Metro Trains has taken the rare step of issuing a public apology to all commuters after a shambolic performance Monday morning - but that has done little to quell passengers' fury.
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Travellers endured delays of up to 90 minutes on their ride into work as Metro dealt with a range of faults across the network.
On the way home, Metro's control centre used train PA systems to issue an apology for the morning's performance.
But commuters continue to barrage social media with calls for compensation.
"The driver on my train has apologised for this mornings delays with a scripted message," Wayne Schembri??? wrote on Fairfax's Facebook page.
"Appropriate compensation for all passengers would be more beneficial - the myki system eradicated the old compensation scheme."
One Age reader said his journey from Cranbourne to Melbourne Central Monday morning took two hours and 40 minutes. Many others complained of being trapped on stationary trains for up to an hour.
The Frankston line was the first to fall, about 6am, after a track equipment fault at Carrum sparked delays of 30 minutes.
Shortly after, passengers on the Werribee line found themselves stranded due to a faulty train.
By 7am, the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines had delays of up to 20 minutes due to a signal fault in the Huntingdale area.
That signal fault caused trains to bank up between Hallam and Clayton stations, which meant boom gates were stuck down for extended periods of time.
Passengers vented their frustration on Twitter, telling Metro they would take an Uber home to avoid further chaos.
Others called for compensation.
@davenlamb @metrotrains A responsible company would offer compensation for all passengers affected this morning. Metro doesn't offer compensation for anything.??? Zak (@zaktinoid) May 29, 2017
@metrotrains Who is going to compensate me 1 hour and 40 mins lost time for your signalling faults on the Pakenham line this morning?????? Michael Gibson (@Caitlins_dad) May 29, 2017
@j_foreigner @metrotrains I am about to send these useless morons a bill - Over three weeks, 6 hours late and my charge out rate is $175 ph??? Gavin Armstrong (@RobRoy19986) May 29, 2017
about time for VIC gov to look at @metrotrains performance and train network infrastructure, it is causing real loss to VIC businesses??? Fridrich Housa (@FridrichHousa) May 29, 2017
The trains are to be built as part of a $2.3 billion public-private partnership with the Victorian government.
According to technical documents seen by Fairfax Media, the trains will initially run on the busy Cranbourne-Pakenham corridor and in the City Loop, then through the Metro rail tunnel once it opens in 2026 and on the Sunbury line.
They will be built with seven carriages and could extend to 10 carriages with "gross passenger capacity of at least 1970" people in future years.
The bumper loads will be accommodated by enabling "standing passengers to safely travel at a density of up to six passengers per square metre".