Services resume after signal fault left Geelong travellers stranded

V/Line has issued an apology after frustrated travellers were forced to leave their train bound for Geelong at Wyndham Vale station due to a signal fault. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Services have resumed after a rail equipment fault forced frustrated travellers to leave their V/Line train bound for Geelong at Wyndham Vale station.

According to V/Line, coaches replaced trains on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines between Geelong and Wyndham Vale for approximately two hours on Saturday afternoon due to a signal fault near Little River.

Trains continued to operate between Southern Cross and Wyndham Vale stations and more than 20 coaches were sourced to get passengers to their destinations, while crews worked to repair the fault.

A disgruntled traveller told the Geelong Advertiser their service from the Melbourne CBD into Geelong on Saturday afternoon terminated at Wyndham Vale because of an apparent track fault.

The traveller said the fault was believed to be between Lara and Little River, with only coaches running between Waurn Ponds.

Travellers into Geelong are waiting an hour for coaches to take them from Wyndham Vale station. Picture: Chelsea Bunting

“We have been waiting about an hour for a coach,” they said at 2.25pm.

“And (we’ve) heard nothing from V/Line staff.

“(It’s) so annoying. We waited on the train for 30 minutes at Wyndham Vale for them to fix it, but they couldn’t.

“So they terminated the service.”

The traveller said six carriages worth of people were waiting for a coach at Wyndham Vale, and assumed coaches were being sent to other stations.

There are currently buses replacing trains between Geelong and Waurn Ponds for scheduled works.

The traveller said two coaches arrived at about 2.40pm to drop off passengers, assumed to be waiting to travel into Melbourne, but then departed.

A V/Line spokesperson apologised to commuters who were effected by the delays.

“We apologise to Geelong and Warrnambool line passengers and thank them for their patience following a signal fault near Little River this afternoon.”

“Crews worked as quickly and safely as possible and the signal fault has now been repaired, with train services resuming.”

V/Line confirmed via their website at 4.05pm that services would resume between Wyndham Vale and Geelong after the fault added up to 90 minutes to some journeys earlier in the day.

Residual delays and service changes are expected to continue across the afternoon while V/Line work to recover the timetable.

Passengers are encouraged to keep up-to-date via the V/Line website, app and X (Twitter) feed, as well as announcements at stations and onboard services.

V/Line have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Services resume after signal fault left Geelong travellers stranded