Vline
245 reviews
Never again, trains are way overloaded. I would stay off the country trains in Victoria at the moment. Standing room only if you don’t push way in or you will have to stand for hours. I don’t recommend travelling on the VLine trains during the free travel, its not worth the sardine can experience Show details
Such a bad experience. Got to the train station in plenty of time only to be told there will be a short delay . Coaches offered but they were not clear how long the train delays would be so we decided to wait for the train . We waited for one and half hours , standing in very cold conditions , no seating available. There was very little… Read more
communication in what was happening and the sound was so poor you could not catch what they were saying. Finally we boarded the train only to be told that the carriage we had boarded had no buffet. All carriages except carriage D had a buffet !!!. We could not access other buffets .My daughter and I have now not eaten or had anything to drink since 0800am in the morning . We are expected to arrive at our destination at 6pm. Communication soooo bad . Just a really terrible experience.
Wyndham Vale / Geelong trains are always late (literally always). These are nice trains, albeit very mediaeval diesel, but very very slow with insufficient intervals for a Megapolis like Melbourne, always late and often overcrowded. Despite new stables in Wyndham Vale, Vline still can't increase the frequency between Wyndham Vale and Melbourne to… Read more
allow for a better frequency and for all passengers to travel comfortably. Vline had very generous internal punctuality benchmarks, but even these are rarely met. It's like the service is from a couple centuries back. How at least trying to aspire and deliver on par with Japanese and German punctuality?!
Reviews with attachments
It’s 2026 and V/Line still can’t provide accurate, real-time travel information in its own app. I’m not even talking about syncing with Google or Apple Maps — just having reliable updates inside your own platform. Right now, passengers are expected to go to the website, hunt down manually written PDFs for bus replacements or disruptions, and… Read more
piece things together themselves. That shouldn’t be necessary. This information should be clearly available in the app, in real time. Calling staff for basic updates feels like something from the 1990s.
This isn’t a technology problem — many cities around the world already do this well. It’s an execution and accountability problem. At some point, we have to seriously question whether certain roles should still exist in their current form. When a system can’t even provide basic live travel data, maybe automation or AI would do a better job.
Pay rises should be based on ability and performance, not entitlement like every year strike. In cases like this, it’s absolutely worth reviewing whether the right people — or the right systems — are in place. Melbourne deserves better than this.
Why am I paying for a seat.... once again sitting on the floor to Ballarat Show details
Need more carriage on the longer runs – I traveled on your Warrnambool I observed long haul service are getting more people onboard My observation after riding old and new trains is as follows I suspect our current railway designers may not be aware of this pecking order of types of rolling stock in use in old era of rolling stock classification...... excluding type no.2.… Read more
*"Intercity" Rolling stock*
1. Sleeper & Dining : suited for long distance aka Indian Pacific, Great Souther and Ghan overnight/day on route one way
* 2. Intercity *: Almost like a plane aka XPT that QLD tilt train [came in as it seems with this design they confused with airplane travel with rail travel]
as I observed this odd set up onboard the Overland as now currently their train crew trying to serve coffee to seated passenger in premium red whist the train is bouncing along on route via trolley!
Thank goodness they got a buffet car with tables for them to serve you drink on too!
3.Regional : N sets exceeding 3-5 hrs one way buffet on board
4. Interurban: H sets and Sprinter and Vols short regional route under 2-3 hrs one way toilets on board no buffet
5 Suburban Metro: Siemens X'trap bear min. standard
5. Light rail aka trams
As the Vic Railways the travelling boundary conditions are different to UK or overseas countries....
It mean more $$$ is spent on more expensive bogies, couplers, dampers, insulation etc. for each type of rolling stock further up the pecking order....
For example:
you can't expect a Interurban ex metro H set to perform like a Sleeper & Dining Rolling stock of the Southern Aurora......
Or a Velocity DMU interurban rolling stock to become to operate like Regional rolling stock like S,Z and N set.....
Without carriage specs from our engineers who are familiar with our railway rolling stock boundary conditions and requirements in our Victoria railway systems advising the manufacturers this issue will continue….
VLINE Bus – I recently travelled to Victoria from Perth and caught the VLine bus from Tullamarine Airport. Locating the buses that travel to regional Victoria was difficult. The signage at Tullamarine says Regional bus services, but that is about it! I contacted their information line only to be advised by an Indian lady that I needed to go to stand 14 and… Read more
15. She had no idea whatsoever where Kyabram was and neither did any of the other staff at the station that I asked. In the end a Bus driver from Bendigo Bus Service called his boss who advised that I needed to go to the 1st row of buses and that the VLine bus went from there. Well, I found where it was, it is stand number 4 for anybody travelling to regional Victoria. Why VLine cannot put that small but important piece of information onto their tickets is beyond belief. Poor signage and lack of ticket information is why I have given 2 stars, I would like to add that the bus driver for the coach was great and very helpful, unlike VLine. I have posted this to assist other people since VLine is incapable of providing the public with the details to have a carefree and enjoyable journey.
VLine "Quiet Carriage" is the "Noisy Carriage" – VLine has so much contempt for its customers that the "Quiet Carriage" sign says "The quiet carriage initiative is customer driven and regulated. V/Line staff do not enforce quiet carriage courtesy." Has anyone every seen what happens when you ask another passenger to be quiet? Exactly. Japan is laughing V/Line. Show details
Latest follow-ups
Paid seats, someone was in them. Track issues, train delayed by 1.5 hours. Old Korean lady playing videos on her phone at full volume, a child got on with his parent and is on his Ipad, again, at full volume. We were in the 'Quiet carriage.' Show details
Follow-up · The experience improved. Got a coach to Traf and then back on the train to Garfield
Yesterday Tuesday I went Morwell train I was pleasantly surprised there was staff there on the platform helping anyone that needed help which I needed it was so great to see I would like to thank all staff members that helped me in my journey Show details
Follow-up · one of the staff help find my taxi i didnt know what side it was on very pleasant lady, staff member on the platform offered me timetable because i was unsure of the next train
Recent reviews
The problem just gets worse and worse! Trying to catch a train to work and could not get on the train eventhough i catch the early train. It's fully packed! overcrowded! Especially on school holidays everyone going into the city. Lucky to get on the next train but about 40 other people could'nt get on. Solutions just add extra carriages and stop… Read more
allowing bikes and delivery bikes on train! Stops free public transport even if it benefits everyone! It will only adds to the problems.
Today I was left stranded by a conman who had me go to swan hill to collect a car I paid for It was a scam and I was left stranded with no way home. Then along came Peter in the vline coach. He was the most helpful person I have ever encountered. He was not only sympathetic but apologetic for the dilemma I found myself in. Swan Hill train… Read more
station was closed and I could not purchase a paper ticket. Peter stepped forward and said to me “what sort of human would I be if I left you here stranded” he helped me on board without a ticket. I even offered cash which he refused.
He absolutely brightened up what was left of my [Content Removed] day with a smile and a wink.
Management should be aware of the calibre of human being they employ.
Find out how Vline compares to other Booking Services
Know better, choose better.
Took a bus from Geelong to Ballarat assuming the bus was going all the way to ararat. I held in a long pee for 1.5 hours because i thought the driver would have a go at me based on his past aggressive behaviour. Waited till ballarat then used the toilet. He bursts in and tells me to get out while i am using the toilet. I feel completely violated.… Read more
He should be sacked for following reasons.
1: Passive aggressive behaviour with the assumption you are in the wrong before you are in the wrong.
2. Allowing Ballarat bag collectors to dump your expensive belongings on the ground assuiming they are someone elses (while you are still on the bus)
3. Very strict and passive policing remaining hostile.
4. Forcing you to place a regular backpack underneath the bus.
Worse rail line (Traralgon-Southern Cross, VIC) ever seen in the entire globe. Frequent delays, slow service, always late and substandard seatings. Pathetic option to commute. Show details
This is the most disgraceful and despicable service ever in the history of transport, the lack of commitment to communication is astonishing, like most things in Victoria, it's absolutely broken. Just wish l could give no stars!!! Show details
Vline... I mean Australian train services are shocking. Charge a ridiculous amount for passengers to travel and barely make scheduled pickups. I know vline regularly runs a full service behind and cancels them all the time. That's what happens when your privatise things to people who don't care about their country..
Vline buses servicing the seymour to shepparton route. This is the afternoon coach connecting from the train on 20th Jan, 2026. The female driver was in a hurry. Passengers that are supposed to get off in Moroopna, did not get off the bus, as the driver drove off from the moroopna bus stop. Some passengers were just standing up from their seat,… Read more
but the lady driver must be blind, or did not see properly in the rear view mirror. These moroopna passengers had to get off in Shepparton. Not a very good service from the driver.
Purchased 2 train tickets travelling from Kerang, Vic to Southern cross station at 7.38 am on Monday January 12th. Without any announcement the Train was replaced by a Bus owned by a private company( not V.line). Upon Entering the bus, We noticed the filth, Cob Webs which was disgusting. It reminded us of the public transport in 3rd world Country… Read more
when We were travelling overseas. The curtain, seats, and overheads were not cleaned for a long time. The driver decided to turn on the air-conditioning at a temperature which was freezing and unbearable. We closed the vents above us but the cold air was coming from other area. 4 hours of hell ride. As a result my better half and myself got severe cold with massive headache.They gave me a number to call but I know it is useless as it goes to the deaf ears.the Victorian government is taking us for granted. See you at the next election
There's always something wrong on the Ballarat Vline service. Sadly I have to use the train daily! Its meant to be an express but moves slow, with no explanation as to what's going on! Guess Vline doesn't think their customers deserve to know the issue! So a 5.21pm service (which should be a 40min ride) might end up being a 5hr train ride!!! Show details
Screw you are o v/line between Melbourne to Geelong. More than half an hour late and still have to pay the fair. Most unreliable service of all. Screw you you screw morons! Show details
What a trash service v/line is. Half an hour late and still pretend it is nothing. We should not have to pay for the service if it is half an hour late. Not acceptable but only in Australia. This is bad but what can you do in Australia. Should get you money back. Show details
Find out how Vline compares to other Booking Services
Know better, choose better.
Vline replace services from Melbourne to east Pakenham on traralgon and Bairnsdale lines then make you wait over 40 mins for a train to arrive. I arrived at Flinders st station at 5pm got to southern cross for the coach at 515 pm waited till 627pm for a coach got to Pakenham east at 725 pm, no information on platform or any customer service… Read more
available, over a hundred people waiting in the cold with no seats available, then only a 3 carraige train arrives , lots of people have to stand in the aisles. A pathetic effort from vline
The worst waste of taxpayer money to exist in Australia is vline. Always late. Always wasting taxpayer money this out of date obsolete under resourced crime against taxpayers and civilisation is sure to ruin your day and the world around you. What an absolute disgrace Show details
Went from Melbourne to Albury and back last week. The journey was very comfortable and the train left on time. On the way back before Melbourne the train was very slow and sometimes came to a complete stop. This needs to be improved. Also the English grammar of the person announcing needs to reflect that we are in an English speaking country. He said arriving to Wodonga but the screen showed arriving at Wodonga. Show details
If there’s ever a time this service doesn’t either 1. Have a coach replacement from Geelong due to incompetency on their own part 2. Run ridiculously late due to some sort of blockage on the rails, you’re not on Vline. Nothing has changed in the last 20 years in regards to addressing issues and emergencies. Absolutely ridiculous, the level of… Read more
organisation and commitment to transporting their customers is essentially non-existent.
Currently waiting at Geelong station after they announced that there’s at least 90 minute delay due to “Technical difficulties”.
I usually take the Donnybrook VLine and today the train at 750am got cancelled. The announcement could barely be heard. The update on the app is lagging. I'm in replacement bus direct to Southern Cross but since 8am till now, 826am, we are still stuck in Donnybrook.. why? The traffic is so bad! If we were notified way earlier, one can make the… Read more
concious judgement to drive and park at a metro train line.
I cannot imagine the stress that so many people have to endure when such situations happens... the stress is tremendous.
I have a meeting at 10am in the office and I highly doubt I can get there on time.
Victoria Public Transport, you can do better The stress you cause to MANY is damaging.
The announcements don't need to be able to penetrative noise cancelling headphones. I can't avoid them when I'm trying to not be overstimulated as is. You've made them accessible for one group, but completely inaccessible for others (sensory sensitivities). And announcements going longer than 20 seconds are just ridiculous. "This is an x train, going from y to z, express from a to b" IS ALL IT HAS TO BE. Show details
I booked tickets to go to Melbourne from Adelaide on the 14th May. Due to personal circumstances I had to cancel them on the 23rd May. Today is the 5th June & no refund. Call them to be told it hasn't been processed!!! WTH!!! So after being told to wait 7-10 business days, I now have to wait another 3-5 business to get it. My daughter died on… Read more
Friday & I have been desperately waiting for the refund & I'm angry. Really bloody angry. Good on you Vline for such fantastic customer service (insert heavy sarcasm). You could at least call your customers to say there's a delay but no that's too bloody hard for you muppets
They don’t even deserve 1 star. Literally everyday last week, they had train fault issues. Lots of delays, cancellations and reduced carriages. The most important thing also was no proper announcement! Staff members said nothing about circumstances, that made passengers more frustrated. Being late for work, being late for picking up child. My $11… Read more
is just up in the air. Just came back from qld which you only pay $0.5 for a trip and on time. Ridiculous.
Extra Information
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.