A widespread Telstra mobile network outage on July 8, 2026, has caused massive disruptions across Victoria’s regional train network. The outage, which began around 5:00 am AEST, has left thousands of customers unable to make calls or use mobile data, with some devices entering SOS-only mode. This telecommunications failure has directly impacted V/Line services, as a radio network fault prevents trains from operating safely. Consequently, dozens of services are currently stationary at regional and suburban Melbourne stations. The Department of Transport confirmed the link between the Telstra outage and the rail disruptions. V/Line has advised the 70,000 daily commuters to defer travel where possible, noting that only very limited coach replacement services are available. Similar network issues were observed during a previous Optus outage in November 2023, which similarly paralyzed Melbourne's transport systems.