100 signatures reached
To: Gabrielle Williams, Victorian Transport Minister
Geelong to Melbourne transport. We draw the line at V/Line.
We are calling for urgent action to improve backup planning on the Geelong to Southern Cross train line.
This train line connects Geelong, Lara, Wyndham Vale, Tarneit, Melbourne and the growing communities in between. Thousands of people rely on it every day to get to work, school, university, medical appointments and home to their families.
When the trains are running well, this line is a vital service.
But when something goes wrong, the system falls apart too quickly.
Passengers are often left with poor information, unclear options and long waits. Replacement buses may be announced, but there are often not enough seats. Timetables do not always match the trains they are replacing. Some buses skip key stations, leaving people stranded or forced to wait far too long.
The problem is not just that delays happen.
The bigger problem is that there does not seem to be a strong, reliable backup plan when they do.
A major train line should have clear contingency plans ready to go. Passengers should not have to guess where to go, race for a bus seat, or wait for hours at an interchange with little support.
This affects real people every day.
Workers arrive late, stressed and embarrassed.
Parents get home late and lose time with their children.
Students miss classes.
People miss medical appointments.
Families start to feel they need extra cars because public transport cannot be trusted when things go wrong.
We understand that accidents, faults and unexpected events can happen. But disruption planning is something that can be improved.
Passengers need a system that is ready for problems before they happen.
We are asking the Victorian Government to:
- Create a clear contingency plan for major delays and cancellations on the Geelong to Southern Cross line.
- Provide enough replacement buses to meet passenger demand.
- Make sure replacement buses match the train timetable as closely as possible.
- Make sure replacement buses stop at key stations, including Lara and other growing communities.
- Improve communication during disruptions so passengers know what is happening and what to do.
- Set up a planned direct coach option between Geelong and Melbourne when the train line is not working properly.
- Review how long passengers are actually delayed, including time spent waiting for buses or stranded at interchanges.
Geelong and Melbourne should be strongly connected. The communities between them should not be treated as an afterthought.
Passengers know that delays can happen. What we need is a proper backup plan when they do.
We need less chaos.
We need clearer information.
We need enough replacement transport.
We need a system that is ready when things go wrong.
Why is this important?
This matters because the Geelong to Melbourne train line is more than just a transport service.
It is how people get to work.
It is how students get to school, TAFE and university.
It is how people get to medical appointments.
It is how parents get home to their children.
It is how communities like Geelong, Lara, Wyndham Vale and Tarneit stay connected.
When there is no clear backup plan, a delay can quickly become a major problem. A short trip can turn into hours of waiting. People can be left stranded at stations with little information and no clear way home.
This has a real cost.
People lose work time.
Families lose time together.
Students miss learning.
Patients miss appointments.
Businesses lose staff hours.
Roads become busier as more people feel forced to drive.
Public transport should give people confidence. It should help people choose trains over cars. But when the system does not have a strong backup plan, people lose trust.
A growing region needs a transport system that can handle problems when they happen.
Good contingency planning is not optional.
It is part of running a safe, fair and reliable public transport network.