Melbourne train delays 'woeful'

Melbourne's train service has been described as "woeful" after thousands of commuters were stranded when a faulty cable shut down the city loop for three hours.

Metro services resumed about 9.30pm on Wednesday after a signalling issue near Southern Cross Station caused major delays across 14 train lines, affecting 240 train services.

Premier Daniel Andrews has apologised for the delays but said an overhaul of the network would take "some time".

"It's very regrettable what happened last night," he told reporters on Thursday.

"We are making the investments to improve this system but I don't diminish for a moment that it would've been very difficult for a lot of people."

Opposition leader Matthew Guy accused the government of buying more trains before having the signals to make them work and described as "woeful" Metro's communication with passengers, thousands of whom were left stranded on overcrowded platforms and overcrowded trains.

"(Transport Minister) Jacinta Allan appears to have no way of fixing the problems that are bedevilling our transport system," he told reporters on Thursday.

"Everything about transport in this city is absolutely and utterly chaotic."

Commuters have taken to social media to slam Metro, with some accusing station staff of allowing people to enter city loop stations despite the shutdown.

"It's like true life choose your own adventure! No information or advice given anywhere," Chris Thompson said on Twitter.

A Metro spokeswoman said the signalling issue happened at peak hour with "the worst possible timing" and apologised for "the long and frustrating journey home".

Last week the government announced it was ordering an extra 28 high-capacity trains to run on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line and the Dandenong corridor by 2018.