V/Line - articles discussion etc

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1399891529624293377

[ozbob]

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/helping-vline-deliver-better-regional-services

Helping V/Line Deliver Better Regional Services
VIC Premier

16th June 2021

The Victorian Government is taking action to ensure V/Line is set up to deliver better services for fast growing regional communities.

V/Line is Australia's fastest growing regional railway operator, with a 77 per cent increase in annual passenger numbers from 13 million in 2014 to 23 million before the pandemic in 2019.

The Government has responded to this growth through record investment – adding 700 additional weekly services since 2014, investing $1.2 billion in new regional trains and supporting an upgrade of every regional rail line.

This funding boost continues through the Victorian Budget 2021/22, with a further investment of $613 million over four years in major periodic and routine maintenance on V/Line's passenger and freight lines.

As we continue our record investment in the regional rail network and more people catch V/Line than ever before, the Government wants to ensure we maximise the performance of V/Line.

From 1 July, V/Line will transition from a State-Owned Enterprise to a Statutory Authority. This will bring V/Line more directly into the centre of our public transport system, improving oversight and delivery of regional public transport services. An Advisory Board will be established to provide advice and support to the CEO.

As a result of the change, the CEO of V/Line will report to the Secretary of the Department of Transport. This is another step since the creation of the new, integrated Department that will better align V/Line with transport planning, Big Build project delivery, and decision making.

Matt Carrick will be appointed V/Line CEO for 12 months to oversee the implementation of this reform. Mr Carrick has a background in both the private sector and senior levels of government and is currently CEO at State Trustees, where he has overseen an organisational restructure and program of reform to improve outcomes for clients.

As this is a structural change for the leadership of V/Line there will be no job losses, and existing services and rail safety arrangements remain in place.

Over the past six years the Victorian Government has invested more than $13.1 billion to deliver the upgrades and transport services in regional Victoria to connect people to jobs, health services and education.

As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll

"We're putting more money than ever before into ensuring regional Victoria has better connections through our public transport system – and we want to ensure that we have a strong V/Line to match that investment."

"We're not only ensuring V/Line has the best structure for the future – we're investing more than $600 million in vital maintenance to deliver more reliable services."

"I want to thank the V/Line board for their service, and I look forward to getting to work with Matt Carrick to deliver the best outcomes for regional Victorians."

[ozbob]

Virtual station tours

https://www.vline.com.au/virtual-station-tours

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/alison_nvic/status/1426373945515642884

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1429625701590654978

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/s_schubert2/status/1469802676619677696

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MelbourneWay/status/1476401093512871936

[#Metro]

I'm confused. Aren't they all standard gauge? I didn't think Victoria had narrow gauge.

[ozbob]

I'm confused. Aren't they all standard gauge? I didn't think Victoria had narrow gauge.

Victoria was mainly 5' 3" gauge ( some 2' 6" narrow gauge ), but more standard gauge has been rolled out in recent times. 
The standard gauge VLs are for use on the standard gauge Melbourne to Albury line.  Replaces a DEL and carriages.

I had planned to travel on these in January 2022, but have delayed my trip to Melbourne later in the year.

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https://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&district=victoria

All the current operating Victorian train lines, and those where services are suspended or track not yet lifted.
Orange indicates the Broad Gauge network, while Blue indicates the Standard Gauge network.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/VicGovDoT/status/1476684750551019538

[ozbob]

Standard gauge VLocity at Avenel  1.33pm down service (Southern Cross to Albury)





Photographs MTPCo 28 February 2022

[SurfRail]

They could buy a few more standard gauge V/Locities and run services from say Nhill to Ararat to Hamilton (or even Portland), to improve on the Overland service offering and expand rail coverage in the south-west.

[ozbob]

^ yes, that's the best approach. Ararat could be set up as a local depot for some std gauge VLs. The VLs can get back to Melbourne for major servicing etc via North Geelong when required.

[SurfRail]

More regular service to that part of Victoria by rail will probably also make the case for rail to Mildura a lot more marginal.

Another option would be to gauge convert Wendouree to Ararat to SG, then run SG services to Ballarat from Nhill, Portland and Maryborough (or north of there - maybe to St Arnaud or further), with a change of gauge there.  More frequent service in exchange for a modest inconvenience.  I suspect there is little to no prospect of SG conversion of the line east of Ballarat.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1517200127987191808

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There is a mix of standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 81⁄2 in) and broad gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) in Victoria.
Unless you understand this it doesn't make much sense.  Ararat is now ideally placed to be a standard gauge VL depot.  Access to Melbourne for major servicing etc. via Maroona and Geelong.  The Overland runs on the standard gauge line.  VLine services to Ballarat and Ararat are on the broad gauge.


https://vicsig.net/index.php?page=infrastructure&district=victoria

All the current operating Victorian train lines, and those where services are suspended or track not yet lifted.
Orange indicates the Broad Gauge network, while Blue indicates the Standard Gauge network.

[SurfRail]

Having the benefit of that diagram (more up-to-date than what I have seen recently), I'd be thinking:

1. Convert Geelong to Ballarat to SG and run the Overland that way.

2. Convert Maryborough to Ballarat to SG.

3. SG services from Ballarat to at least Donald, Dimboola and Portland, which could conceivably continue to Melbourne via Geelong (North Shore) albeit slower than just putting them on a Ballarat / Wendouree service.

4. Look at reopening / re-extending lines to
- Deniliquin
- Orbost
- Echuca via Kyabram

5. Longer term look at standard gauging more of the regional system except for probably anything towards Bendigo or Traralgon where there is no clear benefit (no existing SG and extended interoperation with the existing metropolitan system, which is never going to be gauge converted and nor should it).  Candidates would be:

- anything north of Wallan (metropolitan electrification will reach here at some point), with dedicated SG tracks from here to Jacana
- Warrnambool
- Ballarat to Sunshine
- the Kulwin, robinvale and Piangil branches
- Seymour to Echuca (via Kyabram) and Tocumwal

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1526759697097052161

[ozbob]

Border Mail --> V/Line withdraws VLocity after damage and no timeframe set out for its return as cause of problem cloudy $

DAMAGE to the undercarriage of a new VLocity train on the North East line has forced it off the line indefinitely.

V/Line, which operates the train, has linked the blow to a track fault but the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which manages the line, has stated it has found no problems with its equipment. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/maxxthum/status/1553159686794293249

[ozbob]

V/Line's FINAL Scheduled Loco-Hauled Albury | Farewell to N Class Albury Services with N464

30th July 2022

[SteelPan]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/VicGovtNews/status/1565491731398676481

[ozbob]

ABC --> Western Victoria's passenger train campaign continues 30 years after Kennett's closure

[ozbob]

Announcing a 5th daily service on the Warrnambool Line!

[ozbob]

Border Mail --> V/Line to recommence services on the North East line after investigations into suspension problem with VLocity carriages $

VLOCITY trains will return to service along the North East line from this Saturday after being off the tracks for more than a week.

However, there is a hitch for travellers with train operator V/Line warning passengers to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey. ...

[ozbob]

The Border Mail -->  Passengers forced to sit on floor, stand, on train trip to Albury $

A woman who just returned from a tour of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand says her rail trip from Melbourne to Victoria's North East upon her return on Friday was far worse than transport in developing countries.

Wodonga retiree Heather Carmody said she saw 40 people, including several elderly people and a woman with a young toddler, forced to sit on the floor on the midday journey from Broadmeadows to Wodonga. ...

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/7NEWSBorder/status/1609822573520637954

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcmelbourne/status/1612310479417778177

Capacity worries me a little, some lines will simply not cope.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/danielbowen/status/1614732274213457921

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https://twitter.com/ptua/status/1614157745179226113

[AnonymouslyBad]

^ Such bad policy on all counts. Unfortunately, it was an election promise they seem hell bent on keeping.

Richmond to Melbourne CBD (like 2km) --> $9.20 return
Bendigo to Melbourne CBD (150+km) --> $9.20 return
Nothing sustainable or progressive about that.

[ozbob]

^ Such bad policy on all counts. Unfortunately, it was an election promise they seem hell bent on keeping.

Richmond to Melbourne CBD (like 2km) --> $9.20 return
Bendigo to Melbourne CBD (150+km) --> $9.20 return
Nothing sustainable or progressive about that.

Agreed!  It's nutz ... 

I am monitoring closely the rail fraternity in the big V. and basically all are very concerned.  There is no way VLine will cope with the additional pax loads.  Will end up very unpleasant for all, particularly on the Geelong (already bad for overloading), Ballarat and lesser extent Bendigo and Gippsland lines.

Over the weekend pax were unable to board at Wangaratta for Melbourne due to overloading.

There is talk of bringing back additional train resources, they might have too eg.  Ns and carriages, even talk of heritage stuff. Might be a few bucks for the heritage outfits. 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NEWSBorder/status/1615983513333043201

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ptv_official/status/1625373041281708032

[SurfRail]

I have a suspicion this is going to cause problems, especially on the North-East corridor where they already have capacity issues.

I hope they are planning on order a lot more trains.

If nothing else it might improve the case to electrify some of the V/Line network (especially the commuter belt, so as far as Seymour, Epsom/Eaglehawk, Wendouree, Waurn Ponds and Traralgon) and look at getting bi-mode trains for the next big batch so they can use the wires where they exist, then refit some of the diesel only sets for longer distance use.

[ozbob]

North Central Review --> Regional residents' anger over jam packed peak hour train services

Regional rail service V/Line has blamed an unusually high number of wildlife strikes for overcrowded peak hour services on the Shepparton line that have annoyed Mitchell Shire commuters in recent weeks.

Mitchell Shire residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration after reporting being crammed onto peak hour services to and from Melbourne that have operated with only two carriages.

Many shared photos of their journey, with commuters left standing in the aisles due to a lack of seats.

With coaches now replacing trains on the Shepparton line until April 1 while upgrade works are carried out, V/Line customers said they feared their commute could become unmanageable.

Devanya O'Dea posted in the Seymour Train-line Action Group, saying her daughter now elected to drive from Kilmore to Melbourne for her university studies.

"The service is so unreliable with cancellations and buses replacing trains, and the connecting buses often do not connect with the trains," she said.

"This comes at a large cost in both petrol and parking, once again leaving rural students very disadvantaged.

"When she previously caught the train she could rarely get a seat and so could not utilise the time appropriately to study on the train.

"On the times that my son has taken the train to Craigieburn it is often delayed and we have ended up driving to pick him up to ensure he gets home at a reasonable time. All in all, a useless service."

Another commuter, Samantha McCormack, said the service was better 15 years ago than today.

"Some of the current later services – 7pm onwards – are five carriages with no one on them, yet our peak hour services are now consistently two carriages, nowhere near enough to cater for increased patronage at Wallan and Donnybrook," she said. ...

[ozbob]

VLine online ticketing/reservations is presently off line for ticket purchases, apparently to come back on line towards the end of March.

These new regional fare caps are likely to cause a lot of problems for VLine passengers in terms of overloaded services, and in some cases pax will not be able to board. This is happening already, how much more so after 31st March 2023?

I am planning on some VLine trips in May.  As far as possible I intend to have reservations.

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen --> V/Line's permanent doorbuster sale

A big V/Line fare cut is coming up next week, and it may see a rapid surge in passengers. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1638078686548365312