Victoria's Trains Overwhelmed by Easter Rush

0:00Victoria's regional trains hit a major snag over Easter, with passengers standing for hours and many missing out on boarding altogether. The VC Line network buckled under the rush from the long weekend, school holidays, and free rides across the state throughout April. Holiday Schedules meant fewer trains running. Just as the man spiked after the government made public transport, free to help folks dodge high-fuel. Prices, photos from spots like Bendigo showed platforms jammed and carriages overflowing with people crammed in aisles. Commuters vented hard on mine, and to news crews, calling it sardine city where you could barely breathe after four or five hour trips to places like Swanhill or Bairnsdale. One rider figured they'd add more services, but it wasn't enough to handle the crush. VC Line pushed back by adding extra carriages and over 300 coaches on standby, even for events like the Bendigo Festival. But overcrowding was already a thing before free fares, like on the Warnamble Line, where shorter trains forced folks to stand two or three hours.

1:04And lines like Galang and Ballarat see over 3,800,000 passengers yearly. Officials say they're keeping a close eye on crowds in the weeks ahead, tweaking as needed to smooth out these regional railheads. Stay informed with Sydney News Today AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.