u/NoodleBox

Yes that's right it's back:

Rail works and the Melton Station works are cutting trains again.

Local Ballarat based folks just a heads up replacement buses were back out the front not at the town bus interchange where the vlines were :)

https://www.vline.com.au/Service-Changes/planned-disruptions/2026/August/Service-changes-on-the-Ballarat,-Ararat-and-Marybo

Wednesday 12, Thursday 13: buses replace trains all the way

Friday 14 to Tuesday 18th: Bus to Caroline Springs, train from there to the city, UNLESS it's after 8pm, then it's buses all the way. Just assume a bus.

Wednesday 19 to Monday 24: Bus to Caroline Springs then get out and get the train

Monday 24 to the 31st of August: buses to southern cross

..... It looks like there's timetable soup again too, so, obvs check the link for details and be NICE TO PEOPLE

(and rug up)

https://www.vline.com.au/Service-Changes/Unplanned-Disruption-Webpages/2026/07-Jul/Western-Line-Suspension-(4) - up to date page

> The V/Line network continues to be impacted following the nationwide Telstra telecommunications outage, with passenger services unable to operate. This includes this evening’s (8/7) and tomorrow morning’s peak services.

> We advise passengers to please defer non-essential V/Line travel. We acknowledge this has been inconvenient to many people and thank passengers for their patience as work continues to safely restore services.

Dunno about buses. Assume there may be A bus, but vline says to defer travel unless urgently urgent.

It's to do with an ICE phone, apparently - and it's not just V/line, it's ARTC as well, so freighters have stopped!

Standard rules apply; don't be a dickhead to platform staff. They do not randomly have a 6vl set in their back pocket or safe working crews stuck in there either. Maybe some lint.

Also same for the roads: black ice exists, breathe, calm etc, check vicTraffic or whatever it's called now for road closures.

E: 10:30 pm: still no trains tomorrow. added a link. -an Ice phone, in cab communications equipment phone, runs on Telstra, from /r/MelbourneTrains. Ta for the award!

E2: 10:00am 9/7 - .....still, no trains. No trains in the Arvo either. Drive to conditions ig.

tldr: just assume the trains are off. Sorry folks.

#E3: 11:54a 9/3 - Trains are back! Slowly. Keep an eye out!