Free Public Transport: Regional V/Line Trains Face Packing

0:00It's March 30th. Adelaide News Today starts now. AI powered and ready. Free public transport kicks off today, across Victoria, and runs until the end of April. It's the state government's move to ease the hit from skyrocketing fuel prices. But folks on regional Beesa line trains are already filling the squeeze with trains packed in seats vanishing fast. Rising fuel costs, blame partly on the war in Iran, have driven more people onto these lines even before the free ride started. Passengers report standing room only on long halls, like the three and a half hour trip from Bairnsdale to Melbourne. Travelers are venting frustration. One woman from Bairnsdale described being jammed in like sardines on a Saturday morning with an older couple taking turns on a single seat. A musician commuting from Warigle said, Sundays are way busier now, making work on the train tough. Experts from the Public Transport Users Association warn the network is struggling with recent patronage booms, especially on lines like Gipsland.

1:02They say free travel will strain it more, pushing for extra carriages on these three plus hour journeys to avoid hours of standing. Vieline hasn't commented yet, but as demand surges, regional riders are bracing for a real scramble just to grab a spot.