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BALLARAT V/Line commuters are benefiting from increased information through the use of social networking platforms, the rail authority says.

Around 100 new commuters each month are following a special Ballarat line Twitter account, offering timely updates on service cancellations and delays.

V/Line spokesperson Daniel Moloney said the operator was the first to introduce accounts for specific routes and staff were regularly communicating with passengers in real time.

"Twitter allows us to quickly get information out which passengers see as relevant and up-to-date," Mr Moloney said.

"We will monitor messages which are directed back to us and sometimes they will alert us to something we weren't expecting on the network and we can take action as required."

Mr Moloney said Twitter was providing a free alternative to more costly SMS notifications systems for passengers.

"Hopefully we will get to the point where we can stop using the SMS system in favour of these other methods, but we are not at that point yet," he said.

Public Transport Users Association regional spokesperson Paul Westcott said the initiative was increasing commuter awareness.

"The biggest complaint that we get as an organisation is that passengers are not aware when problems arise on the network or there are delays, and social networking certainly helps that," he said.

"Any method for getting people information as quickly as possible has to be a good development.

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Social networking helps V/Line commuters