Victorian farmers forced to find new harvest transport

Video: Pyramid Hill train derailment causes delays

YESTERDAY’S train derailment in Pyramid Hill will slow freight services across the state, according to Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey. 

Farmers will have to find alternative ways to transport their goods while teams work to repair the track. 

Several freight trains use the line on a regular basis and Mr Tuohey said the disruption to train services would also mean more heavy vehicles would have to travel through small central Victorian towns.

 “It will slow down the movement of grain but farmers can either use another shipment company on the Calder Highway or use road transport, which is about the same cost,” Mr Tuohey, a Pyramid Hill resident, said. 

He said about 20 per cent of grain was transported via the rail network. 

The derailment will cause continued headaches for passengers too, who will now use replacement coaches to travel from Bendigo to Swan Hill until the track is repaired.

A V/Line spokesman said trains would continue to operate to Bendigo, where passengers could transfer to a coach service to Swan Hill. 

Public Transport Victoria was unable to comment further, pending the investigation. 

Updated travel information is available at ptv.vic.gov.au