Monday 9 February 2009 – 17:30 update

Work is now underway to repair the fire-damaged Warrnambool and Seymour train lines, although it is expected to be several days or more before trains return to some parts of the state.

Assuming there is no worsening of fire conditions near rail lines, V/Line expects Warrnambool trains to fully return to service by Monday, 16 February. However, a limited train service will be offered from Wednesday evening as works continue to repair the line during daylight hours.

But the Seymour line, which was extensively damaged by bushfires on Saturday, will not see the return of any trains until next Monday, 16 February, at the earliest.

Warrnambool services:

Limited services, operating at reduced speed over the affected four kilometres of track, will start to return from Wednesday.

• The evening Warrnambool-bound train will run in full from this Wed, 11 Feb (this train leaves Melbourne at 18:28 weekdays, 18:40 Saturday and 19:00 Sunday).
• The early morning Warrnambool to Melbourne train will run in full from this Thurs, 12 Feb (this train leaves Warrnambool at 5:40 weekdays, 06:35 Saturday and 07:10 Sunday).
• All other services will operate as a coach between Warrnambool and Geelong (train Geelong to Melbourne).
• All trains are expected to fully return by Monday 16 February in both directions.

About 50 rail workers are currently replacing 3000 sleepers over a four kilometre section of track between Colac and Camperdown. Not all of the sleepers need to be replaced immediately, allowing the limited train service to return at reduced speeds over this section of track until full repairs can be completed. Only minor delays to services are expected when trains return.

Freight train services on the line will also start to progressively return at low speed over the next couple of days.

Motorists are advised to continue to exercise caution at level crossings with unscheduled freight and maintenance vehicles still on the line. Please never disobey warning signals and watch for trains at all times.

Seymour, Shepparton & Albury / Wodonga services:

The damage to rail infrastructure in the Wandong area on Saturday was more significant and will take longer to repair.

About 600 sleepers have burned and two bridge decks on the line have been badly damaged. The fires also passed through Wandong Station, damaging the platform coping and other infrastructure.

Engineers have advised that the decks of the two damaged bridges in the Wandong area will need to be replaced before trains can safely return.

This work is expected to take at least a week, meaning trains will not operate on the line until Monday, 16 February, at the earliest.

In the meantime, coaches will continue to replace trains between Melbourne and Seymour, Shepparton and Albury / Wodonga.

Current service arrangements:

• Coaches operating Melbourne < > Seymour < > Shepparton
• Coaches operating Melbourne < > Seymour < > Albury / Wodonga

Motorists crossing the Seymour, Shepparton and Albury / Wodonga lines are also advised to continue to be careful at level crossings with maintenance vehicles on the line. Standard-gauge freight trains and the XPT are also still running beside V/Line’s damaged broad-gauge track.

Passengers are advised to visit the V/Line website (www.vline.com.au) regularly for updates or call 136 196.