The extreme temperatures in Victoria meant, as a precaution, trains were running at slower speeds because the steel tracks expand in extreme heat.
During the summer, to help passengers plan their journey with confidence, service changes will be reflected in the extreme heat timetables on the V/Line website.
Last Friday a full extreme-heat timetable was be in place for the Seymour and Shepparton lines. A partial extreme heat timetable will be in place on the Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill lines.
On Saturday a full extreme-heat timetable will be in place for the Ballarat, Ararat, Maryborough, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Echuca, Seymour and Shepparton lines.
Passengers can download a copy of the extreme-heat timetable for their line from vline.com.au or ask for a copy from their nearest staffed station.
Extreme heat timetables won’t be in place on the Gippsland, Geelong and Warrnambool lines due to coaches replacing trains for all or part of the journey while network upgrade works take place.
Passengers for these lines are encouraged to visit the V/Line website to download a copy of the temporary coach replacement timetable.
There will be drinking water on board trains and passengers are also encouraged to travel with bottled water and wear cool clothing.
In the lead up to summer, V/Line maintenance crews were out in force improving the overall reliability of assets on the network in preparation for the hot weather.
Vegetation management work also took place across the state, including grass slashing to manage bushfire risks in the rail reserve.
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