Passengers helped off train near Beaufort after hitting kangaroo

More than 40 commuters had to get off a train between Ballarat and Ararat due to a fault caused by hitting a kangaroo, with services still affected on Tuesday morning.

A V/Line train hit a kangaroo near Beaufort on Monday evening. Picture: File / V/Line

More than 40 regional commuters had to get off a train between Ballarat and Ararat due to a fault caused by hitting a kangaroo.

A V/Line train bound for Ararat which left Southern Cross Station at 4.58pm on Monday terminated near Beaufort shortly after 7pm after the train collided with a kangaroo.

Ten SES volunteers helped 42 passengers from the vehicle, which could not be moved to the nearest station, to replacement buses about 500m away.

A later train, the 6.18pm from Southern Cross to Ararat, was stopped at Ballarat because of the same incident, with buses provided from there.

A V/Line spokesman thanked passengers for their “patience and understanding”.

“We have worked with emergency services to remove passengers from the train as quickly and safely as possible to continue their journeys on coaches,” he said.

On Tuesday morning, a V/Line alert said the 6.13am to Southern Cross service would instead start from Wendouree about an hour later because of a train fault.

Replacement buses were provided between Ararat and Wendouree.

Trains are now running as normal.