Disruptions to V/Line trains following police operation in Marshall

Three teenage children have been arrested after a police chase through Barwon Heads following a bomb threat that shut down multiple Geelong train stations.

Police evacuated a train and cordoned off Marshall train station after a bomb threat on Wednesday night. Picture: Alan Barber

Three teenage children have been charged following a bomb threat on a passenger train that shut down multiple Geelong stations.

Detectives arrested the boys, aged 16, 15 and 13, after a short police chase through Barwon Heads on Wednesday night at about 11.30pm.

They were intercepted on Barwon Heads Rd and taken in for questioning.

Police will allege a call was made to station staff of a bomb on a carriage service between Geelong and Melbourne earlier that evening, at 8pm.

A train at Marshall was evacuated and officers cordoned off the station.

The bomb squad was called to Waurn Ponds station at about 8pm on Thursday night. Three teenage boys have been arrested.

In dramatic scenes that frightened many passengers, the bomb squad was called and trains towards Geelong were stopped.

Acting Sergeant Darcie Sword said the specialist response unit attended Waurn Ponds Railway Station and deemed the area safe following the scare.

A 13-year-old was charged with a number of offences including making a bomb hoax threat.

He was bailed to appear before a children’s court at a later date.

The other teens were released with intent to summons.

Coaches were called to collect the impacted customers, with no injuries reported.

V/Line services from Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross have resumed as normal on Thursday morning.

Services were cancelled following the incident, with early morning Geelong commuters advised on Thursday morning buses would replace most trains between Waurn Ponds and South Geelong.

A 4.33am service did not run.

Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross train services resumed as scheduled from 7.20am on Thursday.

A Warrnambool to Southern Cross service was also affected and commenced from Geelong because of the incident.

Passengers are advised to check V/Line website for the latest travel information.

A V/Line spokeswoman confirmed there was flow on impacts to services today while they worked to recover the timetable.

“Services resumed early this morning following the all clear from Victoria Police,” she said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Disruptions to V/Line trains following police operation in Marshall