Key train lines remain suspended as a crane arrives to lift carriage derailed at Clifton Hill

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Train services on Melbourne’s Hurstbridge and Mernda lines remain suspended indefinitely, with buses replacing trains after a carriage partially derailed at Clifton Hill on Sunday.

A crane is currently being used at the site of the incident in Clifton Hill to remove the derailed carriage. The Age understands that, once the carriage is removed, Metro Trains will be able to assess the extent of the damage to the rail infrastructure.

The train partially derailed in Clifton Hill on Sunday night when the antenna-like structure on top of a carriage became caught in overhead wires.

The partially derailed train became stuck on the tracks at a bottleneck on the Melbourne network on Sunday evening, causing major delays for commuters in the city’s north-east.

The train, which had 55 passengers on it, was travelling south on the Mernda line towards Clifton Hill station when the pantograph – the antenna-like structure that connects the train to overhead wires – became entangled in overhead wires, causing a set of wheels on a carriage to come off the tracks about 10.30pm Sunday.

A Metro Trains spokesperson said all passengers were evacuated safely by officers and that services had been suspended.

Two train lines have been suspended indefinitely after a passenger train came off the rails at Clifton Hill.

As of Tuesday morning, passengers using the Hurstbridge line have been instructed to use replacement buses between Eltham and Parliament stations. Mernda line passengers will find replacement buses servicing Reservoir to Parliament.

According to a statement from the Department of Transport and Planning on Tuesday morning, trains are continuing to operate between Mernda and Reservoir, and Hurstbridge and Eltham, with delays likely.

“We ask passengers planning travel this evening to check station platform displays, listen for announcements, and allow extra time for their journey,” it said.

“Our signals team is monitoring conditions in the area and will adjust traffic lights to assist with bus movements.”

There is no information at this stage as to when normal services will resume.

Motorists are being asked to take extra care around train stations on both lines, given the additional bus and pedestrian traffic.

Buses had already been operating between Heidelberg and Eltham due to planned works.