I was advised about Telstra’s outage via cabbie before heading to the platform at Southern Cross.
I had info the Swan Hill was VN14 for the day BUT that went south very quickly.
when I noticed a bunch of custom staff gathered in big group.
Time line is was as follows:
06:29 notification from V/Line All train services of V/Line delayed until father notice Telstra is down and train radio lost communication!!!
07:26-All services are held due to a radio network fault affecting all lines.
Very limited coach replacement services will be available. Passengers are advised to defer travel where possible.
Further travel advice to follow.
By then all there were crowds forming and bewildered travellers and customer staff caught out with the limited info.
It was a mess!
All services are held due to a radio network fault affecting all lines. Very limited coach replacement services will be available. Passengers are advised to defer travel where possible.
— V/Line Bendigo Line (@vline_bendigo) July 7, 2026
I had settled in a 07:26 Warrnambool Service which has being impacted.
Whist waiting for more advice ate breakfast
Shortly a two crew staff reluctantly advise the passenger and myself was to leave as the train has being cancelled and was now replace via coaches!
I sighed and left the warmth of the 07:26 train service to Warrnambool.
As it just being cancelled went with the crowd and to find another train a Metro train.
Today was a Royal Goose Egg!!!
As all train services were halted none going in and none going out of Southern Cross!!!
From what I understand it was a nationwide outage of Telstra impacting other services not only the train communication system in V/Line
Other states were impacted too I heard freight movements has being halted too within. Vic
This was later confirmed at 10:06 the XPT from NSW at a stand still was sighted at Broadmeadows.
looking in the windows of the train passing by via Metro it looked they booted the passengers off as it was empty!!!
Returning back to Southern Cross I saw 11:44 Wendouree service at 15 B, that too was cancelled.
I saw the inactive train at platform but notice short train movement limited to the yard and station areas of Southern Cross Station ie: empty train shuffled around at odd intervals.
Obeservations:
It seem look to me that the train and the crew may out of position through the system due the Telstra outage of the train communications ie: ice radio etc.
Why does it look that they put their eggs in one basket when telco companies that general public uses are susceptible to outages?
Do you think the older system that Vic Railways used the staff and ticket system could used as back up in case telco goes down again?
Please refer to link for more info of the staff and ticket used in rly operations:
I wonder if there should be investigation within on how to put safeguard to prevent the trains system being halted because of Telco Provider ie: Telstra etc. goes out?
Do you think back up provider for emergency for train radio communication could help prevent such widespread disruption?
Despite this Metro Train were still rolling at the time of the outage.
I understand Metro uses another telco provider, not Telstra. But I feel the rail operators should two provider for train Comms as if when goes out, it can still switch the other and continue on as usual.
As I remember Optus too went out and they had their fair share if issues too!
7/7/2026 Telstra goes down and all service impacted
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One thought on “Telstra outage & V/Line train system at a stand still!”
V/Line relies on the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) because it operates the National Train Communications System (NTCS). This network provides the essential, safety-critical data and voice links required for regional trains to communicate with control centres and trackside workers.
V/Line relies on the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) because it operates the National Train Communications System (NTCS). This network provides the essential, safety-critical data and voice links required for regional trains to communicate with control centres and trackside workers.