Delays led to flights

Jessica Benton
A public transport shortage led to fights between frustrated Geelong V/Line passengers stranded after a concert in Melbourne last weekend, according to witnesses.
Hundreds of commuters had to wait hours for replacement buses to Geelong last Friday night at Southern Cross Station after the Pearl Jam concert at Etihad Stadium.
V/Line had replaced trains with buses after 8pm to allow line works between Newport and Werribee and a station upgrade at Laverton.
Ocean Grove’s Elise Hills said several fights broke out among the large waiting crowd.
“The concert finished at about 11pm but we didn’t get on a bus until 2am,” she said.
“There were also problems with the buses because some of them only stopped at North Geelong and Geelong and others stopped at South Geelong and Marshall. Everyone was so confused.”
Public Transport Users Association convenor Paul Westcott slammed V/Line.
“Given the fact this has happened a couple of times over the past few weeks, it suggests the system needs to be better organised,” he said.
“Even if they’d overlooked the concert, you’d think the alarm bells would have started to ring when all of the earlier services were full and they could have begun preparing for the later services.”
V/Line spokesperson Daniel Moloney said security staff called police to attend after encountering the crowd’s “unruly behaviour”.
“We understand that, if you rock up expecting there to be a bus or train and there’s not, it’s frustrating, but it’s uncalled for when that frustration turns into aggressive behaviours towards staff members.
V/Line worked with event promoters “wherever possible” to ensure adequate services, Mr Maloney said.