Some regional Victorian train platforms too short for six-carriage VLocity trains

More than one-third of regional Victorian platforms are too short to accommodate V/Line's six-carriage VLocity trains.

V/Line runs passenger trains to more than 90 stations across the state, 36 of which have at least one platform that is too short to accommodate the rail operator's most up-to-date service.

But that is not where the shortfall ends, according to Victoria's Public Transport Users Association (PTUA).

"Some [of those] platforms can't even accommodate three-carriage trains, so there's a problem there," PTUA spokesperson Paul Westcott said.

Regional Victoria has at least 13 stations where the trains in operation overhang the station.

Mr Westcott said that put commuters at risk.

"It's obviously a big safety problem," he said.

V/Line runs a mix of trains across its network, with six-carriage VLocity services mainly running between major cities within a few hours of Melbourne.

"Obviously, the patronage is also lower the further you get out from the centre [of Melbourne], but in the end, the principal limitation is the unavailability of platforms," Mr Westcott said.

Stations need to be at least 159 metres long to accommodate a six-carriage VLocity service. 

How long?

The danger associated with short platforms was highlighted when Daniel Kelly broke his leg after stepping off a V/Line train at Pyramid Hill on the Swan Hill line, north-west of Echuca.

The train was longer than the platform. Mr Kelly fell onto the tracks, breaking his tibia.

V/Line has since introduced new safety measures on the Swan Hill line, including the use of "pull-up banners" to block carriage doors at short platforms.

The PTUA said four of Victoria's shortest platforms — Dingee (72m), Elmore (73m), Pyramid (77m) and Heathcote Junction (45m) — could not safely accommodate a three-carriage service.

V/Line said it had more than 90 stations across the network, with many platforms built decades ago and designed for Victoria's rail system and rolling stock at the time.

In a statement, the Victorian government said announcements and assistance were available for passengers when boarding and exiting the train at stations where the platform was shorter than the train.

Build it and they will come?

The PTUA wants the state government to extend short platforms, arguing it would future-proof the network and ease overcrowding on three-carriage services.

But some regional advocates say more carriages are the priority.

Border Rail Action Group spokesperson John Dunstan said north-east Victoria was suffering from overcrowding and a lack of rolling stock.

Most services were overbooked, with passengers either put on buses or forced to stand all the way to Melbourne, he said.

"Given the lack of money and interest [from the] Victorian government in spending money on regional rail, we're not going to be asking for these platforms to be extended because whatever millions are spent on that would not be going to new carriages," Mr Dunstan said.

He said V/Line should investigate modifying its control systems to lock certain doors when trains pulled into shorter stations, as an additional safety measure.

The ABC understands station upgrades are prioritised based on patronage, demand, regional growth, safety and accessibility.