By DANIELLE GALVIN
PASSENGERS left stranded at Pakenham train station on Friday night were “angry and disappointed” with the delay.
Mark and Cheryl from Armadale contacted the News after they were left at the station on Friday night, with nowhere to go.
They had caught the 7.30pm train from Traralgan to Pakenham and were told to change at the station to catch a bus home.
But Mark, who did not want his last name used, said passengers were told there was rail track work and there was confusion about whether any buses were on the way to transport the stranded commuters.
“When we stopped at Pakenham, there were hoards of passengers, must have been about 60 people not knowing what to do,” he said.
“We got as far as Pakenham and then V/Line was saying buses will come.”
Mark waited for half an hour before deciding that he didn’t want to wait “all night” for a bus to come.
He said the staff at the station were friendly, but unsure why the transit buses were delayed.
“We have the money to pay the $100 to Armadale Railway – but not everyone does,” he said.
“There was also a fight for the taxis at the station because some people decided to get off and catch cabs instead.
“We ended up catching it with another Pakenham man, so the taxi driver dropped him off first.”
Mark said he ended up back at Armadale at 10.30pm after paying a $95 maxi-cab fare.
“I still have no idea what happened – it looked like the buses just didn’t show up,” he said.
“I think there would have been about 60 people waiting there.
“A lot were quite angry and disappointed, we thought the buses would be there at the time of arrival of the V/Line train.
“We waited and waited.”
Mark said a bus arrived to transport some commuters to Berwick and Fountain Gate.
A spokesperson for V/Line said train track works delayed some passengers at Pakenham.
“Due to Metro track works coaches were replacing V/Line trains between Melbourne and Pakenham on Friday evening through to Monday 10 June,” he said.
“We do ask customers to allow additional travel time when transferring from the train to coaches when track work is taking place.
“Unfortunately there was an extended wait for 30 people who were travelling on the 7:32pm train from Traralgon on Friday (arriving at Pakenham about 9:00pm).”
The spokesperson said most of the 30 people travelling elected to board Metro rail replacement coaches at 9:25pm.
“A V/Line coach arrived at 9:55pm to take remaining passengers to Southern Cross Station,” the spokesperson said.
“We would encourage passengers affected by the delay to be in contact with us on 1800 800 007.
“V/Line regrets the inconvenience caused to some passengers.”
