V/Line - articles discussion etc

[SurfRail]

That guy is on a colossal crusade against management, so do take any commentary there with a few grains of salt.

[ozbob]

http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/v-line-will-offer-its-services-for-free-from-saturday-23-january-to-sunday-31-january-2016/

V/Line will offer its services for free from Saturday 23 January to Sunday 31 January 2016

Added: 20 January 2016

In recognition of the recent disruptions V/Line passengers have experienced, V/Line will offer its services for free from Saturday 23 January to Sunday 31 January 2016.

[red dragin]

That guy is on a colossal crusade against management, so do take any commentary there with a few grains of salt.

Thanks for letting me know. I mainly shared it for the scary pictures 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Andrew Lund ‏@andrew_lund 27m27 minutes ago

Just a couple of people waiting for the Geelong-bound @VLine tonight. Good luck folks.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> How decades of neglect ran the V/Line network off the rails

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 7m

Well said @tonybmorton @ptua Let's make Vic rail great again! @DanielAndrewsMP @JacintaAllanMP #springst

^^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

How decades of neglect ran the V/Line network off the rails

> http://www.theage.com.au/comment/how-decades-of-neglect-ran-the-vline-network-off-the-rails-20160120-gm9td5.html ...

via @theage #springst

[ozbob]

Twitter

V/Line ‏@VLine 9m

The Victorian Government has announced free travel on all V/Line services from 23 to 31 January.

More info: http://bit.ly/23fO8ul

===================

^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 9s

. @VLine I do wonder how regular commuters will be able to get on services #dumbwaytotravelfree #springst

[ozbob]

WillPJK.com Blog --> Metro is getting what it wants: V/Line off the rails and in its hands

[ozbob]

The Border Mail --> Time to move past blame game on trains

[ozbob]

Flash flooding at Geelong. 

=================

Twitter

Meagan Rooth ‏@Meagily 12m

Feel so sorry for the owners of these cars! Hope they are ok. Great shot from @geelongaddy #geelong #flood

[ozbob]

Theo has resigned.

[ozbob]

Premier of Victoria

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-on-vline-2/

Statement On V/Line

The current disruptions across the V/Line network – as a result of faster-than-normal wheel wear on VLocity trains and a boom-gate fault – are totally unacceptable.

Last week, the Government was told the problems had been identified and the vast majority of services would be up and running by the end of the week.

This advice from V/Line was wrong and this unacceptable situation has caused the Government to lose confidence in the leadership of V/Line.

The CEO has resigned effective immediately.

V/Line passengers are furious – and so is the Government. What has happened is not good enough.

On behalf of the Government I apologise for the disruption and the inconvenience it has, and will continue to, cause.

On the Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong lines, V/Line now expects services to steadily improve from mid-February, but it will be months before normal services resume in full.

V/Line is taking steps to reduce the rate of wheel wear but extensive testing is still underway to determine the exact cause of the problem.

This is absolutely vital work to ensure the safety of passengers on all our rail networks.

After the boom-gate fault at a level crossing earlier this month, the National Safety Regulator advised that safety measures must be carried out on all 21 affected crossings on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line.

While this work is undertaken over the next six weeks, VLocity trains cannot run between Traralgon and Melbourne and will be replaced by coaches. The Government is investigating using other train models to boost services.

In light of the unacceptable disruptions, the Government is extending free travel for regional passengers until at least the last service of Sunday 7 February.

In addition, the timetable change scheduled for 31 January for the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines will be deferred until the Government is confident it can be successfully implemented.

Gary Liddle will be the interim CEO of V/Line. Mr Liddle is currently CEO of Public Transport Victoria and is the former CEO of VicRoads. He will be an experienced and steady hand to guide V/Line through this difficult period.

The Government has already ordered a review of V/Line operations, and the technical investigations into the wheel wear and boom-gate issues are continuing.

A Cabinet Committee will be overseeing this issue until it is resolved.

I know exactly how important V/Line services are – I've used them all my life. Regional Victorians deserve better and we're going to work our hardest to provide the service they're entitled to.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> V/Line crisis claims rail chief's scalp as commuters face weeks more disruption

[ozbob]

What a mess ...

Looks like some train sets will be added to the Gippsland line.   VLocitys can run on Ballarat and Geelong freely.

I reckon they could use some carriages from Steam Rail for the  Bairnsdale services which would free up the Ns and carriages for Traralgon and Sale runs.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Cost of V/Line meltdown mounting by the million for government and commuters

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen --> The V/Line mess: finding the solution is more important than the blame game

[ozbob]

ABC News --> V/Line free travel, safety concerns costing taxpayers millions, parliamentary inquiry hears

[ozbob]

Metro Trains and V/Line explained their level crossing issues in parliament yesterday - here is their presentation:

> http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/SCEI/Infrastructure/Vline_Metro_PTV_presentation_9_Feb_216.pdf

[ozbob]

^ well worth downloading and keeping.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> V/Line delays: Rail users just want 'normal' services returned says Public Transport Users Association

The group representing Victorian train and bus users says it believes commuters have little interest in the political fight over who is to blame for country rail's woes.

Just 64.2 per cent of Bendigo services were on time in January, as wheel and boom gate problems created havoc.

The Opposition has called for the sacking of Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan, who in turn has tried to pin some of the blame on the Coalition.

A reworked timetable has since been put in place but it is expected buses will continue to replace some trains until the middle of this year.

The Public Transport Users Association said the poor V/Line punctuality result on the Bendigo line last month was no surprise.

The association's Paul Westcott said passengers just wanted a reliable service.

"There is at least a service being provided, it's not a good one in many cases ... of course if you are a myki pass user, that is you have a periodical ticket ... you can claim compensation over and above any other compensation that's been offered by the Government," he said.

Mr Westcott said it was inevitable that the problems would become a political football.

"I don't think passengers are particularly interested in that at all," he said.

"I think what they want is for the services to be back to normal, or even better, and they want reassurance that the problem won't occur or reoccur."

Bendigo-based Nationals' MP Damian Drum said he was also getting complaints about recent changes to the city's bus network.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> V/Line scores perfect performance ... after cancelled trains are cut from figures

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> VLocity fleet ahead of schedule for return

93% of V/Line's fleet will be back in service in just two weeks, as the government and train manufacturer Bombardier works overtime to fix recently-discovered wheel wear issues.

Victorian public transport minister Jacinta Allan announced this week that work to reduce wheel wear, accelerate maintenance and fix boom-gate detection issues had been more effective than anticipated.

As a result, 43 of the current 64 coach replacement services across the V/Line network will return to train services on March 21, the minister said.

Every Ballarat peak train service will be re-instated, Allan said, along with all but two services on the Gippsland line, which was hardest hit by recent disruptions.

A significant portion of V/Line's rollingstock fleet was forced out of service in January, after maintenance identified an accelerated rate of wheel wear on VLocity trainsets, and one VLocity train failed to trigger the boom gates at a level crossing in Dandenong.

Neither V/Line, nor the trains' manufacturer Bombardier, has publicly stated whether the two issues are related.

Bombardier has been working feverishly to fix the affected wheels, establishing an expanded working area for its VLocity fleet at its Dandenong manufacturing facility, to expedite the process.

Talking with Rail Express at a recent site tour, a member of Bombardier's management team defended the VLocity train's design.

While not laying any blame to any specific party, the staff member did point out that the wheel issues began cropping up shortly after the opening of Victoria's newest section of railway, the Regional Rail Link, west of Melbourne.

Rail milling specialist Linmag Australia has told Rail Express it has undertaken track re-profiling for V/Line as a result of the wheel wear issues.

A study is being conducted by Monash University to get to the bottom of the wheel wear issue, with a final technical report due for completion later this month, Allan said.

Also due later this month is a review of the operational capacity of V/Line.

"There is still more work to be done but we are on the right track, and I will continue working as hard as I can to return V/Line services to the level people in regional Victoria expect and deserve," Allan said.

[ozbob]

Photo essay – V/Line's VLocity train issues

>> http://wongm.com/2016/04/photo-essay-vline-vlocity-train-issues/

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Tougher wheels and tracks needed to avoid crippling wheel wear on V/Line

[#Metro]

Interesting track. There you can see that it is dual gauge. I wonder what the other gauge is used for?

[ozbob]

Interesting track. There you can see that it is dual gauge. I wonder what the other gauge is used for?

4' 8.5" and 5' 3".  The standard gauge is used for XPT and any other standard gauge trains to gain access to Southern Cross station.

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-vline-services-back-on-the-tracks-by-the-end-of-april/

More V/Line Services Back On The Tracks By The End Of April

Minister for Public Transport

9 April 2016

Ten more V/Line services will be back on the tracks within weeks, meaning 97 per cent of services will operate as trains by the end of the month.

Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, announced the next round of V/Line service restorations, after more than 40 services returned to the tracks last month, returning more than 5,000 passengers to train services.

On 26 April 2016, six services will be restored on the Geelong line, along with two services on the Bendigo line, meaning all but four services on these major regional corridors will be replaced by coaches each day.

Two services a day will also be restored on the Ballarat line, which will also receive an extra carriage to reduce congestion on the 5:13pm from Southern Cross to Ballart – the busiest service of the day.

The restoration of these services and the additional carriage for Ballarat will return 2,500 passengers to train services every day.

The 11 remaining coach services across the V/Line network will continue to be free for passengers, and full restoration of train services is still on track for mid-year.

The technical report into the cause of the faster than normal wheel wear which has affected services in recent months was released by V/Line earlier today.

For a copy of the report, and further information about service restoration, visit vline.com.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"This is the next step in returning full V/Line train services for regional passengers."

"In a few weeks, six more Geelong services will be back on the tracks, which will reduce congestion on regional Victoria's busiest rail corridor and help motorists from the west while we upgrade the Westgate Freeway."

"By the end of the month, 97 per cent of services will be back on the tracks, with full restoration by the middle of the year."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Our fragile transport systems will continue to break

[ozbob]

Geelong Advertiser --> State Budget: Fifty new rail services for Geelong line

FIFTY additional rail services between Geelong and Melbourne have been bankrolled in a surprise State Budget package.

More than $130 million will be spent on additional regional services with timetable changes set to kick in before Christmas.

State Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said increased patronage between Geelong and the state capital had led to the cash injection with the Warrnambool line also gaining an extra weekday and Sunday rail service.

Today's State Budget had a strong focus on regional transport with exploratory money also allocated for future projects ...

[ozbob]

The Standard --> Extra train service for Warrnambool line

A fourth daily service will be added to the Warrnambool rail line after a decade-long campaign, the state government revealed on Wednesday.

Under a plan outlined in the state budget, a return service between Warrnambool and Geelong will be added to the line and an existing coach service between Warrnambool and Melbourne on Sundays will be replaced with trains.

Passengers would need to change trains at Geelong on the extra weekday service.

A spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan confirmed the additional weekday offering was part of a $131 million package to increase services on all regional lines.

Also included in the $1.3 billion regional transport spend is $198 million to rebuild the capacity of V/Line and $141 million for major maintenance to improve reliability on the regional network.

A further $5 million has been committed for planning the next phase of regional rail upgrades and $10 million to begin development of new regional rolling stock.

Great South Coast Group chairman and Moyne Shire mayor Colin Ryan said it was great news for the region.

"We've been lobbying for it for a long time, it's good to finally see a result," he said.

"It's good news, it's an improvement on what we have now. We look forward to a positive improvements."

Warrnambool mayor Kylie Gaston said the extra service, expected to leave Warrnambool around 9am and return in the early evening, would increase flexibility and transport options for travellers.

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said the additional service was long overdue.

"The community has worked really hard and campaigned solidly, it's not before time," Mrs Britnell said.

"But the details are very vague. Our community hopes this will be rolled out sooner rather than later. If Premier Andrews can organise the metropolitan skyrail to be completed before the next election, upgrades in the south-west should be a piece of cake."

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Gippsland rail line to get upgrades, more off-peak services

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Victoria's regional rail services face more disruptions as workers threaten strike action

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/better-trains-for-the-north-east-line-now-and-in-the-future/

Better Trains For The North East Line: Now And In The Future

Minister for Public Transport

1 June 2016

The Andrews Labor Government is restoring and reconfiguring the north east line's fleet of classic trains and has set out the first ever long-term plan for their replacement by a next-generation of rolling stock for the line to Albury.

Visiting Wangaratta today, Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said the community in Victoria's north east had said loud and clear that they want more services and better trains.

The Labor Government is acting on this feedback, investing $15 million in the recent Victorian Budget 2016/17 for an extra carriage that will enable trains on the north east line to be reconfigured to boost reliability.

The funding will also refurbish the carriages, to make them cleaner more comfortable for passengers and start planning for the next generation of rolling-stock on the north east line and the retirement of the classic fleet.

The Labor Government will seek feedback in the coming months on what features local passengers would like to see in these new trains, such as buffet cars and luggage and bike facilities.

In the short term, the Labor Government will soon start consultation on a trial of new express coach shuttles to Seymour, that connect to train services. The consultation will seek feedback on which towns the shuttles should service and when they should run.

Ms Allan also announced today that the Labor Government and Benalla Rural City Council will each contribute $25,000 to build a new accessible bus stop at the Wangaratta District Specialist School.

The Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) released earlier this week outlines the series of infrastructure and rolling stock improvements required to deliver five services, five days a week to Shepparton and Albury-Wodonga.

For a copy of the RNDP – Connecting Regional Victoria – and more information, visit transport.vic.gov.au/rndp

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"We know the north east needs better trains, so we're improving the carriages we have and planning for better trains in the future."

"While we do the planning work that has never been done before to deliver the next generation of train for the north- east line, we'll look at coach connections we can improve straight away."

Quotes attributable to the Member for Northern Victoria and Co-Chair of the Regional Transport Advisory Group Jaclyn Symes

"Communities in North East Victoria deserve better train, bus and coach services and a long term plan for the future, and that's what we're delivering."

"Short-term measures will bring added reliability, comfort and upgrades to many stations and facilities"

"Along with the communities between Seymour and Wodonga, I welcome the two million dollars in the recent State Budget to determine the best replacement rolling stock on the North-East line."

[ozbob]

Geelong Advertiser --> Claire Martin: My morning ride just kept getting worse

[ozbob]

Let it snow! Conductor Nathan snapped this pic during his @VLine_Ballarat travels today. pic.twitter.com/psULMdhVk7

— V/Line (@VLine) July 13, 2016

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Ballarat line upgrade to ease load on western metro rail services

Work has begun to duplicate the rail line between Deer Park and Caroline Springs, making way for an upgrade to the Ballarat corridor that is designed to improve regional and metropolitan train services.

The work coincides with the construction of the new Caroline Springs railway station - built to accommodate booming population growth in Melbourne's outer west. It is scheduled to open next year.

The Andrews government has allocated more than $500 million to upgrade the Ballarat line. The work is set to begin next year and be completed in 2019.

Under the Ballarat line upgrade, the track will be duplicated down to Melton. An additional three kilometres of single track will also be built west of Warrenheip.

Melton has been forced to rely on a single-track line with a V/Line service that has been overwhelmed by demand from the surrounding population.

In February The Age revealed that Public Transport Victoria had bid for funds to duplicate the line from Melton to Deer Park to enable an increase in train services.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the "transformation" of the Ballarat train corridor would provide more reliable and frequent services to Melbourne's western suburbs, Melton and regional stops along the Ballarat line.

The Ballarat line upgrade includes three additional "crossing loops" at Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Bungaree. They will allow trains to pass each other and help avoid severe congestion caused by unexpected delays.

New stabling will also be built at Melton and Rowsley to house extra carriages while second platforms will be added to Bacchus Marsh and Ballan stations.

At Rockbank station the current platforms will be extended and a sealed car park will also be built. There are no delays expected as a result of the current works, although some replacement buses are expected for the broader Ballarat line upgrade.

[ozbob]

About 160 @VLine passengers have spent more than four hours stuck on a train near Dandenong. #7NewsMelb https://t.co/Zqs6vn8JKX

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) August 9, 2016

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/a-safer-and-more-supportive-journey-for-all-passengers/

A Safer And More Supportive Journey For All Passengers

Minister for Public Transport 2 September 2016

V/Line is making it easier and more comfortable for passengers with communication difficulties to travel, after becoming the first public transport operator in the world to be recognised as communication accessible.

Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan today visited V/Line staff and commuters at Bendigo Station to see how the improved customer experience is helping more Victorians get where they need to go.

Each year, more than two million V/Line trips are taken by someone with a communication difficulty, including those with disabilities due to physical or sensory reasons, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or those with limited English.

To gain a better understanding of how different people communicate, V/Line's 550 frontline staff and PTV's 250 call centre employees completed formal disability awareness training to help them assist all passengers.

In partnership with disability service provider Scope Australia, V/Line developed communication aid tools to make it easier for all customers and staff to communicate throughout their journey.

Picture, sentence and spelling boards are already helping passengers who may not be able to talk or find it difficult to communicate, and V/Line journey and reminder cards inform commuters of station staffing hours and other services.

As part of V/Line's accreditation with the Communication Access Symbol, the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) call centre was also recognised as communication accessible, making it the first in the world. The PTV hubs in Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo also received accreditation.

The Communication Access Symbol has been developed by Scope, and is comparable to the International Symbol for Access, but with a focus on communication and information, rather than on the physical environment.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"We need to ensure that all passengers can get their message across and understand what staff are telling them, so they can get where they need to go safely." 

"Congratulations to V/Line and PTV for becoming the first public transport operators in the world to receive the Communication Access Symbol."

"Their accreditation means passengers can now communicate with staff in a way that works for them." 

[ozbob]

^

@VLine is making it easier for passengers with communication difficulty to travel and get where they need to safely. pic.twitter.com/vgVxYpKGOp

— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) September 2, 2016

[ozbob]