Buses and delays for V/Line users

V/LINE passengers on the Geelong line face delays of up to 60 minutes later this month as around-the-clock work is completed on the Metro Tunnel.

Geelong commuters will have to use replacement buses between Sunshine station and inner Melbourne between September 29 and October 4.

But one commuter has asked why trains can’t run via the Werribee corridor to avoid long delays for commuters.

Geelong West resident Mike Schauble said it was a commonsense move to run Geelong line trains to Melbourne via the Werribee corridor.

“Last year I was travelling to Geelong and there was a smash at one of the level crossings and V/Line sent the train down the Werribee line,” Mr Schauble said. “If you’ve got a line that works from Lara to Werribee, why on earth aren’t trains run via that corridor during these works?”

A V/Line spokesman did not respond to the Geelong Advertiser’s question about running Geelong line trains via the Werribee corridor.

Instead V/Line says Geelong commutes will be put on buses between Sunshine and Flagstaff stations between September 30 and October 4, and stopping-all-stations buses will operate between Sunshine and North Melbourne.

Geelong line passengers will also have to share replacement buses with Sunbury line passengers.

On September 29, Geelong region passengers will need to board buses to travel between Sunshine and North Melbourne, then use Metro services to get to their destination.

The V/Line spokesman said works on the Metro Tunnel near Kensington would take place within metres of the tracks used by Geelong-line trains.

“We know changes to regular travel patterns are frustrating and we are doing everything we can to keep all our passengers moving with as little disruption as possible,” the spokesman said.

“The Metro Tunnel will not only provide Geelong line passengers with faster connections to the north and south of Melbourne, but also serve as a forerunner for future planned rail projects that will benefit the Geelong line.”