow Minister for Public Transport Steph Ryan said commuters were owed a full explanation.

“Anybody travelling from Victoria’s key regional centres couldn’t get to work today, to critical medical appointments, to business meetings, but all the governPHQW R൵HUV LV D ODPH H[FXVH WKDW WKLV LV D ³FRPPXQLFDWLRQV IDXOW´ ´ 0V 5\DQ VDLG “The only thing regional Victorians want is to know that a train is going to turn up and get us where we need to go.”

The morning’s cancellations will see some services disrupted until 6pm tonight. Ms Ryan said regional passengers deserve to know exactly what’s wrong with our trains. “Commuters are realistic, we know there might be delays or cancellations every now and then, but there’s something seriously wrong when the entire network is VKXWGRZQ WKUHH WLPHV LQ MXVW ¿YH ZHHNV ´ 0V 5\DQ VDLG

“We deserve a full explanation on what this ‘communications fault’ is, the risk to commuter safety and why it’s throwing an entire regional train system into shutdown in the 21st Century.

“A change in government in November will deliver a 25 per cent Regional ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH *XDUDQWHH IRU QHZ LQYHVWPHQW LQ WKH UHJLRQV LQFOXGLQJ LQ RXU UDLO services, but we’re owed answers long before then.

“The Public Transport Minister needs to step up – today – to tell regional commuters what’s driving these serious disruptions to our trains and when it will be ¿[HG ´