By Luke Voogt
Geelong trains are hitting up to six animals a day causing delays for frustrated passengers.
Trains on the Geelong line struck six kangaroos on Tuesday morning delaying some services by approximately 20 minutes, according to a V/Line spokesperson.
The high number of animal strikes in spring forced V/Line to perform “a lot of unscheduled maintenance” and bio washes on trains, according to the organisation’s Twitter account.
The highest number of animal strikes involved kangaroos, while sheep accounted for the second highest.
“It’s the nature of an operating railway that animal strikes are a possibility,” a spokesperson said.
“V/Line has processes in place to return trains to service as quickly as possible after an incident and minimise the disruption to passengers.”
Commuters took to social media on Tuesday after a train hit a kangaroo and required a bio wash, delaying the busy 7.40am peak hour service.
“When does it start to become about prevention?” Sam Elliot questioned V/Line. “(I’ve) had the unfortunate experience occur twice now.
“I’ve never seen so many around the Wyndham Vale area around dawn! Surely the cost of bio wash needs to be weighed up against fencing.”
Others questioned the need for bio washes.
“A train has to be withdrawn from service when an animal strike occurs so repairs can be completed and staff can ensure it is safe to operate,” the spokesperson said.
After withdrawing the train, V/Line would replace its following services with coaches, reduce the services in length or employ a spare train, they said.
“Which can lead to delays while the spare train is moved into position.”
V/Line trains have hit approximately 250 animals on Victorian railways this year to date, the spokesperson said.
“The figure is less than this time last year, however, as we are getting into the warmer months we usually see an increase of animal strikes.”
The spokesperson reminded farmers of their legal obligations to prevent livestock straying into the rail corridor.
“Straying livestock may result in stockowners being issued with fines and livestock impounded,” they said.
“Trains can come from either direction at any time and being in the rail environment without proper safety measures is dangerous.”
