The figure was revealed by V/Line acting chief executive Gary Liddle in evidence to a Victorian parliamentary committee examining the regional rail crisis.

The woes of the North East line were not explored with Mr Liddle.

Buses are being used instead of trains on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines after concerns about wheel wear on services using VLocity carriages.

Compensatory free travel across Victoria over 16 days until Sunday is believed to have cost $2 million per week, but it will grow as commuters apply for refunds on Myki tickets. 

Mr Liddle would not comment on a number of issues faced by V/Line.

These issues included cuts to the V/Line budget made by the last government, changes to the regional rail project or reasons as to why former boss Theo Taifalos had left the organisation.

He said services would return to full strength by the middle of the year.