General News
2 April, 2026
Riordan raises concerns following transport announcement
MEMBER for Polwarth Richard Riordan has expressed concerns about additional strain on an already overcrowded service following a recent announcement of free public transport.
The Victorian Government announced free public transport for V/Line services last Sunday for the month of April to encourage more people to use public transport as fuel prices remain high.
Mr Riordan said there were a number of issues which will impact Camperdown residents’ ability to take advantage of the offer, including a previously-scheduled two-week shutdown of services for maintenance, low train and bus numbers and issues with the existing ticketing system.
He said while cost-of-living relief is important, the government’s approach fails to account for the existing capacity issues faced by regional passengers, particularly those on the Warrnambool line.
“The Warrnambool line is consistently overcrowded,” he said.
“Offering free travel without increasing capacity will only make a bad situation worse for commuters who rely on these services every day.”
Western District Newspapers has previously reported on an incident of overcrowding on the Warrnambool line, as well as Corangamite Shire Council’s plans to advocate for lengthened platforms in increase train capacity for V/Line services.
Mr Riordan said constituents had repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, limited seating and inconsistent service reliability on the line.
He warned a surge in demand during April could significantly impact passenger safety and comfort.
“This highlights the lack of preparedness,” Mr Riordan said.
“The government is effectively asking people to self-manage demand on an already strained network.”
Mr Riordan has renewed his urgent call for the introduction of six-carriage VLocity trains on the Warrnambool line, alongside critical platform rehabilitation and extensions to accommodate longer services.
“We need six-carriage VLocity trains servicing the south west, and we need platforms upgraded to handle them,” he said.
“Anything less is a disservice to our communities.”
Mr Riordan also questioned the broader planning behind the initiative, noting advice from Transport Victoria which states V/Line coach users should continue booking as usual to manage demand.
Mr Riordan called on the government to immediately outline how it will manage increased passenger numbers on regional services during April and commit to long-term investment in regional rail capacity.
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