Article: Train vandals leave delays across Connex network

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Train vandals leave delays across Connex network

Train vandals leave delays across Connex network
Article from: Herald Sun

Matthew Schulz, Kate Rose

December 19, 2008 08:13am

UPDATE 9.50am: THOUSANDS of commuters were affected today after vandal attacks cancelled a dozen peak-hour trains.

At least a dozen Connex services were cancelled this morning after vandals left debris on tracks on the Hurstbridge line last night, while smashed windows on trains on the Frankston and Upfield lines also disrupted services.

Services were affected across the network including trains on the Hurstbridge, Williamstown, Craigeburn, Upfield and Frankston lines.

Trains on the Epping and Westall lines were also cancelled this morning.

Were you affected? Tell us below.

Connex spokeswoman Lanie Harris said the 10.17pm Hurstbridge-bound train crashed into debris on the track not far from Macleod station, severely damaging the undercarriage.

Ms Harris said the train managed to limp into the next station but could not be moved further, leaving other trains stranded behind it and unable to get on to other lines this morning.

Late-night passengers were forced on to buses to continue their journeys.

Police are investigating the incident.

"Further to that, there was a fresh spate of vandalism this morning, with broken windows being reported by some drivers," Ms Harris said.

The second spate of vandalism, which  happened either late last night or early this morning, saw several train windows broken.

The damage, combined with a signal fault and some other isolated faults, left 12 trains cancelled during peak hour.

Ms Harris said the incident showed how much the rail network was interconnected.

?The wider implications of an incident is inconveniencing thousands of commuters across the network,? she said.

?We?re hoping to make those vandals realise how much a small incident can create major inconvenience for many passengers.?

?If people understood the impact of their action, perhaps they would think twice.?

The latest disruptions follow a series of cancellations in the past week caused by unoffiicial industrial action, minor faults and wet weather.

Ms Harris said Connex provided live updates on its website with information about train cancellations.