V/Line did not clean the train after the graffiti was found yesterday morning, and it was used for a return service to Melbourne.

A source close to the company said the incident — and the fact the graffiti wasn’t cleaned — was part of a wider disregard the company and state and federal governments had towards the North East train line.

The vandalised train leaks effluent onto train tracks, the source said, and the 1980s rolling stock has not been cleaned for months.

“There are real problems with this service,” they said.

“Things aren’t being repaired when they should be and they tend to try to isolate something rather than repair it.

“The Albury line seems to be the poor second cousin to the rest of the system.

“There are things failing all the time and on other lines the trains get removed and repaired.”

The train was already covered in dirt, grime and grease when the vandals attacked on Sunday night or early yesterday morning.

Passenger Laura Uniacke said the graffiti “didn’t look particularly nice”.

A woman who did not give her name said the graffiti was “awful” and “just disgusting”.

Another commuter, Jacqueline Anstey, had travelled with her daughter Keira Scott, 8, and said she hadn’t been too concerned with the graffiti.

“The journey itself was smooth and punctual, there were no complaints there,” she said.

“But we were in first class and it was pretty grubby.”

V/Line spokesperson Ebony Jordan said the rail operator was frustrated by the incident. 

“V/Line is working closely with NSW police to find those responsible for this reckless behaviour,” she said.   

“It's extremely frustrating and will not be tolerated.

“The affected carriage will go in for cleaning tonight and will be replaced by a carriage set, which is coming out of maintenance.

“This will be a straight swap and will mean we won't have to use replacement coaches.

“Our customers are our number one priority and this decision was based around causing the least amount of disruption to their services.”