V/Line - articles discussion etc

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/1091-first-vline-albury-line-trains-to-recommence-26-june-2011.html

First V/Line Albury line trains to recommence 26 June 2011

Thursday, 02 June 2011
From the Minister for Public Transport

The Coalition Government is pleased to announce that the first daily return V/Line train on the Albury line will recommence on Sunday 26 June, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.

Mr Mulder said that the first V/Line trains to recommence would be the 6.35am from Albury to Southern Cross and the 12 noon from Southern Cross to Albury.

"Each V/Line Albury line train should have five passenger carriages and 370 seats," Mr Mulder said.

"V/Line expects to resume running the morning train from Southern Cross to Wangaratta and the early afternoon train from Wangaratta to Southern Cross in August 2011. These trains will have temporary coach connections to or from Albury due to Australian Rail Track Corporation rerailing works that continue until the end of September 2011.

"V/Line should complete the return of its trains on the Albury line by November 2011, with the evening train from Southern Cross to Albury and the late afternoon train from Albury/Wodonga to carry passengers every day."

Mr Mulder stressed that until the second and third daily return V/Line trains returned, V/Line passengers could continue to use local V/Line trains from Southern Cross to Seymour and coach connections beyond to Benalla, Wangaratta, Albury/Wodonga and a host of other northeast towns.

"Passengers will continue to be able to make a day return trip from the northeast to Melbourne seven days a week, just as they can at present.

"Existing arrangements where passengers can travel at V/Line fares on Countrylink's two daily return XPT trains between Southern Cross and Benalla, Wangaratta and Albury will continue. Passengers will also be able to use the longstanding weekday V/Line coach from Seymour to Albury that was in operation before the temporary arrangements.

"Countrylink's XPT trains will be altered to also stop at Broadmeadows and Seymour in each direction. This will make it easier for residents of Broadford, Seymour and Yea travelling to and from Wagga Wagga and Sydney on these twice daily Countrylink interstate trains.

"Local MPs including Bill Tilley (Benambra), Cindy McLeish (Seymour), Bill Sykes (Benalla) and Tim McCurdy (Murray Valley) have worked tirelessly to advocate for the return of passenger trains.

"Northeast Coalition MPs have stressed to me that since the previous Labor Government ceased running V/Line local trains between Seymour and Albury on 8 November 2008, patronage on V/Line's combined train and coaches has dropped by around 30 per cent compared with the previous through trains.

Mr Mulder said that V/Line would organise a small community event for Saturday 25 June.

"V/Line will announce further details closer to that date.

"V/Line's northeast line does not just have trains stopping at Seymour, Avenel, Euroa, Violet Town, Benalla, Wangaratta, Springhurst, Chiltern, Wodonga and Albury. It also has coach or coach and taxi connections to many destinations including Beechworth, Bendigo, Bright, Corowa, Mt Beauty, Myrtleford, Rutherglen, Shepparton and Yarrawonga.

"A major benefit for northeast Victoria is that every V/Line Southern Cross to Albury and return train will be able to carry up to 30 bikes in a van attached to the five passenger carriages.

"Cycling tourism brings visitors and dollars to communities such as Wangaratta, Benalla and Bright."

Mr Mulder said that seat bookings were compulsory and could be made at any V/Line staffed station or by calling 13 61 96.

"Tickets may also be purchased online at www.vline.com.au and can then be posted with sufficient notice or picked up at a staffed station. V/Line will publish detailed revised Albury line timetables in the near future.

"Passengers need to be aware that with V/Line trains using the standard gauge line from 26 June 2011, some platform arrangements at intermediate stations will change, particularly at Broadmeadows and intermediate stations between Seymour and Wodonga. V/Line will publicise the changed platform arrangements at stations, through the media and on the www.vline.com.au Internet site.

"Northeast Victorian and Border residents can look forward to up to five daily return trains using either Countrylink or V/Line rollingstock by the end of the year along with one weekday return train and coach via Seymour. This is a good frequency that will help to build tourism and stimulate economic development in northeast Victoria," Mr Mulder said.

[somebody]

That will be the standard gauge trains.  Ideally there would be standardisation of the Shepparton line also, and have two SG tracks to Seymour rather than 2 BG + 1 SG.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

V/Line train runs out of puff

V/Line train runs out of puff

   Staff Writer
   From: Herald Sun
   July 28, 2011 12:00AM

COUNTRY rail operator V/Line will investigate how a diesel locomotive was allowed to run out of fuel, delaying thousands of commuters in Melbourne's west yesterday.

The passenger train was on its way to the city from Marshall on the Geelong line when it came to a halt at Footscray about 5.45am.

Delays of up to an hour resulted on the Williamstown and Werribee lines in both directions.

A V/Line spokeswoman said the locomotive's driver checked an outside gauge before departure and it appeared there was enough fuel.

There was no gauge inside the cabin to give any indication of a problem.

"I apologise unreservedly," the spokeswoman said.

"Now it is up to us to work out why the gauge didn't correspond to the fuel in the tank."

Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vline-train-runs-out-of-puff/story-e6frf7jo-1226102957786

[ozbob]

From the Sunraysia Daily click here!

Nor th, by snail rail: A new fast train would be a good investment


http://static.lifeislocal.com.au/multimedia/images/large/1348091.jpg
Fast train: The VLocity train goes from Melbourne to Bendigo in 90 minutes.

Nor th, by snail rail: A new fast train would be a good investment
BY GRAEME O'NEILL
30 Jul, 2011 04:00 AM
IN 1888, Victoria's first irrigation settlement began lobbying the State Government for a train service, barely a year after Mildura was founded. It was exactly a century after the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Cove to found Australia's first European settlement.

In those can-do days, the spirit of nation building still ran strong in politicians and communities. Within 15 years, Mildura had its train, and a railway station, despite an intervening depression, and more time wasted while lobby groups argued with the state government over the route. The government originally nominated a route through Ultima, between Swan Hill and Sea Lake, before changing its mind at the 11th hour and extending the line from Woomelang.

On Friday, November 13, 1903, then Victorian Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, assured several thousand people at the opening ceremony "there is no line in Victoria which has been so much needed".

And here we are, 108 years later, bereft a passenger train for all of 18 years, waiting for yet another metrocentric Victorian State Government to acknowledge that the world does not end at Bendigo.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday's Sunraysia Daily 30/7/2011.

[Stillwater]

Victoria's rail developments and V-Line trains have helped drive that state's decentralisation and more homogeneous population dispersement.  Victoria's population growth is similar to that of Queensland.  Queensland's answer is the build new ghetto cities (Caloundra South), while Victoria's is to rely on the natural expansion of mid-size towns (Seymour) and large provincial cities (Ballarat-Bendigo).  If anyone has come across a study by a reputable university or institution that looks at the impact of improved railway services to rural and regional Victoria, let me know.

[Stillwater]

Extract from a recent V/Line annual report, bolding added:

We're also working hard to grow V/Line, because we believe our growth will further support country communities. Not since the 1940s have so many people travelled around the state by coach and train. There are more services than ever before and unprecedented resources are being invested into regional infrastructure.

And in the coming years we plan to play an even bigger role in the regional economy as we encourage more people out of Melbourne to visit the country.

One of the key issues now facing V/Line is the explosion in passenger numbers as people recognise the advantages of quality public transport and seek an affordable alternative to rising petrol prices.

Early in this decade there was little if any growth in patronage of our rail services. This changed dramatically
following the major infrastructure upgrades of 2005 and 2006, the subsequent roll-out of 40 new VLocity trains
(5,600 extra seats), an average 20 per cent fare reduction in 2007, and the introduction of thousands of extra
services from 2006.

While external influences such as rising fuel prices have clearly been a factor, there is no doubt that government
investment in infrastructure upgrades and rolling stock have also been major catalysts for patronage increases
of 29 per cent in 2006–07 and 23 per cent in 2007–08.

Not since the gold-rush era of the 1850s has the role of rail been so important to the economy and lifestyles
enjoyed in Victorian towns and cities.

Efficiencies and increased patronage have seen a significant decrease in the subsidy per passenger.  The overall passenger subsidy in 2006-07 was $200.1 million or $22.74 per passenger. For 2007–08 the subsidy was $218.7 million, with subsidy per passenger falling to $19.88, reflecting an improved return on taxpayer investment.

A campaign is being developed to encourage more Melburnians to travel to the country, with the dual benefit of using spare capacity on weekends while helping regional tourism.

Our market research has identified the market segments interested in a regional train 'adventure' and quantified the potential patronage that could be achieved, with the top destinations being Bendigo, Ballarat, Echuca, Geelong and Paynesville.

[ozbob]

V/Line reduced fares and improved frequency and services.   They improved the fare box, bit of lesson here ...

[Otto]

I found using the Train from Ballarat to Southern Cross to be cheaper and more pleasant than using the car.. Total single fare for 1 adult and 1 child (under 17) $10.80 off peak paper tickets.  Frequency Hourly off peak... ( AVG trip time 1:15 )

compared to ( over same distance )

Brisbane Central to Nambour. Total single fare for 1 adult and 1 student (aged 15) $26.60 paper tickets. Frequency What Frequency ?... ( AVG trip time 1:55* )

* travel via direct service

[Arnz]

Otto, travel time BNE Central-NBR direct services is around 1hr:48*mins (exp N'Gate to Caboolture)

*2 mins less if you're on the Gympielanders (exp B'Hills to Cab), or 5 mins more on the "9 skip stop peak express" at 5pm and 5:28pm.

[Otto]

LOL!! My maths was a few minutes out...

Anyway, the trip is still half an hour longer !!

The Melbourne to Ballarat trip is set to shave off a few more minutes once the new trackwork is complete from Sunshine towards Melbourne.. V line will have its own dedicated tracks to prevent holdups behind Metro services.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Shoppers clogging V/Line peak commutes

Shoppers clogging V/Line peak commutes

    AAP
    From: AAP
    August 04, 2011 6:40PM

VICTORIA'S regional rail provider is launching a campaign to encourage people not travelling to Melbourne for work to stay off the train network during peak times.

Customer satisfaction levels are down for the March quarter at 72.5 per cent, down 1.5 per cent on the same time last year, according to Department of Transport documents.

The happiest passengers use the Ballarat and Swan Hill lines, while the most disgruntled are Albury and Geelong/Warrnambool commuters.

V/Line recorded 12.5 million train trips in 2009/10 financial year and expects the result for the year just past to be up to seven per cent higher, or 875,000 more journeys.

Spokesman James Kelly said almost one third of people using V/Line trains are not travelling to work but heading to Melbourne for shopping or other appointments.

"The research that we have shows us that up to 30 per cent of people travelling on our peak commuter trains don't necessarily have to be there," he said.

"They don't need to be in the city before nine o'clock."

A campaign will begin shortly to encourage people on some of the longer distance lines, such as Traralgon or Bendigo, to travel in off-peak times and save money on tickets.

For example, a peak fare from Traralgon to Melbourne is $43.40, compared with the off peak price of $30.40.

Public Transport Users Association Geelong branch convener Paul Westcott said commuter dissatisfaction was fuelled by congestion and crowding caused by rising patronage.

He said Governments had encouraged more people to take public transport but failed to invest in infrastructure.

"Since then it's been a case of trying to catch up," Mr Westcott said.

V/Line has received 128 V/Locity carriages with six more, the equivalent of two trains, to arrive in September, Mr Kelly said.

Premier Ted Baillieu said he saw no reason why V/Line could not boost customer satisfaction.

Around nine out of 10 Melbourne suburban trains arrived on schedule in July, the best result for the network in five years.

The city's metropolitan train operator, Metro, says its punctuality level of 91.9 per cent is the best result since it took charge of the network in 2009, and the high mark since August 2006.

[ozbob]

From The Courier click here!

85 more train services for Wendouree station

85 more train services for Wendouree station
BY TOM MCILROY
06 Sep, 2011 11:15 PM

WENDOUREE rail commuters will benefit from increased train services from next month, as the state government extends 85 trains each week from Ballarat.

Before last year's Victorian election, the Liberal and National parties promised 137 extra services to Wendouree would commence by July 1.

Mr Mulder said the new timetable, which will be published later this month, delivers as many new services as possible.

He said the single track at Wendouree Station and a shortage of drivers meant some trains would still start and finish at Ballarat.

"As more drivers come onboard and infrastructure improvements are considered, V/Line has the potential to extend even more trains through to Ballarat in the future."

Mr Mulder said the changes would make Wendouree Station a more attractive place for passengers to board, reducing pressure on Ballarat Station where parking could be difficult.

"With more than a doubling of weekend trains for Wendouree passengers, going to cricket or special events in Melbourne will allow people to catch the train for the entire journey," he said.

Mr Mulder said it was common for Wendouree passengers to take taxis or rely on family members for the final stage of the journey.

Ballarat West MP Sharon Knight welcomed the new services but said she remained concerned the plan fell short of the election commitment.

"Last year Mr Mulder promised that by July this year every train that begins or ends its journey at Ballarat station would be extended to Wendouree.

"Months after his own deadline Mr Mulder still has not kept that promise," Ms Knight said.

The changes would lead to the employment of two extra station staff to man the Wendouree Station ticket office from 5am until 8.30pm Monday to Friday, and until 9pm on Saturday and Sunday.

All current train times will remain the same on the Ballarat line, except with the addition of the new Wendouree services.

Passengers can view the new timetable on the V/Line website from later this month, with printed copies available in October.

[ozbob]

From The Courier click here!

More AFL footy fans take V/Line trains to games

More AFL footy fans take V/Line trains to games
BY LYDIA HENDERSON
27 Sep, 2011 10:20 PM
A RECORD number of football fans have used V/Line train services to travel to Melbourne for AFL games.

The 2011 season saw almost 80,000 Victorians use train services, with the Ballarat line helping 14.9 per cent of footy passengers to get to games.

Figures show a 26 per cent rise on 2010 figures.

Of Victoria's major regional centres, the Geelong line had the largest number of footy train passengers with 58.4 per cent.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Quiet plan for V/Line trains on track

Quiet plan for V/Line trains on track

    by: Staff writer
    From: Herald Sun
    October 17, 2011 12:00AM

TALKING and music would be banned in specific "quiet carriages" on country trains under a Victorian Liberal Party plan.

Motions passed at yesterday's meeting of the Victorian Liberal's state council in Bendigo also called for an investigation into equipping V/Line trains with "high gain" antennas so commuters could have mobile phone and wifi access throughout their journeys.

Under the quiet carriages plan, the first and last carriages of V/Line trains would be reserved for passengers wanting to relax or have a noise-free journey, with "audible speaking" and "head banging music" banned.

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Plan for free wi-fi on Geelong's trains

[O_128]

Victoria's rail developments and V-Line trains have helped drive that state's decentralisation and more homogeneous population dispersement.  Victoria's population growth is similar to that of Queensland.  Queensland's answer is the build new ghetto cities (Caloundra South), while Victoria's is to rely on the natural expansion of mid-size towns (Seymour) and large provincial cities (Ballarat-Bendigo).  If anyone has come across a study by a reputable university or institution that looks at the impact of improved railway services to rural and regional Victoria, let me know.

This is what confuses me, If I was in power I'd cancel the ghetto cities and rebuild the line to toowoomba gold coast style. Same can be done to beudesert, gympie, nambour. Its plain stupid really.

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

V/Line still in dark on boom gate error

V/Line still in dark on boom gate error
Adam Carey
December 16, 2011

INVESTIGATORS are at a loss to understand what went wrong this week when a boom gate at a busy level crossing in Sunshine swung open as a train approached.

A V/Line VLocity train was about to pass through the Anderson Road level crossing about 7.15 on Sunday night when the boom gates opened.

The train passed through the level crossing without harm. Investigators are yet to identify what caused the malfunction.
Advertisement: Story continues below

''Until testing is undertaken this weekend we are unable to speculate on the cause of the issue, but needless to say we are taking this very seriously and await the results early next week,'' a spokeswoman for V/Line said.

In the meantime, Metro has placed staff at all level crossings and pedestrian crossings between Sydenham and Sunshine, who will operate the gates manually to make sure it does not happen again.

Investigators have been conducting late-night simulations at the spot and ''monitoring every train that crosses that intersection'', a Metro spokesman said.

Last month, Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder announced plans for the removal of the two level crossings on Anderson Road, a busy arterial used by 25,000 vehicles a day, as part of the $5 billion Regional Rail Link project.

The malfunction happened near a level crossing where a teenage girl was hit and killed by a V/Line train in October after pushing open a pedestrian gate.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/vline-still-in-dark-on-boom-gate-error-20111215-1owt8.html

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

V/Line to give North Melbourne a miss

V/Line to give North Melbourne a miss
Clay Lucas
December 22, 2011

IN WHAT state authorities are calling a ''streamlining'' of rail services, trains from Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo will no longer stop at North Melbourne station once a $5 billion railway line through Melbourne's west is completed in 2016.

The authority behind the Regional Rail Link - which is designed to speed up V/Line services from the west by separating them from suburban trains - confirmed that trains from regional centres that now pass through North Melbourne would no longer stop there once works were completed in four years.

Instead, V/Line passengers wanting City Loop services will have to change at Footscray, which will receive a major overhaul with new platforms and escalators.

The authority said in a statement that allowing V/Line passengers to continue getting off at North Melbourne would ''add to congestion'' at the station - which was rebuilt in 2009 at a cost of $30 million.

From 2016, passengers would instead ''enjoy an express service from Footscray to Southern Cross Station'', the statement said.

CLAY LUCAS

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/vline-to-give-north-melbourne-a-miss-20111221-1p5ns.html

[Fares_Fair]

Out of curiosity, and if it is possible to do so, what is the equivalent example of this (distances and station) in SEQ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

Footscray is actually inner suburban, 6 Km from Flinders St station, and about 3 km past North Melbourne.  Footscray is the junction for the Werribee and Sydenham lines and Williamstown trains also run through it.  Makes sense to stop there.

An equivalent would running express Eagle Junction to CBD.

North Melbourne is a busy station weekdays.  

[Stillwater]

These probably would be road distances:

Melbourne-Geelong  73km
Melbourne-Ballarat  102km (roughly same as Brisbane-Nambour)
Melbourne-Bendigo  131km (roughly Brisbane-Cooroy)

Footscray shown on this map: http://www.railmaps.com.au/melbourn.htm

Network map: http://www.railmaps.com.au/viccent.htm

[Gazza]

Good move.

[ozbob]

From Business Spectator

UGL wins Vic rail work

UGL wins Vic rail work

AAP

Engineering firm UGL has secured $176 million worth of work with Victoria's Regional Rail Link Authority.

UGL will provide train control, signalling, telecommunications and passenger information systems throughout the regional rail link system until late 2015.

The regional rail link is a new rail line separating regional trains from metropolitan trains.

The total value of the contract is approximately $278 million, of which UGL's share of revenue is anticipated to be approximately $176 million.

Published 1:07 PM, 21 Dec 2011 Last update 1:07 PM, 21 Dec 2011

[ozbob]

http://www.ptua.org.au/2011/12/22/rrl-nth-melb-spin/

Minister's spin doesn't wash

December 22nd, 2011 (Geelong, Media releases, Regional)

The Public Transport Users Association has described as "pure spin" Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder's excuse for regional trains not stopping at North Melbourne station under the Regional Rail Link (RRL)

"The minister is trying to dress up a downgrade as an improvement," PTUA regional spokesperson Paul Westcott said.

Mr Mulder has said that continuing to allow V/Line passengers to use North Melbourne would "add to congestion" at the station, yet it was recently rebuilt at a cost of $30 million to increase its capacity.

"It's nonsense to claim that regional trains will suffer delays from congestion by stopping at North Melbourne because they will now all stop at Footscray instead," Mr Westcott said.

"The actual reason for this inexcusable decision is that the track layout being provided at North Melbourne means many RRL trains will be physically unable to use any new platforms provided there. That can and must be changed."

North Melbourne is currently a major interchange point for travellers on regional lines, providing connections to City Loop services, as well as the recently-introduced 401 shuttle bus from North Melbourne to the university and hospital precincts in Parkville.

After the RRL opens, V/Line passengers wanting to transfer to the City Loop will be forced to change trains at Footscray, from where they can only use Sydenham line trains to gain access to the Loop, because all other trains stopping at Footscray only run direct to Flinders Street.

"The Sydenham line is the most overcrowded in Melbourne, and forcing all regional passengers to squeeze onto those already packed trains in peak hour is a recipe for chaos," Mr Westcott said.

He also noted that suburban trains to Craigieburn, Upfield and Melbourne Showgrounds stop at North Melbourne, but do not run via Footscray.

"Given that over $5 billion is being spent on this scheme, it is completely unacceptable to bypass such a vital and well-used interchange point," Mr. Westcott said.

"Doing that will inconvenience a large number of regional rail passengers every day.

"This silly move only adds to the likelihood that regional passengers will be short-changed by the RRL project. We still have no real idea how the line is to be operated, and with this latest announcement, there's the likelihood that it will offer no time savings to many rail users, and inconvenience them as well."

[ozbob]

From the Bendigo Advertiser click here!

V/Line survey shows work travel most popular

V/Line survey shows work travel most popular
BRETT WORTHINGTON
26 Jan, 2012 04:00 AM

WORK is the major factor behind people commuting from Bendigo to Melbourne on trains.

V/Line surveyed more than 11,000 people across regional Victoria.

The figures show during 2010 and 2011, 40 per cent of customers, or 1.02 million trips, were for work.

Education, 24 per cent or more than 600,000 trips, was the second most popular reason to commute.

Personal business and leisure rounded out the top three with almost 250,000 trips or 10 per cent of travel.

The return trip, Melbourne to Bendigo, revealed different habits. More than a third of commuters, 36 per cent or more than 116,000 trips, were Melburnians visiting family in Bendigo.

Almost 88,000 trips, or 27 per cent, were people travelling to Bendigo for work.

Thirteen per cent of trips to Bendigo were people travelling for education and eight per cent were for personal business.

V/Line chief executive officer Rob Barnett said the survey would help the organisation plan for the future. "No two parts of the state are the same and people are travelling for different reasons," he said.

"What was interesting was the number of Melburnians using V/Line to travel

for high-quality cultural events and attractions in regional Victoria."

[ozbob]

http://www.mailtimes.com.au/news/features/articles/agriculture/vline-reopens-the-rail-to-rainbow/2439924.aspx

V-Line re-opens the rail to Rainbow

V-LINE has completed work on the Dimboola to Rainbow rail line.

Victorian Public Transport Minister Ter ry Mulder announced in September the State Government and GrainCorp would invest $6.3 million to reopen the 66km section between the towns by late December.

The line was temporarily reopened in 2010 but was last used to regularly haul grain in 2006.

The line deteriorated over time and was damaged during the floods in January last year.

V-Line spokesman James Kelly said V-Line expected about 50 trains to use the line each year.

He said each train would have about 40 wagons and the capacity to carry 2000 tonnes, which equated to about 100,000 tonnes a year.

"To do the same by road would be 80 trucks for just one train, or over a year that would be 4000 trucks," he said.

"As part of the work we replaced 33,000 sleepers – 485 for each kilometre – and repaired three sidings at Antwerp, Jeparit and Rainbow.

"We used 20,000 tonnes of ballast. We also reconditioned three level crossings and

checked another 26 along the line."

Work crews also removed old infrastructure at decommissioned GrainCorp sites along the rail line.

A Department of Transport spokesman said the fi rst train would hopefully run on the line in the next few weeks but would be dependent on GrainCorp and the market.

[ozbob]

From the Bendigo Advertiser click here!

Boom times for V/Line's Bendigo service

Boom times for V/Line's Bendigo service
BRETT WORTHINGTON
07 Mar, 2012 04:00 AM
THE state government will consider purchasing new V/Line trains as patronage on the Bendigo line continues to soar.

V/Line's latest annual report states patronage on the Bendigo line has increased 129 per cent in five years.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said V/Line had prepared a "major document covering what it sees as the way forward".

He said he would meet with Department of Transport officials in the coming weeks to discuss V/Line's future.

"The Coalition government is considering the purchase of additional V/Line railcars as part of the state budget process," Mr Mulder told the Bendigo Advertiser.

"By separating country trains from suburban trains between Sunshine and Southern Cross, the 2016 completion of Regional Rail Link will allow Bendigo line trains to enjoy a better run on rail tracks near Franklin Street, between North Melbourne and Southern Cross, as there will be fewer trains to cross over one another."

The Bendigo service had 3.36 million passengers during the 2010-11 financial year, up 6.7 per cent on the previous year.

The service experienced a greater percentage increase in patronage than the Geelong and Ballarat lines during the past five years.

Geelong's patronage rose 86 per cent in the past five years and Ballarat's rose 126 per cent, while Gippsland experienced a 138-per-cent increase.

Growth on the Bendigo line during 2010-11 was below Geelong and Ballarat.

Mr Mulder said V/Line officials had tried to match train capacity with demand.

"For instance, in 2011 V/Line introduced an extra weekday mid afternoon train, the 3.50pm, from Eaglehawk to Southern Cross. With the AFL season approaching, this train will be especially useful on Friday afternoons to cater for Bendigonians attending a Friday night match," Mr Mulder said.

Mr Mulder said the former government's removal of passing loops and reducing dual lines to single tracks had made expanding train services difficult.

Former Australian deputy prime minister and train advocate Tim Fischer, during a visit to Bendigo, said small steps had been taken to improve rail services in regional Victoria.

But he said state and federal leaders had to pursue high-speed rail and consider the possibilities of light-rail.

[Fares_Fair]

From story above:

Mr Mulder said the former government's removal of passing loops and reducing dual lines to single tracks had made expanding train services difficult.

Interesting

[Stillwater]

Some groups such as Rail Back On Track have patrons - usually someone retired with much experience in the field and heaps of contacts, someone who can open doors that are shut normally.  Maybe it is time for RBOT to examine whether having a patron would help advance its cause.  Tim Fischer?

[SurfRail]

From story above:

Mr Mulder said the former government's removal of passing loops and reducing dual lines to single tracks had made expanding train services difficult.

Interesting

Part of the Regional Fast Rail upgrade.  Victoria had a history of having duplicated tracks to regional towns on their main lines.  Under the RFR project, they rather short-sightedly looked at existing utilisation and decided they could get away with only providing single upgraded tracks in places based on trains clearing sections quickly and there not being demand for greater levels of service.  Kind of fell over with the phenomenal patronage increases they have seen.

[ozbob]

From the Geelong Advertiser  click here!

V/Line faces 167 per cent increase by 2021

V/Line faces 167 per cent increase by 2021

Peter Begg   |  March 1st, 2012

PATRONAGE on V/Line trains, including the Geelong line, is tipped to more than double by 2020/21, according to the Victorian auditor-general.

Auditor-General Des Pearson said regional train patronage had doubled in the past five years from 6.4 million to 13.5 million.

He said it was tipped to increase by a further 167 per cent in the decade to 2020-21.

"We estimate that capital expenditure on public transport will have to triple over the next decade to cope with expected growth," Dr Pearson said in a report tabled in Parliament. Dr Pearson said there were still several areas in which the Department of Transport needed to lift its game.

The department did not reliably measure punctuality and overcrowding and there was an emerging trend of under-reporting of late trains.

V/Line staff were responsible for collating train arrival times and providing the information to the department, which did not verify V/Line's internal checks.

The Geelong convenor of the Public Transport Users' Association, Paul Westcott, yesterday said he was not surprised by the estimates of extra patronage.

"He also highlighted the lack of supervision or any measurement of regional buses the buses in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo," Mr Westcott said.

"It's all an honesty system here, there is no one really supervising, unlike the metropolitan system ... there is nothing like that for regional buses."

Mr Wescott said the same could be said for V/Line.

The Committee for Geelong met the board of the Regional Rail Link yesterday.

Committee for Geelong executive director Peter Dorling said the Regional Rail Link would go some of the way towards coping with the increased patronage.

"A lot of the discussion was about the Regional Rail Link and Victoria's new appetite for the use of public transport," he said. "In a way it's a really good thing because it's taken us a while to get on to the fact that public transport is economical, and viable and not a bad way to travel.

"People will only use rail if it's consistent, priced well ... good modern carriages and that type of thing."

Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder yesterday said the establishment of a new, independent body a public transport development authority would further improve the way public transport performance was co-ordinated, monitored and reported.

"The Department of Transport is working to strengthen its oversight of the way in which Melbourne's train and bus operators and country rail operator V/Line report punctuality, cancellation and other associated statistics," he said.

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/3385-vlines-third-return-albury-line-train-returns-22-april-2012.html

Ministerial Statement

V/Line's third return Albury line train returns 22 April 2012

Tuesday, 13 March 2012
From the Minister for Public Transport

V/Line plans to return its third daily return Albury line train on 22 April 2012, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said today.

Mr Mulder said this was good news for 155,000 northeast Victorian and NSW Riverina residents from Avenel to Wodonga (Victoria) and Albury northwards.

"The previous Labor Government left Euroa, Benalla, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Albury without a V/Line train for more than two years from 8 November 2008 until Labor lost office in Victoria in November 2010," Mr Mulder said.

V/Line Chief Executive Officer Rob Barnett said that the final train to return to the tracks would depart Southern Cross at 7.10am and Albury at 12.45pm daily.

"Travellers overwhelmingly tell V/Line that they prefer trains to coaches. The return of V/Line's third daily train will encourage residents and visitors to use northeast trains more," Mr Barnett said.

Members for Benambra Bill Tilley, Murray Valley Tim McCurdy, Benalla Bill Sykes and Seymour Cindy McLeish were pleased at the trains' return.

"Northeast Victorians spoke loud and clear about how they wanted their trains back. The Coalition Government is delivering," Mr Tilley said.

Mr Mulder thanked his counterpart The Hon Gladys Berijiklian MP, Minister for Transport (NSW) along with V/Line, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and safety regulators for working together to bring the V/Line trains back.

"I thank the northeast community for its patience. Returning the third V/Line train will provide a total of 1,110 daily seats at V/Line fares in each direction to or from Benalla, Wangaratta and Albury. Each of the three daily V/Line trains has 370 seats. Seats must be reserved by visiting staffed V/Line and larger staffed Metro stations, by calling 13 61 96 or online at www.vline.com.au," Mr Mulder said.

"Because of the return of all V/Line trains, the arrangement with Countrylink to provide 12 seats on each Countrylink XPT for Victorian (including Albury) travel at V/Line fares will cease from 22 April.

"I encourage northeast Victorians to travel on V/Line's trains. Each train has comfortable seating and a buffet. V/Line's fares offer good value compared with the cost of driving or flying. The V/Line trains can also accommodate up to 30 bikes as a purpose built van is normally attached to each Albury line V/Line train," Mr Mulder said.

[Stillwater]

Three return trains daily Melbourne-Albury at V/Line fares, and a buffet car!  That's the equivalent of Brisbane-Childers.  So the addition of a third passenger train daily Brisbane-Gympie may be possible in a few years with some clever thinking and a bit of effort.

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

V/Line trains are packed to bursting point

V/Line trains are packed to bursting point

    Greg Thom
    From: Herald Sun
    March 20, 2012 12:00AM

V/LINE has hit a passenger overcrowding crisis to rival suburban operator Metro.
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Surging patronage spurred by cheap tickets, sky-high petrol prices and "tree changers" commuting to work have combined to stretch country train capacity to breaking point.

Some morning peak hour services on the Geelong line are running at 140 per cent capacity, forcing disgruntled passengers to stand or sit in the aisles.

Bendigo peak hour trains are running at 101 per cent, while already full Bacchus Marsh services are cramming up to 20 per cent more travellers on board above acceptable limits.

The worsening crush has led to rising tensions between country and city commuters on some lines.

"It's getting to the stage where it's becoming an uncomfortable trip," V/Line's Daniel Moloney said.

With commuter numbers steadily rising across the network, transport experts said the window to order more rolling stock to keep pace with future demand was closing fast.

With a delay of up to two years before newly ordered trains enter service, Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said authorities must act quickly to head off a crisis.

"There is no doubt overcrowding is getting worse," Mr Bowen said.

"It's up to the Government to ensure the system can cope, and it doesn't make sense to wait until it reaches a crisis point before ordering more trains."

Mr Moloney said V/Line patronage had doubled in the past five years, making it one of the fastest-growing railways in the world.

Soaring petrol prices have played a large part in fuelling the boom.

"A 10 cent rise in petrol equals a 5 per cent rise in patronage," Mr Moloney said.

V/Line tickets prices are now also cheaper than they were in 2002.

Both factors have encouraged more Melburnians to move to the bush and commute to work by rail, further pressuring the system.

The gradual introduction of new V/Locity trains since 2006 has helped keep pace with the surge in travellers.

[somebody]

They don't have more trains on order.  Can the network not fit more trains on it?  And they aren't thinking to raise prices?  Weird!

To Geelong, they charge $10.30 peak single or $68.50 weekly

Metcard/myki charges $7.60 daily for half the distance to Werribee.  Hmm, myki has no off peak.

Get rid of weeklies!!!  Or at least put up the price until V/Line comes under myki.

[#Metro]

Increase the price during peak hour! That will mean people will opt for the cheaper shoulder services.
Also generates cash for better services.

[Stillwater]

Maybe they could borrow an idea from QR and its Sunshine Coast Line -- put on buses that take 50 per cent longer than the train journey over the same distance.  Watch the patronage take to their cars on the Calder and Western highways.  Problem solved.  

To be serious though, increasing the price of peak fares would not necessarily force people to travel on the peak shoulder.  Most of these travellers would be workers whose choice is a couple of trains in and out in the morning/evening.

I am told that V/Line is very sensitive about on-time running to Geelong, a bit like the worker trains from the Blue Mountains.  Trains are pushed out of the way to let then through, or that was the case 10 years ago.

[somebody]

Also generates cash for better services.

I was more thinking of this point.

[Stillwater]

Will the Translink staff travel budget contain sufficient funds to allow Neil Scales to spend a few days in Perth and Melbourne on a fact-finding mission?

MerseyTravel's mission statement:

'A city region committed to a low carbon future, which has a transport network and mobility culture that positively contributes to a thriving economy and the health and wellbeing of its citizens and where sustainable travel is the option of choice'.

[somebody]

Will the Translink staff travel budget contain sufficient funds to allow Neil Scales to spend a few days in Perth and Melbourne on a fact-finding mission?

I hope not.  Probably even in Perth he'd see more about what not to do than what to do.  As compared to in Merseyside at least.