V/Line services have resumed after a “communications fault” wreaked havoc on regional train lines across the state on Wednesday morning, but commuters can still expect a wait.
In a social media post at 11.49am, V/Line said train users could expect delays of “up to 60 minutes”.
“We have implemented our backup communications system after an earlier communications fault and trains are returning at normal speed,” the post said.
Affected lines included Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Gippsland and Seymour.
According to V/Line statement, the fault impacted the way train controllers communicate with drivers, which forced trains to be held in position for safety reasons.
Star Weekly understands the service then used alternative safety protocols to allow trains to resume at slower than normal speeds, while activating a backup communications system, which allowed trains to resume running as normal from approximately 11am.
Working closely with VicTrack and telecommunications providers to identify the cause of the issue and complete repairs, V/Line restored the system which is now operating as normal, according to the statement.
During the delays, commuters took to social media to vent their frustration that the fault led to a system-wide failure.
“Is there a more overpriced, badly managed service than V/Line? I think not. Move to he country they said, commute to Melbourne for work they said,” a user said.
Another said, “I’m legit curious: how can there be a single point of failure for a state-wide network?”
V/Line expressed their gratitude to commuters for waiting while they fixed the issue.
“We thank passengers for their patience while we worked to get train services moving again as quickly and safely as possible following a communications fault this morning,” a V/Line spokesperson said.
