THE unexpected closure of the Hamilton V/Line office in recent weeks is continuing to cause upset to the many local commuters caught off guard.

Lowan MP and deputy leader of the Nationals, Emma Kealy, said on Monday that her office had been inundated with calls from distressed locals following the surprise closure of the existing Hamilton office.

Ms Kealy said western Victoria was already severely disadvantaged in terms of public transport.

She said permanent closure of the office would not only result in a loss of local jobs, but also a significant loss of service for local people. It means the only options for buying tickets now, is either online or queueing to purchase directly from the bus driver.

Moreover, no notice of the closure of the Hamilton office was given.

“The sudden closure of the Hamilton ticketing office is already negatively affecting users,” Ms Kealy said.

“The elderly and those with mobility issues are particularly affected and are finding it extremely difficult having to wait in a queue to buy their tickets off the bus driver.”

A V/Line spokesperson responded to a January 25 story in the Hamilton Spectator and said the recent closures were only temporary.

“All coaches servicing Hamilton, Mortlake and Dunkeld are equipped with an onboard ticketing system so passengers can purchase a ticket once boarding the coach using either cash or card,” they said.

However, Ms Kealy said that this extra work was more pressure for the driver, “who now has the added job of selling tickets as well as attending to other patrons and their luggage”.

“There is an extremely tight turnaround timeframe at the stop and there is simply not enough time for bus drivers to sell all the tickets required, load luggage and help people who need assistance onto the bus ready for departure.”

The spokesperson said V/Line was working closely with the local community to explore options for other businesses to sell V/Line tickets in these towns.

“Tickets are also available for purchase on the V/Line website,” they said.

Passengers who purchase a ticket from the V/Line website can either have the ticket mailed to their address or show their confirmation email to the driver on a mobile device.

Ms Kealy asked the Public Transport minister, Ben Carroll, in Parliament earlier this month to state what the Victorian Government’s plans were regarding reopening a Hamilton V/Line office.

Ms Kealy asked minister Carroll, “why did Labor support this?”

“Did he approve of the closure of the Hamilton office?” she asked.

“What businesses have been approached to provide an opportunity to become a V/Line ticketing agent?”

Ms Kealy said a similar situation occurred in April 2021 with the closure of the Horsham V/Line ticketing office.

“It was only after huge community outcry that Labor acted to find another agent, with the Horsham Library eventually stepping up and taking on the role early in 2022, some nine months later,” she said.

“I am calling on the Andrews Labor Government to act quickly to appoint a new V/Line ticketing agent in Hamilton to ensure the limited public transport services we do have are not reduced even further.”

V/Line Corporation was contacted for a reply to Ms Kealy’s comments, with a spokesperson responding that “V/Line is continuing to work closely with the local community to explore options for an agent to sell tickets in Hamilton”.

“We know our ticket agents are an important service for locals and we will keep passengers informed with any developments.”