Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) grains group president Brett Hosking has queried V/Line’s decision to suspend services on northern railway lines, in high temperatures.
V/Line’s updated freight rail network service plan has imposed restrictions on the several lines once the temperature exceeds 33 degrees.
Mr Hosking said graingrowers understood the need for safety, but had questions about the notice they’d been given, particularly in light of the record harvest.
“They didn’t inform us, we happened across it on their website; it would be nice if they consulted with industry before making these decisions,” Mr Hosking said.
Freight services on the Swan Hill, Echuca, Shepparton, Murrayville, Mildura and Dimboola-Yaapeet lines would stop, once the daytime temperature reached 33C.
A higher limit, 36C, has been imposed on the Manangatang and Sea Lake lines.
V/Line spokewoman Catalina Filip said the restrictions followed a derailment, at Ouyen, earlier this year.
"These restrictions are in place to ensure the safety of freight services during hot weather,” Ms Filip said.
"We understand this year's bumper grain crop will mean more freight movements will be needed, and we are looking at what can be done to meet the needs of farmers and freight operators."
The restrictions were applied in January, when V/Line stopped trains operating when temperatures reached 30 degrees.
The limit had been lifted, this summer, to 33 degrees.
The restrictions come into effect around noon and remain in place, until the temperature dropped.
Mr Hosking, Quambatook, said the restrictions pointed to the urgent need to complete the upgrade of the Murray Basin rail line.
“By the end of 2018, we are expecting to see all lines completed,” Mr Hosking said.
“I think the heat issues have emphasised the need for the upgrade, at 33 degrees, most people don’t drag the budgie smugglers out, it needs to be a bit hotter than that.”
He said in January and February, 33 degrees “was on the cooler side” in the Mallee and Wimmera.
“The paradox of it is that while we understand it, for safety reasons, it’s not so much speed restrictions as total cessation of the use of the line – that creates a whole series of safety issues in another area,” he said.
“When your next alternative is to replace one single train with 50 B-doubles, charging up and down the highway, it causes a whole heap of safety issues, of its own.”
State opposition Agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said the government’s neglect of the country rail network was making life harder for farmers.
“Temperatures above 33 degrees are an average summer day in much of Victoria’s north, so to force freight services to stop when temperatures exceed 33 degrees is ridiculous,” Mr Walsh said.
“The rail network is the critical link between paddock and port for Victoria’s grain farmers during harvest and Labor’s restrictions couldn’t come at a worse time.
“It just shows that under Daniel Andrews and his city-centric Labor Government, it doesn’t matter what you put into our state, if you live outside of Melbourne you are a second-class citizen.”
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allen said she had directed V/Line to look at what could be done to address the issue.
“We need to ensure primary producers can get their product to port over summer, but we need to ensure this is done safely,” Ms Allen said.
"Unlike for the former Government, who neglected Victoria's freight network, we're building a better one.
"Our Murray Basin Rail Project will upgrade the freight network in Northern Victoria, boosting the safety, reliability and capacity of services and supporting farmers, their families and our regional economy."
