Victoria news tens of thousands of passengers to be impacted amid vline industrial action this week 20231213 p5yxug.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 2 years ago

Victorian commuters to face significant delays during V/Line strike

Rhiannon Tuffield and Allanah Sciberras

Powered by

Commuters in regional Victoria will face major disruptions today as V/Line workers press ahead with industrial action.

There will be no services running before 8am, impacting tens of thousands of passengers and causing lengthy train delays.

Transport workers will walk off the job for four hours during the strike, which will take place until 7am.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Cyclone Jasper expected to hit in coming hours

Transport workers had been in ongoing pay discussions with V/Line ahead of the action being announced.

Union members are demanding a 17 per cent pay rise over four years and a guarantee they won't lose their jobs if driving a train becomes a job for a computer.

"Our members are very frustrated, we haven't made this decision lightly," Vik Sharma from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union told 9News.

READ MORE: Man fighting for life after horror 24 hours on Victorian roads

The early strike will derail the morning peak. 9News

Buses will replace trains during the industrial action, but it's understood the buses will be limited.

Advertisement

Replacement coaches also won't stop at metropolitan train stations.

Trains services will progressively return to services around 8am after staff move trains to platforms and undergo safety checks.

Delays and cancellations will continue across the day as V/Line works to recover the timetable.

READ MORE: Christmas day weather forecast revealed with just under two weeks to go

Advertisement
Advertisement

Transport workers will walk off the job for four hours during the strike. 9News

V/Line chief executive Matt Carrick urged members to reconsider the strike, and warned travellers that bus options would be "severely limited".

"We urge the union to reconsider this action, which will disrupt tens of thousands of passengers," Carrick said.

"We will work hard to minimise the impacts of disruption on passengers."

Advertisement

Metropolitan trains, freight trains, and the XPT will still operate during planned industrial action.

Information about service changes including temporary timetables will be published on the V/Line website, the V/Line mobile app, social media and information displayed at stations.

email icon

Contact us

Share a tip-off, video or photo with us

Most viewed in Australia

More to explore