Train commuters on the Ballarat line are being encouraged to plan ahead this Summer as the region experiences its first hot days of December.
Extreme Heat Timetables will be activated on days above 36 degrees with V/Line trains subject to speed restrictions.
“Safety is our top priority and on really hot days steel tracks can expand in the heat, which is why trains may run at slower speeds, or are replaced by coaches when necessary,” V/Line CEO Will Tieppo says.
“Passengers can plan their trip with confidence by downloading extreme heat timetables from the V/Line website.”
Staff from the organisation closely monitor weather conditions during the warmer months to determine when extreme heat timetables are activated.
On extreme heat days, extra crews will be on standby to manage any issues and ensure there are minimal disruptions to passengers as they travel.
While heat can affect services across the entire V/Line network, northern parts of Victoria are more likely to see extreme heat timetables in-place as higher temperatures occur more often.
If the temperature is forecast to, or does exceed 36 degrees, passengers are encouraged to visit the V/Line website, app and X (Twitter) feed for the latest updates on services.
Passengers can also speak with V/Line staff at stations for information.
Additionally, V/Line says that no train, scheduled or replacement coach services will operate in a fire district if a Catastrophic fire danger rating is declared for that district.
