Check regions where most Vic public servants work: Why some are being advised to work from home

The Andrews government has come under for fire for bringing Victoria’s regional rail network to “a standstill”, immediately after introducing its election promise cheaper fares.

Some regional commuters to Melbourne are being advised to work from home because of massive disruptions to train services, just as they become cheaper.

The Andrews government has come under for fire for bringing Victoria’s regional rail network to “a standstill”, immediately after introducing the cheaper fares it promised before the November state election.

State Liberal public transport spokesman Richard Riordan said just weeks after the government introduced its plan for cheaper public transport, V/Line services right across the state were facing massive disruptions and delays — with the busy Geelong commuter line thrown into chaos.

The service shut down followed V/Line’s failure to meet key reliability and punctuality targets last month, and reports of passengers abandoning their trip due to overcrowded carriages, he said.

The Herald Sun on Thursday revealed some city workers living in the regions were once again being advised to work from home.

“In what world would it be acceptable that just three weeks after spruiking cheaper fares for the regions, their services have been affected by delays and disruption,” Mr Riordan said.

V/Line services across the state have been thrown into chaos. Picture: David Crosling

“Works need to be undertaken to ensure that Victorians have a safe and reliable journey, but it should be completed during off peak times so disruptions are minimised.

“It must be possible to schedule maintenance and upgrades around services. Rail authorities have managed to do it quite successfully for the past hundred years. The inconvenience caused to commuters is just an Andrews Government cost cutting exercise.

“Regional Victorians deserve to have the peace of mind that there will be an affordable train service to get them home, on-time and every time.”

Level crossing works at Deer Park — necessitating buses from Wyndham Vale to Melbourne for Geelong commuters, and coaches all or part of the journey for those living in Ballarat — is resulting in extra long travel times.

Signs at Geelong stations now advise those who live in the region and work in Melbourne to “work from home if you can”.

The current Geelong line disruptions have been in place since April 3 and will remain so until Friday.

Geelong line trains run between Waurn Ponds and Wyndham Vale, where passengers must disembark and then catch a shuttle bus to Werribee station, where they board a bus to a Werribee line train for the remainder of their journey to Melbourne.

Tarneit passengers to and from Melbourne CBD must catch a shuttle bus to Laverton and then a Werribee line train into the city.

From Monday April 24 to Wednesday May 3 buses replace trains all the way between Wyndham Vale and Waurn Ponds in Geelong, with trains between Wyndham Vale and Melbourne.

V/Line is warning commuters to allow an extra hour’s travel time.

A Geelong to Melbourne commuter on Wednesday said it took him “hours” to get home, with the bus from Werribee to Wyndham Vale battling heavy evening traffic through the centre of Werribee, after which he was forced to wait about half an hour for a train at that station.

Nearly 7000 Geelong people commute to Melbourne for employment, with a further 3,700 Melbourne people commuting to Geelong to work.

About 3.4 per cent of Victoria’s estimated nearly 58,500 public servants work in the Barwon south western (Geelong) region.

V/Line maintenance works will also see coaches replace evening Ballarat Line trains for the entire journey from Sunday April 30 to Tuesday May 2, and on the Bendigo Line for the entire journey from Sunday April 23 to Wednesday April 26.

There are also disruptions on the Gippsland, Shepparton, Bendigo and Seymour services.

The disrupted regional train services come as the Andrews government rolls out its election promise of cut-price regional fares, promising a better deal for regional Victorians working in Melbourne.