V/Line has introduced interim measures to improve reliability on the Ballarat line.
Since the Regional Rail Link opened on June 21, social media has been inundated with complaints from commuters about chronic overcrowding, delays and cancelled services.
To improve reliability and cut travel times, the 6.13am train from Southern Cross to Ballarat will no longer stop at Bacchus Marsh “until further notice”, according to V/Line spokeswoman Ebony Jordan.
Instead, buses will be arranged for customers wanting to travel on that service from Bacchus Marsh to Ballarat.
Most customers using this service are students who travel to Ballarat for school,” Ms Jordan said.
“We have been in discussions with many of the parents and have arranged for the coach to travel up Sturt Street after stopping at the Ballarat station to help meet the travel needs of these customers.”
Bill Mansell, whose son uses the service from Bacchus Marsh to Ballarat, commended V/line for listening to their concerns and attempting to fix the problem.
“V/Line is trying to satisfy the commuters going the other way [from Ballarat to Southern Cross] and we understand that,” Mr Mansell said.
“We just want our train back and V/Line said that was their intention, but they don’t know when it will happen.”
At a forum in Ballarat earlier this month, V/Line and residents came together to discuss ways the services on the Ballarat line could run more freely.
Mr Mansell, who was at the forum, said V/Line had been asked if the replacement coach could travel up Sturt Street, Ballarat, instead of just stopping at Ballarat station.
“V/Line listened and they did everything they could to help us,” he said. “The kids might get used to the buses and not want the trains any more.”
But dozens of Bacchus Marsh residents have taken to social media venting their frustrations with the timetabling.
“The overcrowding on V/line services is to be solved by reducing the number of services that stop in the safe seat of Melton [Bacchus Marsh] in favour of Ballarat passengers, which is crazy,” one user wrote on Facebook.
“Public transport needs to be improved for all.”
Acting Public Transport Minister Luke Donnellan said the state government recognised services on the Ballarat line weren’t “up to scratch”, but solutions were being worked on.
“We’ll continue to look at service structure and performance to improve services for Bacchus Marsh and across the regional network,” he said.
