Shepparton V/Line passengers will be riding on buses for four weeks this March, as further works are carried out as part of the Shepparton Line Upgrade.
Buses are replacing trains between Southern Cross, Seymour and Shepparton from March 8 to April 1.
From April 1 to April 6, buses will replace trains between Seymour and Shepparton, connecting with trains between Southern Cross and Seymour.
The works include the finishing touches of stage two of the upgrade, with the remaining infrastructure to be made ready for service as crews carry out signalling work, safety testing and driver training.
“These works will improve journeys and make it easier for passengers on the Shepparton line to get where they need to go,” state Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said.
While trains are not running on the line, new infrastructure will be integrated into the existing network.
When trains resume in April, the new stabling facility north of Shepparton, which was built to house VLocity trains, will begin operating.
Part of stage three of the project, an extended passing loop at Murchison East, has been fast-tracked and will allow a freight train and two VLocity trains to pass each other.
This is ahead of the introduction of nine daily return services on the line.
V/Line will carry out work to deliver a modern signalling system between Craigieburn and Seymour, as well as annual maintenance on the line.