Transdev buses moved from Doncaster-city route to meet demand for rail replacement services

DEMAND for rail replacement services has forced bus operator Transdev to take vehicles off scheduled runs on its Doncaster route.

Transdev buses were taken of the Doncaster Park and Ride route recently to meet demand for rail replacement services. Picture: David Crosling

DEMAND for rail replacement services has forced bus operator Transdev to take vehicles off scheduled runs on its Doncaster route.

Public Transport Victoria ordered buses be redirected to Ballarat to cope with V/Line train cancellations due to scheduled rail upgrades.

But the move angered city-bound commuters at the Doncaster Park and Ride who were forced to navigate bigger queues and endure longer waiting times on Friday, March 9.

Transdev ran its Saturday timetable on Labour Day on the Monday and faced no further disruptions over the public holiday.

Commuter Jenny Tierney, who catches a bus from the Park and Ride to the city twice a week, said she’d been left running about an hour late for work.

“You could tell driving up High St to the Park and Ride there hadn’t been many buses because there were heaps of people at the stops,” she said.

“I had to wait about 40 minutes and by the time I got on a bus there were about 200 people waiting for one.”

Transdev spokesman Tim Dilnot said the company had faced last-minute changes to its daily operations.

“The frequency of some Transdev services was impacted on Friday (March 9) due to a late requirement from PTV to provide buses and drivers to support major rail upgrade works taking place that day,” he said.

PTV spokesman Tim Clare said the organisation was grateful to passengers for their patience during the delays.