V/Line services on the Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill and Albury lines have been suspended as bushfires continue to affect parts of Victoria, with authorities urging passengers to avoid travel while crews assess damage and work towards restoring services.
No V/Line trains or replacement coaches are operating to Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill or Albury, with disruptions expected to continue throughout the weekend due to fire activity and associated road closures. Passengers have been advised to avoid travelling on these lines while conditions remain volatile.
Scheduled coach services connecting to stations on the affected routes that are still operating will not link with any train or replacement service. Some coach services may be cancelled at short notice or may bypass certain stops in response to road closures or requests from emergency services.
A very limited number of replacement coaches will operate between Southern Cross and Kyneton, though these will not stop at Footscray or Watergardens. Given the restricted capacity of this service, passengers are being warned to expect major delays and are encouraged to avoid travelling if possible, particularly as several roads in fire-affected areas remain closed.
Elsewhere on the V/Line network, most train and coach services are expected to resume on Saturday 10 January. However, changes may continue on routes near active fire zones as conditions shift and emergency responses evolve.
V/Line has confirmed it is receiving regular updates from emergency services and is closely monitoring conditions across the state while assessing the impact on the rail network. Service information will be updated through the V/Line website and mobile app, with passengers advised to check for the latest details before travelling.
Travellers are also being encouraged to stay informed about bushfire conditions through the VicEmergency app or website. Transport Victoria has reiterated warnings about the extreme danger of travelling in current conditions, noting that roads may close and public transport services may be cancelled with little notice.
Real-time traffic conditions and public transport updates are available via transport.vic.gov.au.
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