Melbourne: train stoppage

Melbourne's public transport system is facing a chaotic day as train staff walk off the job, putting more pressure on the city's tram network and roads.

About 700 train services will be cancelled as union members stop work for four hours from 10:00am amid an increasingly bitter pay dispute between Metro Trains and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).

But Metro has warned there would be delays and disruptions all day, with services being thinned back from 8:15am.

Key points:

• Almost 700 train services cancelled across metropolitan Melbourne
• Network to be affected between 8:30am and 4:30pm
• VicRoads warn of extended peak hour, heavy traffic
• Melburnians urged to be patient, seek alternate transport

They are not expected to be fully up and running again until 4:30pm.

Limited replacement bus services will operate on all lines and tram services will operate normally, but are expected to be crowded.

VicRoads has warned conditions on the roads could be heavy, with travel times doubling and peak hour extending longer than usual.

It has called off any unnecessary roadworks within a 15-kilometre radius of the city to avoid causing further problems.

There is also expected to be a big increase in taxi usage, with the Taxi Commission allowing peak service taxis to operate during the day.

Country services will be affected only slightly, with V/Line trains operating throughout the industrial action.

But they will not stop at any metropolitan stations, instead running express to and from Southern Cross Station.

Jeroen Weimar from Public Transport Victoria urged people to be patient and avoid unnecessary travel.

"There will be serious disruption on the Metro network today," he said.

'We're expecting significant loadings on the tram and bus network.

"We expect disruption to start at 8:30 in the morning and by about 4pm in the afternoon we should have services running normally again on the Metro network and across the rest of Melbourne.

"We would ask customers to please check in advance if your trains are running and be prepared to use alternative forms of transport."