HEATWAVE conditions have forced V/Line to make changes to its schedules on the North-East line for the next two days with more alterations over the weekend unable to be ruled out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first and last trains between Albury and Melbourne on Thursday and Friday will be the only ones running with the other services to be replaced by buses.
Temperatures are climbing into the 40s in the north of the state with the hot spell forecast to continue into the weekend.
A meeting of V/Line officials will be held on Thursday to determine arrangements beyond Friday.
The services being run as buses are the 12.05pm Southern Cross to Albury, 6.02pm Southern Cross to Albury, 12.45pm Albury to Southern Cross and 5.20pm Albury to Southern Cross.
‘’We monitor weather forecasts very closely so we are ready to make changes to services and get passengers where they need to go as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible,” a V/Line spokesman said.
“On very hot days, we’ll send out messages via our app and social media channels to let passengers know of any changes to services.
“And our staff will also be on hand to talk to passengers about any changes to their services.”
The Australian Rail Track Corporation confirmed the hot weather would lead to a closer watch on the troubled track.
Rising temperatures may lead to speed limits being enforced between Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga on services which do run in coming days.
“The North-East rail line has concrete sleepers, this provides the track with improved stability and is more reliable than those that use timber sleepers,” an ARTC spokesperson said.
“In line with our track stability management plan which covers instances of high temperatures, ARTC is monitoring forecasts closely this week, and will undertake extra track inspections.
“Train speeds will be assessed and restrictions applied if there is a requirement.
“At this stage there are two consecutive days of 40 degrees in the Wangaratta to Albury section only.”
The 12.05pm service from Southern Cross to Albury on Wednesday was delayed about 30 minutes due to speed restrictions.
Earlier, the 7.05am service from Southern Cross to Albury was delayed about 20 minutes due to a track fault at Benalla which has since been rectified.
