General News
20 March, 2026
Calls for more room after overcrowding
A RESIDENT has renewed calls for additional carriages to be added to the V/Locity trains on the Warrnambool Line after a Sunday train service saw him sitting on the floor.
Patrick Hallenan took the train at Warrnambool on Sunday, March 15 and was stunned to see all seats on the train were filled as well as many people standing during the journey.
Mr Hallenan said he knew he didn’t have a seat booked at the ticket booth but didn’t realise he would be forced to sit on the floor or stand for the entire journey.
“I estimate around 25-30 people stood or sat on the floor, and that’s not including the carriage I couldn’t see,” he said.
“I’m 60, and I was standing for a while and bouncing around. It was a rough ride.
“I was sitting on the floor for about an hour and a half – it’s a two-hour ride to Camperdown.
“I had people standing over me, people stepping over me trying to get to the toilet.
“You had people stepping over you when they were getting onto the train, rubbing shoulders with people – it was totally uncomfortable.”
Although Mr Hallenan did find one seat on the train, he instead offered it to a mother with her children.
He said there were a number of concerns he noticed during the train ride which made him angry by the time he reached his destination.
“People were sitting on the floor where people were trying to get to the toilet and some people who were standing over us had their backsides to us,” Mr Hallenan said.
“At one stage when the train stopped, I jumped up and ran out to get some fresh air before the doors closed. It was claustrophobic.
“It was a falls risk standing there the whole way because there’s no rails in a lot of areas where people were standing.
“Anyone moving about had to navigate stepping over people.
“All they had to do is put on one extra carriage and everyone would have had a seat.”
The 5.07pm service on Sunday was particularly busy, with many commuters attending AFL matches in Melbourne.
One stop along the journey saw one person disembarking before another ten people boarded.
Mr Hallenan used his time productively, taking photographs and writing to Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan, State Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan and the Public Transport Ombudsman.
“We expect better,” he said.
“The rail line is one of our major sources of transportation into the city and, given the price of fuel at the moment, it’s even more critical we have decent, comfortable and accessible seating for trains.
“The government and V/Line need to get their act together and treat us like human beings, not cattle.”
A V/Line spokesperson confirmed there were some people standing on the service, with a standby coach available at the Geelong Station for passengers.
“Warrnambool Line services proved popular on Sunday, as passengers travelled to and from Melbourne to attend major events, including AFL matches,” the spokesperson said.
“We thank passengers for their understanding when services are busy and encourage them to plan ahead and make a reservation before travelling.
“We’ve boosted services on the Warrnambool Line and provide standby coaches where necessary to cater to the increased popularity of V/Line services on this corridor.”
It is understood V/Line works closely with the Department of Transport and Planning on future network planning and options to improve passenger experience across the network.
No plans have been made to change the current three-carriage set system for V/Locity trains.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said the solution was simple – add more carriages to increase train capacity.
“It shows the complete incompetence of the Allan Labor Government,” he said.
“The fact so much money has been spent on upgrading the trainline that they cannot put enough carriages on the train service is quite extraordinary.
“It’s like we’ve become a third world country again, where people have to pile into trains.
“It’s a sad reflection to where the Victorian State government is taking the great state of Victoria.
“I feel for all those, especially elderly citizens, who have been forced to sit on the floor as a result of the incompetence of this government.”
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