I was riding the 19:15 Warrnambool on the 6th Feb 2025 on the newer timetable as VLocitys now are now operating on the daytime service time slots.
This timetable was amended at the 1st Dec 2024
07:26, 10:12, 13:10 services are now 3×1 VLocity rail cars for weekdays and for weekend services 07:36,10:03 and 13:10
[with extra service added in bold] link provided below.
A very humid, hot summery evening and I was observing FN9 at platform 1 as the evening Swan Hill service whist waiting to board the train 19:15 Warrnambool down service that was often stabled overnight with another train that left beforehand as the 17:06 Warrnambool.
These two service are currently tabled as loco haul on the Warrnambool line on the timetable at the end of the day I was riding N13 pulled by N460 whist beforehand the 17:06 left for Warrnambool with VN10 which left on time.All went well and I was waiting to board until….
18:20 the PA at 3B advised of a track point failure at Sunshine!
https://x.com/vline_geelong/status/1887415094717350238
After the Swan Hill service left at Platform 1 we were boarded on the train I was riding BZN 272 and whist waiting I had my dinner on board and one crew member was delayed from another service because of the track point failure before getting on our train with another crew staff as normally they have 2 staff on board.
We departed 19:44 from Southern Cross toward Geelong and beyond. The service was made to stop to allow other services past toward Melbourne the knock on effect of the track point failure made us lose our path arrived Geelong main station 20:54.
Whist shuffling through the train later to get drinks to the buffet I couldn’t help noticing that BZN271 had a water leak from air conditioning systems!
As one noticed some water dripping from ceiling vents could see water on the ceiling and wet water marks on carpet on the floor.
Riding conditions on board beyond Wuarn Ponds
- After Colac the riding conditions is quite rough it bouncing the N set quite severely at 108 km/pH
- Some sections we were reduced to 37 km/pH
- Sherwood Park normal track speed the track was quite rough toward Warrnambool
We arrived over hour late 23:23 then 22:23 at Warrnambool but the upside was I was on board a comfortable older carriage and some people on board in other carriages were stretched out and sleeping on the seats!
Return leg on VN10 from Warrnambool
Next day I was back before 08:00 at the station to take the 2nd service in morning the 09:24 which was tabled as loco haul toward Southern Cross.
I was very amused that I was lucky enough to see a Freight Vic Locomotive G453 and freight train roll through the Warrnambool station whist the driver did safety checks on his train for the train movement to put in position ready for the trip towards Melbourne!
08:23 the locomotive was coupled to VN10 ready for the 09:24 Before boarding I decided to check out the vending machines for food and drinks for the other services that had no buffet on board to Warrnambool.
- As I tried to get early drink from vending machine at the station which was card operated only that the vending machine was not fully upgrade with number buttons to make you choice for drinks so even one tap their card to buy one you can’t get drinks from it as it the older money operated buttons are still on them!
Well if V/line want to get rid these older service they got to do something about those vending machines and oversee it or this will not work well in the long run on the non loco haul service with no food or drinks As was a little food van was near the coach bay closed and not serving drinks /drinks that time of the morning!
What a mess! In my case the old loco haul service was taking me back to ground zero with buffet on board.
What a mess! decided to get drinks from the train’s drinking fountain which was water from the train water tanks which was specially designed separately like the buffet water supply available which for drinking purposes unlike the other water tanks in the carriages!
I settled on board in BZN276 the 5th Car from the locomotive pulling and the PA came out giving it the usual onboard advice until.
This reservation service, customers this service is fully booked.Please check your seat no. above your window and please seat in your allocated seat and as for those customers without seat bookings please move to the last carriage.
The PA advice from the crew meant the train was heavily loaded with travellers as it normally a standard practice on the loco haul service for v/line to have 3-2 non reservation cars
On this particular service as out of 5 Cars of loco haul 4 were reservation cars whist the carriage I was in the non reservation car.
Train left on time after a good amount people boarded at Warrnambool and buffet service was available on board most of duration of the trip from Sherwood Park , as I shuffled through to get my drinks and stuff from the buffet to back my seat and had my breakfast on board.
As the last carriage had nice little crowd of people on board which picked up more people along the way as we headed back….
Riding events & observations on the return leg
- Warrnambool Yard not much happening at the moment still sleepers and pile of ballast sitting undisturbed around the empty area is now fenced off
- The older carriage BZN276 is shuddering at 107 km/ph toward Terang could be those rubber elastomer on the concrete sleepers not doing their job of dampening the impact vibration on the train?
- on the way back a one station if I recall rightly either Terang or Camperdown had some sort shed put and pile of ballast piled higher than the train itself
- Noticed newer crossing boon gate installed here there after Colac with newer sleepers along the way to Camperdown
- How would the lighter weight VLocity railcar cope with this excessive impact vibration in the function of time?
Could be this be the reason why older trains and newer trains are being damaged speeding up wear and tear?
- I understand Vic operators ie: Vline and state spend a lot on money on track upgrade on the Warrnambool line during 4 month shutdown mid 2024 May-Aug If so, what went wrong?
- I and other people are curious how will they rectify it?
- Do they have track and train investigator engineers who are familiar of our state track condition requirements in Vic?
Boorcan loop I was watching for the 07:26 Vlocity railcar to Warrnambool to pass by
- At 10:08 the Warrnambool service was seen rolling past
- Why did seem look empty with light off inside?
- I observed the letter board or sign that says Warrnambool was strangely not lit up
It seems very strange for this to happen it look like a empty cars if so,what happened and why?
In comparison to the Warrnambool VLocity 3 car 10:12 from Southern Cross seen with fair amount of people on board at Waurn Ponds
Arrived at Geelong I noticed the train was fairly loaded there was some seats still available in the non reservation car. Oddly there was some people chose to sit on the floor in the vestibule areas within the passenger saloon area of the older carriage near the WC are I was in.
We arrive Melbourne at Southern Cross 12:57 platform 3B after shuffling off I saw FN9 4x car middle rd ready for the afternoon 16:31 service to Geelong
13:10 Warrnambool was quite crowded from Southern Cross platform 1 saw a good amount of people getting on board some with big luggage.
This might one the last rides I do on these older service on the Warrnambool line as from I understand V/line management want the line to operate as VLocity rail cars by this March 2025 at the earliest!
N set and loco hauls were the benchmark acceptable standard of Regional Rail Travel for trips exceeding 2.5 hrs to terminating stations with coach transfers in Regional Vic Rail Travelling in it’s time and none can take that title away as they have served it time well for the age of the Rolling stock which some over 65 years old.
In conclusion I am for modern train technology but it must be fit for purpose for the current Vic Railway operating conditions in being reliable BUT comfortable fit and for purpose for the people who spend longer durations on board compared to suburban metro lay out of those newer train design the VLocity 3×2 Rail cars now pushed as a “One Size Fit All”
Exceed the former standard of what they are replacing the older trains and I am for it.
Exceed or match the former travelling standard that older trains held for long duration travel and I am for it.
If train were all the same as those decision makers in responsible decisions of our behalf as reflected in their current decisions in regard to replacing our aging fleet for Regional Vic Rail Service. Our railway forefathers would have not gone all through this trouble of quoting a pecking order for Rail Rolling stock designs requirement specifications for various railway travelling conditions!
- Sleeper & Dining : suited for long distance aka Indian Pacific, Great Souther and Ghan overnight/day on route one way
- Intercity *: Almost like a plane aka XPT that QLD tilt train *very new when high speed train technology was introduced : refer to Japan High Speed trains or TGV in France*
- Regional : N sets exceeding 3-5 hrs one way buffet on board
- Interurban: H sets and Sprinter and Velocities short regional route under 2-3 hrs one way toilets on board no buffet
- Suburban Metro: Siemens , X’trap,Hi Capacity and Comeng bear min. standard
- Light rail: aka trams
I manage to somehow stumble on the name of advisor who oversee our V/line Regional Service train designs for the trains from DOT.
Mr. Ben Phyland Transport for Victoria Head of Rolling Stock Development, Network Design and Integration
25 years of experience in the Railway Industry the CV was quoted from linkedin
Education
- Bombardier Transportation21 years 1 month
- Head of Sales and MarketingJan 2015 – Jun 2017 2 years 6 monthsMelbourne, AustraliaLeading Sales, Marketing and Business Development opportunities for the Australian Rail market
- Project DirectorSep 2013 – Dec 2014 1 year 4 monthsMelbourneLeading the Design, Build and Delivery of 22 Acity Electric trains for the Adelaide Metropolitan network
- Project ManagerDec 2010 – Aug 2013 2 years 9 monthsProject Manager for the Acity Electric trains for Adelaide. Sales lead for the bid now leading the project
- Manager Business Development & StrategyJun 2006 – Dec 2010 4 years 7 monthsLead the rolling stock tender for the MetOne Sydney metro consortium and lead rail systems technical presenter. Lead successful tenders for Electric trains, rail car refurbishment and wagon repairs. Developed proposals for new electric locomotives, LRVs and DMU markets.
- Industrial Design ManagerJun 1996 – Jun 2006 10 years 1 monthSet up the industrial design studio for Bombardier (Was ABB transportation / Adtranz). In Brisbane.
Worked in Europe as a specialist interior engineer developing the first Engineering book of Knowledge for train interiors.
Lead the concept design for the Perth B series EMU and VLocity 160 DMU trains.
- RMIT UniversityDesign (Hons) Industrial Design1992 – 1995
- Eltham College
https://www.monash.edu/irt/about/irt-industry-advisory-board-members
I hope he realises there a difference between Metro and Regional train travelling requirements where people spend longer time on board.
Ben is very well qualified but is he the right man for the role?
You decide…..
Going from bad to woe on the Warrnambool rail line.
Good to have someone who can report on what is really happening not government lies and spin.
Hi Petra,
I am known as observer and concerned train traveller and like to see the system advanced not regress in the 21st Centery…..
Things are about to get a lot worse at V/Line with removal of further rolling stock when overcrowding and train replacements are a daily job at this poorly managed mess.
Read this again today just love the way this guy writes about the inadequacies and poor planning of Vline. Vline have one job but to run an efficient and comfortable transport system to regional Victoria. In terms of comfort that is now at risk with introduction of Velocity trains on long haul run routes.
In terms of efficiency they are highly inefficient the way the network is managed it is not efficient they have spent $300 million on a signing system around Bendigo that is an operable and has failed.
What is true is that the network itself has seen a lot of investment concrete sleepers track alignment track bed works new singling the War line again brought up to national standards But all let down by introducing crappy trains on the line.