Warrnambool passengers will spend more time on buses as they replace trains on the line for another week in October.
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Due to works on the Warrnambool Line Upgrade, coaches will replace all Warrnambool line trains between Geelong and Warrnambool from October 9 to 17.
Trains will continue to run between Geelong and Southern Cross.
Coach replacement services will be a mix of express, semi-express and stopping all stations. Passengers are urged to plan ahead and allow an additional 60 minutes for their journey.
Regional Rail Revival director Mark Havryluk said works scheduled for October would see new signalling infrastructure installed between Winchelsea and Warrnambool to improve train monitoring and boost reliability.
But he said upgrades had this week stopped due to the shutdown of construction in the City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire, and the restriction of movement between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
"We'll resume construction as soon as we're permitted and able to do so, in a COVIDSafe manner. We're working through how this might impact our upcoming Warrnambool Line Upgrade works - and we'll update the community as that becomes clear," Mr Havryluk said.
Buses have replaced the majority of V/Line services this month as hundreds of frontline staff continue to isolate to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Eight positive tests among drivers and operational staff meant that around 300 V/Line operational staff were still isolating on Wednesday. The newest case had been isolating and not at work while infectious.
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V/Line and the Department of Transport are working closely with the Department of Health on a daily basis as contact tracing continues and to support staff.
Delays due to the coach replacements could interfere with V/Line's seven-month streak of exceeding its punctuality on the Warrnambool line.
The south-west service has exceeded its target of 92 per cent every month since February.
The fastest month of the year so far was March with 97.1 per cent of trains arriving on time, closely followed by August with 96.9 per cent.
Passengers have enjoyed on-time trains for most of the coronavirus pandemic, which comes after a slow decade when the service hit target just 12 times.
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