Article: Bushfires cancel trains, cut roads

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Bushfires cancel trains, cut roads

Bushfires cancel trains, cut roads
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun

Brooke Kelly

February 08, 2009 10:46am

BUSH fires have cut train services and roads to country Victoria, with V/Line warning travellers to defer trips.
Dozens of major roads have also been closed across the state, including parts of the Maroondah Highway, the Melba Highway, Goulburn Valley Highway, Princes Freeway and the South Gippsland Hwy.

The Hume Fwy is now open to traffic in both directions although several smaller roads off the Hume Fwy remain closed.

Police urge motorists to proceed with caution and avoid severely affected fire areas as they remain highly dangerous.

Under no circumstances should any motorist breach a road block.

Further information regarding road closures can be obtained by contacting VicRoads on 131170.

Sections of track have been significantly damaged on the Gippsland, Seymour and Warrnambool lines.

V/Line has urged Victorians to defer all non-essential travel to fire-ravaged areas.

A limited number of buses have been brought in to replace services but emergency services have closed many roads, making access difficult.

The huge fire fronts have kept V/Line officials at bay with a full assessment of damage to the tracks still unknown.

At this stage, V/Line have advised travellers that the Gippsland line will remain closed until at least noon on Sunday. Buses are presently unavailable in the area.

The Seymour line is also expected to remain closed until at least noon on Sunday with a limited number of buses servicing the area.

The Warrnambool line will remain closed until Monday at the earliest with back-up coaches operating between Geelong and Warrnambool. Passengers travelling from Melbourne to Geelong are unaffected.

To see the full list of road closures, see vicroads.vic.gov.au

For regular updates on the regional rail network, visit vline.com.au