Managing disruptions affecting Victoria's public transport network

Why this is important

We will assess whether public transport agencies and operators effectively manage disruptions affecting Victoria’s public transport network. This encompasses disruptions caused by planned and unplanned situations.

Our engagement will focus on whether transport bodies and public transport operators are prepared to effectively respond to disruptions. This includes their policies, plans and procedures, and how effectively they have responded to disruptions.

The audit period is from 2021–22, which marks the end of COVID-19 restrictions and a return to higher use of public transport.

What we plan to examine

We plan to examine whether public transport agencies and operators effectively manage disruptions affecting Victoria’s public transport network.

Who we plan to examine

Department of Transport and Planning, Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, Department of Justice and Community Safety (Emergency Management Victoria), Metro Trains, V/Line, VicTrack, Yarra Trams, and the bus operators CDC Victoria and Kinetic.

Further information

This topic was in the Annual Plan 2023–24, referred to as Compliance with emergency management requirements: transport. The topic was replaced in the 2023–24 work program with our engagement on the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Preliminary research identified that managing public transport disruptions is broader than just compliance with emergency obligations as reflected in the original topic published in the Annual Plan 2023–24. This research found that while transport bodies have compliance obligations around transport-related vital critical infrastructure, there have been few incidents resulting in disruption to public transport services that classify as emergencies.

Furthermore, to date, the responses to emergencies that have disrupted transport services have not been under the control of Department of Transport and Planning or public transport operators, under the arrangements in the State Emergency Management Plan.

Therefore, the scope now includes the management of planned and unplanned disruptions. The analysis of unplanned disruptions will still encompass emergencies but also non-emergency situations that cause unexpected disruption to public transport services.

Relevant agencies have been consulted on the revised scope.