Peak-hour chaos after train slams into two cars on Pakenham line
Thousands of commuters were stranded at stations in Melbourne's south-east after a train slammed into two cars left on the Pakenham line during the morning peak hour.
It is believed the drivers of two cars were involved in a minor nose-to-tail crash at Brunt Road, Officer, about 7am when they left their vehicles on the tracks to exchange details.
An oncoming train on the Pakenham line, which had only just reopened after a partial closures of more than a week for Metro Tunnel works, applied its emergency brakes but hit the cars.
One of the cars was trapped under the train and pushed about 150 metres down the tracks.
The other car was pushed into the boom gates and ended up on the opposite side of the intersection.
The occupants of both cars had moved out of the way in time and no one was injured.
The incident triggered heavy peak-hour delays for commuters on the Pakenham line who board at Berwick, Beaconsfield, Officer, Cardinia Road and Pakenham stations.
Metro sent 25 replacement buses. PTV says the accident is not expected to be cleared until midday.
V/Line passengers on the Gippsland line also need to board replacement coaches between Pakenham and Southern Cross.
Public Transport Victoria spokeswoman Georgia Main said the train driver saw the cars, sounded the horn and applied emergency brakes before hitting the vehicles.
"The train driver’s pretty shaken, but OK," she said.
Commuter Matt McMaster estimated about 1200 people were stranded on the platform at Berwick about 7.30am.
"For a foreseeable scenario, there seems to be no real plan in place," he said.
"Coffee van seem to be the only ones happy."
Angry commuters have slammed the motorists involved, calling for them to face consequences.
"Two morons don't safely position their cars post crash. Even if your car is an a-class write-ff, just do anything to clear the track," Tom Reynolds tweeted.
"I hope the idiotic drivers are charged ... how dumb can people be," DJ posted.
With Robyn Grace