LIKE a scene from a Clint Eastwood western, an inundation of tumbleweed caused train chaos on the Victorian Ballarat line on Monday as services were cancelled throughout the day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Trains all throughout the day were cancelled after winds across the weekend blew the tumbleweed across the line between Ingliston and Rowsley, west of Melbourne.
A V/Line spokesperson said vegetation on train tracks can interfere with train detection systems for signals and level crossings and can also affect the adhesion between the train wheels and the track.
Due to the nature of the vegetation and the amount in the area, crews also needed to clear the area surrounding the track to avoid more vegetation blowing onto the track once it has been cleared.
"We're working as quickly as possible to clear vegetation blown onto the track by extreme winds, so trains can safely return to the Ballarat line," a V/Line spokesperson said.
"Safety is our number one priority and we acted quickly to replace services with coaches so crews could begin to repair the track following this freak weather event."
