V/Line has responded to claims of overcrowding on the Warrnambool to Melbourne train service, in both directions, on Friday February 27.
Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan has put up a Facebook post calling for feedback from anyone who used the service that day, and has had over 400 comments on the service in general.
In reply, V/Line provided Fitzmedia with the following statement.
“Warrnambool Line services proved popular on Friday, as passengers travelled to Melbourne to attend major events including the Ed Sheeran concert.
“We thank passengers for their understanding when services are busy, and encourage them to plan ahead and make a reservation before travelling.”
On February 27, standby coaches were used to take pressure off the 9.27am and 1.10pm services to Melbourne.
Special services also ran on the Geelong Line to cater for the volume.
V/Line has introduced a reservation-only seating trial, which provides passengers with more certainty about seating and also enables us to plan for additional coach support where required.
Under the reserved seating trial, if all seats are booked on a Warrnambool Line service, passengers have the option of purchasing an unreserved ticket, which means they may have to stand for all or part of their journey.
Elderly passengers and passengers with accessibility needs may speak to the conductor onboard the service if they are unable to find a seat.
