Monday, 21 December 2009

More than 30,000 free seats on regional trains are expected to be quickly snapped up by Victorians on Christmas Day, prompting advice from V/Line to travel early.

With less than a week to go, several trains have nearly booked out as festive travellers take up the chance to stay off the roads during the Christmas rush.

Last Christmas Day, people made 19,055 free trips on V/Line trains, an increase of 40 per cent on 2007 when 11,441 trips were made.

This Christmas Day a Sunday train timetable will operate, offering 122 free trains across the state.

All V/Line long distance services to Warrnambool, Ararat, Bairnsdale, Echuca, Swan Hill, Shepparton and Albury require reservations with many almost fully booked.

The morning services to Swan Hill and Warrnambool are proving to be the most popular and will be boosted to cater for the extra demand (from five to eight carriages). Despite the extra carriages, seats on these two services are likely to be filled over the next few days.

While short distance services to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon don’t require bookings, trains are also expected to fill quickly.

V/Line Communications Manager Daniel Moloney encouraged Victorians travelling on long distance services to call V/Line to see if there are seats still available, or to arrive early for short distance trips with travel offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Trains leaving Melbourne between 10 and 11am get particularly busy with people planning to arrive in the country just in time for Christmas lunch," Mr Moloney said.

"That’s why we’re encouraging people to travel earlier, so as many people as possible can take up the free travel offer."

Mr Moloney said the free travel was offered on a first-come, first-served basis and that due to public holiday constraints back-up road coaches will not be available to carry additional passengers once train capacity has been reached.

Trains will run to a Sunday timetable on Christmas Day, and the following travel tips have been offered to festive commuters:

• Aim to catch a train leaving before 10am where possible, as trains leaving most locations between 10 and 11am were very busy last year.
• Free travel is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed, so please arrive at your station early.
• Due to public holiday constraints, the free travel offer is limited as back-up road coaches will not be available on Christmas Day to carry additional passengers.
• Remember that bookings are required on Ararat, Warrnambool, Swan Hill, Echuca, Shepparton, Albury / Wodonga and Bairnsdale services. Trains are expected to fill quickly so check locally with our staff or call 136 196.
• Use the ‘Plan Your Journey’ tool on the website to check train or coach times.
• Go to vline.com.au for regular updates.

Free travel will also be offered on all New Year’s Eve services arriving at their destination after 6pm.

Free travel is also available on the first service leaving Melbourne to every regional destination on 1 January 2010.

V/Line wishes our customers a very Merry Christmas, and a happy and safe 2010.

Media notes:
V/Line train timetables:
• Thursday 24 Dec (Christmas Eve) ~ normal train with some altered coach services.
• Friday 25 Dec (Christmas Day) ~ Sunday train timetable and special Christmas coach timetable. Free travel on V/Line services.
• Saturday 26 Dec (Boxing Day) ~ Saturday train and coach timetable.
• Sunday 27 Dec ~ Sunday train and coach timetable.
• Monday 28 Dec ~ a special train and coach timetable.
• Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 ~ normal train and coach timetable.
• 31 Dec (New Year's Eve) ~ Normal timetables apply - with additional late services from Melbourne, as listed below:
o 01:05 Southern Cross to Geelong
o 23:25 Southern Cross to Ballarat
o 23:45 Southern Cross to Bendigo
o 23:43 Southern Cross to Seymour
o 23:30 Southern Cross to Traralgon
• Friday 1 January (New Year’s Day) ~ Saturday train with altered coach services.