Coaches will continue to replace the majority of V/Line services tomorrow and over the coming days as hundreds of frontline V/Line staff continue to isolate to contain the spread of coronavirus.
V/Line will continue to operate a limited number of morning peak services on the Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Geelong lines, as well as a full service on the Seymour line, to support essential workers needing to travel to and from Melbourne.
Additional morning and afternoon peak services have been added to the Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong lines.
Passengers are asked to check the V/Line website for the timing of these services, remaining services will replaced by coaches across the day.
Seven positive tests among drivers and operational staff has meant that around 300 V/Line operational staff have been required to isolate to keep everyone safe, and as a result disruptions will continue for the coming days.
V/Line and the Department of Transport are working closely with the Department of Health on a daily basis as contact tracing continues and to support V/Line staff, and we are exercising an abundance of caution in the interest of our crews and passengers.
V/Line is doing everything possible to return trains to service quickly and safely, and this has already allowed a number of peak services to resume.
Replacing most trains with coaches will allow for services to continue to operate, giving passengers certainty and 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 and 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 COVID safe environment.
For the latest travel information, visit vline.com.au or call 1800 800 007.
