North Melbourne train station evacuated after suspicious item found
Updated
A suspicious item has prompted the evacuation of North Melbourne train station during the height of the morning peak, and train services have been delayed after many were ground to a halt for more than half an hour.
The Craigieburn, Upfield, Sunbury, Werribee and Williamstown lines were all affected after the station, a major interchange point with six platforms, was closed around 8:00am.
The suburban services, as well as country services run by regional operator V/Line, were affected by ongoing delays after the station reopened.
Commuters were this morning cramming onto packed replacement buses to get into the city, and some were choosing to walk from stations including Kensington and South Kensington.
ABC News reporter James Dean was among the thousands of affected commuters.
"We were actually on the train about to leave Footscray station, and then the announcement came over that everyone had to get off the train because we're not leaving in either direction due to a police operation at North Melbourne station," he said.
"Apart from that, we were just told buses would be coming.
"But at this stage only a couple of buses have come for hundreds of people, and we're all kind of just stranded here just waiting for a bus."
The station reopened just before 9:30am after the device was declared safe.
Metro Trains has apologised for any inconvenience.
Topics: emergency-incidents, north-melbourne-3051, melbourne-3000, vic
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