V/Line commuters impacted by heat restrictions

By Jessica Howard

Passengers travelling on the Ballarat-Melbourne V/Line train will be impacted by heat speed restrictions until later this evening.

The restrictions will see trains that usually travel up to 160k/h slow down to 90k/h or less.

In a statement, V/Line said their Asset Management team had been working hard through the Spring to ensure the tracks are in good condition, however when the temperature hits 36 degrees, trains slow down due to steel tracks expanding in the heat.

The head speed restrictions will affect trains travelling on the Ballarat Line and stopping at Ballan and Bacchus Marsh until 9pm tonight.

The following services changes are now in place:

Southern Cross Station to Wendouree:
2:37pm SCS to Bacchus Marsh will terminate at Melton
3:16pm SCS to Wendouree will terminate at Bacchus Marsh 
4:33pm SCS to Wendouree is reduced in capcity to 3 car VLocity and will terminate at Bacchus Marsh
4:35pm SCS to Melton will not run 
7:50pm SCS to Wendouree will terminate at Bacchus Marsh
Ararat (Ballarat) to Melbourne:
2:29pm Bacchus Marsh to SCS will not run
2:49pm Ararat to Ballarat will not run
3:29pm Bacchus Marsh to SCS will originate in Melton
4:49pm Ararat to SCS will originate in Ballarat 
6:30pm Bacchus Marsh to SCS will originate in Melton
6:50pm Wendouree to SCS will originate in Bacchus Marsh
8:02pm Wendouree to SCS will originate in Ballarat
9:25pm Wendouree to SCS will originate in Ballarat

For updates about services on days where heat speed restrictions are in place, contact V/Line on 1800 800 007 or visit www.vline.com.au.