'Completely unacceptable': Two train drivers attacked by rock-throwers
A train driver has been hospitalised after rocks were hurled through the front window of a moving freight train, while a second claims he was also the target of a similar attack on Wednesday night.
The first driver was travelling on the Mornington Peninsula near Tyabb station when rocks were thrown at his freight train, leaving him with upper body injuries.
He was taken to Frankston Hospital in a stable condition. Police are now investigating.
Another train driver, who has requested not to be named, claims rocks were thrown at his train on the Pakenham line just before reaching Officer.
The second driver said he saw what he believed to be a young person deliberately throw a rock at his window.
"Usually they aim for the side of the train – this time they went for me," said the driver, who was thankful the window was strong enough to withstand the impact.
"I've been driving for decades ... I'm guessing this has happened to me more than a dozen times."
Police were not made aware of the Pakenham line incident.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union secretary Luba Grigorovitch said she had been informed by authorities the suspects in the incident at Tyabb were believed to be "young people".
Ms Grigorovitch said the unprovoked attack was unacceptable and put the safety of both the train's driver and its passengers at risk.
"No one goes to work to be in harm's way. It's completely unacceptable," she said on 3AW radio.
The events come months after a Melbourne truck driver was forced to swerve into an emergency lane on the Western Highway, after a 12kg rock was thrown through his windscreen by a group of young people on an overpass.
The incident, which occurred while the driver was travelling at 100km/h, was captured on dash-cam footage.
In South Australia, several similar incidents on Adelaide freeways prompted state parliament to debate a bill to double the penalties for rock-throwing from five to 10 years' jail.
Anyone with information about the Tyabb incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.