Free travel no cure for Vic train strain

Continuing problems with V/Line's network will cause ongoing disruption for regional rail services, with free travel extended to appease commuters.

The opposition wants Victoria's embattled public transport minister to front a parliamentary inquiry to explain the ongoing problems plaguing regional public transport.

V/Line chief executive Theo Taifalos fell on his sword and resigned on Thursday with passengers of the regional rail network facing many weeks of disruption.

Liberal MP Joshua Morris wants Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to explain the decline in services to an ongoing inquiry into Infrastructure Projects at Parliament House on February 9, where Mr Taifalos had been due to appear.

V/Line has been reeling on two fronts over its V-locity trains - the newest and fastest in its fleet - that have forced the rail operator to pull trains from service and replace them with buses on some lines.

It was discovered that the V-locity wheels were wearing prematurely, necessitating emergency repairs.

Then suburban rail operator Metro banned the trains from coming into Melbourne in mid-January after one failed to trigger boom gates at a level crossing in Dandenong.

Buses will run on the Gippsland line from Traralgon to Melbourne for another six weeks because the boom-gate fix, due by the end of this week, is taking longer than planned.

As compensation, free travel for regional passengers has been extended for a second week until February 7.

Comment is being sought from Ms Allan.


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Source: AAP



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