No V/Line train, scheduled coach or replacement coach services will operate in a fire district with a Catastrophic Fire Danger rating in place.
A catastrophic rating is forecast for the North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera districts on January 9, meaning many other state lines, including the Echuca and Seymour lines, will also be affected.
Coach services that pass through fire districts will not operate for the entire journey, including parts of the route not in the affected areas.
Travellers are warned that other scheduled coach services may also be cancelled or terminated due to operational requirements.
Freight services operated on the V/Line network will also be suspended temporarily.
The cancellations have been made based on the Australian Fire Danger Rating System advice for catastrophic fire danger ratings.
The CFA warns that conditions across Victoria on January 9 will be the most dangerous experienced this summer, with temperatures exceeding 40℃ in many parts of the state and strong gusty winds of 30 to 50km/h expected after two days of extreme heat.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the safest option for people currently in bushfire risk areas was to start planning to leave the night before or early in the morning.
“Tomorrow’s (Friday’s) hot and erratic fire conditions will put you and your families lives at risk if a fire starts and takes hold. Fires will be unpredictable and uncontrollable,” he said.
Passengers are advised to check the V/Line website for the latest travel information.
Service changes will also be communicated via the V/Line app, social media and announcements.
Transport Victoria provides real-time traffic conditions and the latest public transport information at transport.vic.gov.au
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