Bendigo V/Line commuters hop on coaches as union industrial stops train services

The Rail, Tram & Bus Union planned the industrial action after meetings between management and the union failed to bring enterprise agreement negotiations to an end.

All train services on the Bendigo and Swan Hill lines will be replaced with coaches. Maryborough train services will be affected on Thursday.

There were a number of signs displayed at the Bendigo train station as well as regular overhead announcements alerting commuters to the changes.

Read more: Bendigo trains will stop as V/Line urges union to come back to table

Bendigo residents Kate Dillon and McCulloch Laforce only learnt of the delays when they arrived at the station just before 7am.

"We just found out when we went over to platform one and we heard the announcement, then we came over here," Ms Dillon said.

"We walked through platform two and there were no signs over the other side. So we tapped on and sat down, and then we heard the announcement."

The pair were travelling to Woodend for work. Ms Laforce said despite the unexpected changes, they weren't too worried about the delays.

"I guess we sent a text message to the person we're working with saying we're now catching a bus, so we might be a little bit late," she said.

"We don't really know when we're getting in, but that's the only thing. We work with someone who is very flexible with that so it's not a huge thing."

Ms Laforce said they were used to the occasional V/Line delay so they were not worried about the changes.

"Yesterday, we were coming back down from Woodend and we had to stop because of technical issues near Castlemaine," she said. "So we just thought it was another power trip or something like.

"Things happen all the time so you have to be flexible."

A lone kangaroo also hopped through the Bendigo station on Wednesday morning, although they appeared unimpressed with the coach replacements.

Another Bendigo commuter said she wasn't concerned by the changes.

"I've had to get up earlier and catch an earlier coach but I don't really mind," Violet said. "It's not such a huge problem - it's a first-world issue.

"I would be put out if there wasn't any service but there is so I can't complain."

The Bendigo resident was travelling into Kyneton on Tuesday morning. Violet said she appreciated the notice from V/Line.

"It has been organised well," she said. "There are heaps of staff here, which I wasn't expecting. So that's really good.

"They've been really attentive to customers coming in and telling when the next coach will be."

The Rail, Tram & Bus Union has not ruled out further strikes once this round of industrial action ends.