Passengers on Victoria's troubled regional rail network have been dealt another blow with V/Line still too unstable to resume regular service.
V/Line's ongoing problems also claimed the scalp of its chief Theo Taifalos, who has resigned.
Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government was furious but denied Mr Taifalos was sacked, or asked to leave.
"I and the government did have concerns about the operational capacity of V/Line," she told reporters on Thursday.
"Obviously the CEO has reflected on his position."
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Mr Taifalos said his resignation was for the best, after Ms Allan announced that Public Transport Victoria chief Gary Liddle would be the interim CEO of V/Line.
The uncertainty facing V/Line has prompted Ms Allan to delay a scheduled timetable upgrade because the "overall service was not stable or reliable".
Passengers also face long delays as buses continue to replace trains on some lines.
Coaches will replace V-locity services between Traralgon and Melbourne on the Gippsland line for another six weeks due to an interim safety measure linked to a boom gate fault.
Metro banned V/Line trains from coming into Melbourne in mid-January after a regional train failed to trigger a boom gate at a level crossing in Dandenong.
The state government had received advice that boom-gate measures would be completed by the end of this week, but that advice was incorrect.
"I know this is very frustrating and unexpected for passengers, and they have every right to be furious," Ms Allan said.
"Regional passengers deserve better."
As compensation, free travel for regional passengers has been extended for another week until February 7.
Passengers were originally given eight days of free travel beginning on January 23.
Ms Allan has apologised for V/Line's disruptions.
The Victorian Greens want answers.
"This debacle has dragged on longer than anybody could have expected," said Greens leader Greg Barber.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy says the government needs to fix the transport mess.
