Leah-Anne Howie's letter about V/line's lack of coordination during the RRL shutdown (January 14) compels me to pose another question.
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Given that disruptions to train services are necessary to build RRL, why are all trains replaced by 'buses?
Some years ago, some peak-hour trains to Ballarat were regularly scheduled to travel "via Elaine". Such services took about 10 minutes longer than ones via Ballan.
It would be helpful for passengers, if during similar shutdowns, about three morning and three evening trains were set to run via Elaine.
They could run express from Footscray with a stop at North Shore to provide an alternative for passengers between Geelong and Ballarat.
Such an arrangement would have the added bonus of providing transport bureaucrats with data about the long-term viability of a train from Geelong to Bendigo via Ballarat and Maryborough.
ROD WATSON
East Brighton
