SMS Disruption Alerts

Keeping our neighbours informed – SMS Trial

Every week Metro completes $12 million of work to maintain and renew our infrastructure, trains and technology. And we’re helping to deliver an unprecedented pipeline of major network improvements such as level crossing removals, the Metro Tunnel, bigger trains and new stations and track. We thank our passengers for their patience while we complete critical upgrade works that will deliver lasting benefits for all

What is the SMS Trial?

In addition to passenger impacts, Metro Train’s maintenance and renewal (M&R) works can potentially impact residents, traders and the community. From a community point of view, the most significant impacts of M&R works can be low to high levels of noise, particularly at night as well as lane or road closures.

Metro works hard to notify residents and traders that they may be impacted by M&R works via a night works notice at a minimum 7 days prior to works.

In December 2023, Metro Trains carried out the first SMS trial for the closure of a level crossing for track renewal works.

The second trial will be for a section of the Werribee and Williamstown lines and will cover M&R works from Friday March 22 to Wednesday 27 March, between North Melbourne and Newport.

How do residents and traders sign up?
Traders and residents who are near the railway lines and fall within the standard drop zone for works notices will receive information about the trial with details on how to sign-up via a DL postcard.

To participate in the trial, they can text West to 0447 496 786 to sign up for SMS alerts.

What happens if residents and traders choose not to sign up?

For residents and traders who choose not to opt into the trial, they will know the dates and limits of the works. The night works and impacts will also be published on Metro’s planned works page.

Will Metro use the details of residents and traders after the trial?

No, the opportunity to opt-in to SMS updates for works is only for this specific weekend. Depending on this trial, Metro will determine the feasibility of rolling this out to impacted residents’ network-wide.

Will residents and traders be provided an opportunity to provide feedback after the trial?

Following the completion of the works, residents/traders who choose to participate in the trial will be given the opportunity to provide feedback.

As an added incentive to provide feedback, a $100 myki voucher will be up for grabs.

The results of the survey will determine the feasibility of rolling it out further.

Can residents and traders opt-out of the trial?

The use of personal information must comply with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) which contains a set of Information Privacy Principles (IPPs). The IPPs set out several principles which must be followed when handling the personal information of any individual.

To ensure that the use of SMS is in line with privacy obligations, we will never add a person’s contact details to the trial without their consent. They will have to subscribe to be a part of the trial.

In addition, to meet privacy guidelines, each SMS must end with an unsubscribe messaging – “Reply STOP to opt out”.

Collection of personal information will be in accordance with the Privacy Policies of Metro Trains Melbourne (metrotrains.com.au/privacy/) and Sinch MessageMedia (messagemedia.com/au/legal/privacy-policy/) .