A collision with a kangaroo caused the 5.13pm Warrnambool-bound train to be delayed by up to 80 minutes on Tuesday, V/Line says.
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V/Line spokeswoman Catalina Filip said the locomotive struck an animal on the track near Camperdown, which caused a fault.
“V/Line would like to apologise to customers for the delay they experienced on Tuesday evening’s service to Warrnambool, due to a kangaroo strike,” Ms Filip said.
She said the train was unable to continue its journey for a period of time due to the fault, and the driver undertook repairs.
Ms Filip said the train pulled into Warrnambool Station one hour and nine minutes after its scheduled arrival time, at 10.18pm.
Temporary speed restrictions in place at level crossings between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool also contributed to the service running behind.
V/Line may offer compensation to customers who experience a delay of more than 60 minutes in a single journey.
Last year four Warrnambool-line services ran more than 60 minutes late, and eight refunds at a total cost of $330 were issued to passengers.
Passengers are likely to be significantly delayed on the line again this weekend as track improvement works take place on Saturday.
The works form part of V/Line’s routine line maintenance, and will include the replacement of sleepers, removal of mud holes, signal maintenance and the clearance of drains.
Coaches will replace trains between Geelong, Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool during the works, and V/Line urged customers to stay informed of service changes through their website, social media or by speaking to staff.
Twenty level crossings on the line between Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool are due to to be upgraded by the end of 2017 as part of the safer country crossings program.
The upgrades will allow speed restrictions around some level crossings to to be lifted, returning journey times back to where they were prior to a collision at Pirron Yallock in July last year.
V/Line said the level crossing works can be completed between trains and do not require the closure of the track. Passengers on Tuesday’s affected service can call 1800 800 007 to contact V/Line regarding compensation.