Overcrowding and irregularity is allegedly plaguing the service, with state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell urging Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams to make adequate amendments to the line.
On Wednesday, August 13, Ms Lovell brought the matter to parliament, having recently travelled on the 4.36pm service to Seymour on a Sunday afternoon.
“It is simply unacceptable that while the Allan Labor Government spends tens of billions of dollars on metropolitan tunnels, it refuses to put extra carriages on regional train services,” Ms Lovell said.
“Commuters are outraged by the Labor Government’s appalling neglect of Seymour line services, and the constant overcrowding.
“The minister for public transport must immediately put more carriages on Seymour line trains so that my constituents can travel safely and with dignity.”
In its 2025-26 budget, the government announced that the Seymour line would soon see additional peak services in the morning and afternoon on weekdays.
Planning is also said to be under way for trains to run every hour on the Seymour line on weekends between 8am and 9pm.
Despite these welcome changes, a 10-day shutdown of the line in September, followed by a 45-day disruption in October and November, have resulted in frustrations in the region.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland raised concerns not only for everyday commuters, but for organisations such as the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, which, she said, was set to face financial losses due to the disruptions.
“Months of disruption will punish passengers who rely on these services to get to work, school, medical appointments and see loved ones,” she said.
“Every day I hear from locals on our trains who cannot book a seat, are forced to stand for hours, or crammed on to unreliable replacement buses.
“I have urged the minister to immediately investigate these ongoing disruptions and provide a clear plan to ensure reliable, safe and dignified travel for passengers in the north-east.”
A V/Line spokesperson said the organisation acknowledged its customers’ patience during this period.
“Seymour line passengers will soon have more travel options during the busiest times of the day, with two additional weekday peak services funded in the recent Victorian budget,” the spokesperson said.
“We thank passengers for their understanding when services are busy, and we make every effort to run services with their scheduled carriage allocation.”
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