Riding and observing train movement on the Warrnambool line

I decided to check out the Warrnambool line after doing few crossing run to and from crossing point day on both VoLcity and Loco hauls to get feel what is currently happening on route.

As this during this period 22-6 March Swan Hill is having trackworks and buses replaced all services.

I did numerous trips on the daytime Warrnambool route in this period

• 26/02/2025 I rode the Vlocity 3×1 car Warrnambool 07:26 to Camperdown and found the booking portal seems to have teething problems as not all seats are according to the newer trains configuration, I booked forward facing seat only for it to be face backwards on the train!il

Riding conditions on board.

• I prepared for the trip without buffet beforehand with some food and drink in my little backpack but the seats are so closely spaced in my allocated I had issue getting my food and drinks out to attend to my breakfast!

I was not impressed about the cramped passenger layout onboard as I did not like scrunching up to avoid bumping my head against the seat in front and struggling to get my stuff I need to make myself comfortable on board.

I noticed a few passenger on board was not very comfortable too as it was quite full on route as we made our way from Geelong

http://he 06:10 Warrnambool – Southern Cross service is delayed by 30 minutes due to track congestion. More information at vline.com.au

Waurn Ponds we were waiting for the delayed 06:10 Warrnambool down to pass us by.

Arrived at Camperdown at 10:02 got off the Vlocity and waited for the 10:15 to Melbourne which is tabled as loco haul

• VN10 pulls in with PH Van attached with N460 leading
• After settling in BZN276 I got myself some much needed Tea and drinks from buffet as a little back pack has limited space to cater for this unlike a buffet for refreshments on route.
• I had nice relaxing run back, as the trip on the newer VoLcity can be very exhausting so I had nice snooze on board the seats are very comfortable on board next the window!
• Compared to resting onboard in the newer train that not as comfortable on board as the seats are narrow and one can’t snuggle next the window like older trains.
• Train was very well patronised most carriage seats other carriages were occupied as we picked more passenger toward Winchelsea
• Waurn Ponds 11:35 I saw the 10:12 VoLcity Warrnambool pass by
• Geelong more people board as steady stream of people toward Melbourne

Pulled in Platform 2 in Southern Cross and train made up the 16:30 Geelong Service

Later rode the 16:30 same train I arrived on and got some rest and after seeing VN10 shunted back in siding in Geelong yard. And caught the train behind it which was 17:06 Warrnambool which was VN19 which was N cars no older Z series cars on it and settled in BDN50 to
Birragurra!

Shortly after boarding past Geelong I observed the conductor came in the carriage after the ticket check and went to the electrical cupboard and seem to reset something

BDN 50 was very stuffy at Geelong after boarding no airflow.

Air conditioning started to work again shortly but it seem something was not right I observed BDN 50 has a sick air conditioning systems and heard a grinding sound squealing like metal on metal coming from air conditioning unit near end of the carriage was fan motor bearing etc. in  housing unit need lubrication?

After arriving at Birregurra waited for the returning service from Warrnambool VoLcity

• N12 or N13 passed by on the down direction for last service for the Night to Warrnambool
• Got caught in Police operations Tarneit and Deer park due to Trespasser lost our path totally a back log trains waiting for signal
• Very late arrival 21:57 hour late long day

03/03/2025 decided to do another trip on 17:06 Warrnambool N12

Riding conditions on board:

• This service on this time slot was well loaded with passenger normally very busy with two non reservation cars on this Loco haul service as it peak hour.
• But lately I have observed this recently since the amending of the time table at the 1st Dec 2024 the last two service and first two service in week are seemly busier than before!
• The conductor made his usual PA travelling announcements and noticed there were 4 reservation cars and 1 non reservation car on this service!
• Very rough riding conditions from Waurns Pond to Winchelsea at 113-115 kmp/h bouncing the older N set quite noticeably

this trip often gave me time to have my dinner on board before I got to my destination to meet up the return service to Melbourne.

So on a heavily loaded service I had nice relaxing run on this leg of the journey buffet was operating as well on this service.

Noticed a light engine movement up direction N457 toward North Geelong was heading somewhere not sure where which was odd that that time of day.

After getting off at Birregurra after a brief wait got on board the returning service from Warrnambool Service a VLocity 3×1 railcar.

• Everything seemed normal on board riding qualitywise but I noticed after Winchelsea I notice the train had sudden movement or “kick” toward the left side of the train on the upward direction whist rolling toward Waurn Ponds
• I was not sure what caused it was wondering was track issue that caused that sudden movement?
• After arriving at Geelong I heard very faint “click” as was peering out the window at the time it happened on Platform 3 not sure it was if it was instinct I said with startlement “Oye! lights out!”
• Oddly shortly after it DID happen I saw the light went out and with the air conditioning!
• Then conductor comes out and I heard the flurry of communications on their train radio with the driver.
• PA advice came out from conductor “Customers onboard please do not be alarmed we just in the process of rectifying a intermittent electrical fault….

I was on board observing the driver and crew going through the process of rectifying it, noticed the whole VLocity DMU was shutdown and later restarted maybe the circuit breakers need to be reset along with numerous safety checks after to ensure our safety of the train and us included and after it was done we continued onward from Geelong late after 20:17 and saw VN19 shuffling by on the last service to Warrnambool as well.

Pulled in 21:01 and noticed a technician getting on the VLocity after we all got off I guessing he was sent to assess why the circuit breakers in the train tripped in the first place and rectify it when required.

The observations and conclusion is as follows:

It shows these VoLcity railcars are not fit for purpose for longer distance routes

• What is but it seems going through the events beforehand on board it looks like that sudden movement that I experienced on board the with light weight DMU VoLcity whist riding before Waurn Ponds there is high possibility maybe related to that “intermittent fault” occurring on route at Geelong!
• I don’t know what it did to it, but seems that messed up something as moving parts of a train physical structure do not like being subjected sudden impactive forces exerted on them be it electrical connections or mechanical moving parts which constantly subjected to vibration and impactive forces in the function of time….

The VLocity are much newer than older trains the management is withdrawing from service at BUT due the to wear and tear being forced on the longer distance route as a “One Size fit all Policy” via the top management it has being pushed and operated beyond their mechanical capabilities and limitations the newer VLocity DMUs they seemly now are operating like older badly maintained N set that are nearing the end of their lifespan after spending over 60-65 years on the rails!

Old or New technology of the rollingstock doesn’t matter when the trains are pushed and operated beyond their mechanical Limitations stress threshold they will fail in the function of time

1300+ people have directly complained to vic parliament about the Vlocity trains at Warrnambool and they have taken down their page….

Question is: Why is the top management or the key decision makers are ignoring the problem?

A former mechanical rolling stock engineer/ workshop manger in the older rail public service said this to me unquote:

Just because you ignore the problem ,it doesn’t mean it will all go away, and when the management shows they doesn’t know what to do how to manage it they should all quit or resign….