The VLocity and Warrnambool line saga

At 24/5 as most the Bendigo Line is booked out for Occupation and track works I decided to see the updated South Western line and oh boy the top management has made a hash of that train service!

Maybe some of those suffering users of this train service should invite Ben Phyland the DOT adviser and our transport Minister for all round ride to and from, no tax funded car and spend all day seeing the decline of the service to Warrnambool!

After arriving via packed Metro service at Southern Cross decided to ride 09:10 Sth Geelong VLocity

this little ride gave me enough time to eat my breakfast and keep out of the cold weather outside.

VLocity was warmer but when external door opened on route it let the cold air in as it nullified that effect!

The IMU VLocity passenger saloon or riding area was not design fit for the purpose passengers for sitting longer durations on board!
*Please tap arrow to see more*

older BZN and N cars on loco hauls had vestibule doors that can be closed sealing the passenger area included with its design requirement for the longer time spend on board for Regional Vic Railway conditions.

As when external doors or communication doors are opened passengers are not subjected as much exposure to colder air coming in the train and the heat loss due to the heated air escaping was reduced.

Events Prior to boarding the 13:10 Down VLocity to Warrnambool

1. Was sitting platform 2A finishing off a lunch observing the 3×2 VLocity coming in to make up our train, cleaners waiting to board to do their job. A crowd was building waiting for the boarding advice.
2. I stood up and strolled along the 3 car VoLcity and starting peering in the windows for my reserved seat no. as I pre booked for window seat both ways.

The public address speaker system sounded above the racket the VLocity IMU at Platform 2A

As and most people missed it due to the noisy condition whist waiting as several VLocity was sitting at other platforms idling away

Customer please be advised the 13:10 Warrnambool has had plaform change and will departing at 5A

1. Naturally I blurted out with disgust “I knew it, bait and switch!” and shuffled my way to 5A and the some people standing around got the hint and followed me down to 5A.

Customers please be advised the 13:10 Warrnambool has had platform change and will departing at platform 4B

I grumbled about this as result as I knew all my booked seat on board would all muck up with other passengers as was there various series of VLocity Rail cars in service :

1. In disgust I blurted loudly to myself BACK YOU GO!!!
   • And made my way to the stair case as the escalator on 5A was set on the down direction!
   • I wonder why was they only one escalator installed in high usage area?
   • People started to walk the long way to platform 4B
   • I took this route and shuffled up the stairs to 4B and the escalators was closed off not working so I took the lift down and made me way to the waiting VLocity IMU rail car for the Warrnambool service
2. The after brief look in the VLocity I noticed it was the newer 21 VL we were rostered to have 91 VL a older VLocity IMU railcar.
   • 91 Series was featured the purple seats most had no tables fitted but the seats with tables were located in the middle car only which the 4 seats facing each other had no tables like others
   • 21 series most the seat had table attached with seat strengthening frame add and high backed seats, but these seat are a lot firmer to sit on compared with older series VL!
3. My booking was all mucked up due to possibility differing seat layout may different no. layout on the v/line booking site as it was for the other set that was taken out of service it was obvious my booked window was aisle seats.
4. I was not impressed as I didn’t encounter such issues making bookings on their booking portal as the older rolling stock it was fairly straight forward when I booked a seat in ACN or BN cars when it in service to Warrnambool.
5. This seem to be the results of the ill thought out decision made by top management and consultant advisors via moblie phone and lap computers on the Regional Traveller’s behalf!
6. I noticed on my pervious run on the Warrnambool route these decision makers who boarded from Southern Cross Station did not go the full duration of the whole route had hastily made their decisions before Geelong Station which was hardly out the Metropolitan tap on areas before getting off at Waurn Ponds to catch the returning service back again!
   • The article dated:November 2, 2024 shows the people in responsible roles in v/line had made it clear by Nov 31 2024 the N set loco hauls on that line would progressively scaled back on the Warrnambool line!

After a bit stuffing around after Geelong I managed to get window seat as I presume some Regional people beyond Warn Ponds are avoiding these not fit for purpose VLocity cars and I don’t blame them!

Beforehand I had being seated next a person, but being bigger frame like them this person was clearly uncomfortable and squashed due to the narrow seats

1. Seat were quite firm but narrow very hard to lean against the window and wall areas to give extra room for the person next to you
2. Space between seats are very small it is very similar to metropolitan train layout, I had very little room to get food and drinks out of it when required
3. As on crowded service you may have ask the person to move to and excuse the fact you can’t reach your back pack or bags of food/drinks onboard the not fit for purpose IMU VoLcity rail car doing these longer duration routes defeats the purpose for of bringing your own food and drinks onboard!
4. Got bounced severely felt the bump and heard the bogie springs working hard to reduce that impactive force of it transmitted to the train body physical structure before Wyndham Vale!
5. VoLcity electrical components wont like that sudden impactive forces and vibration subjected to it in the function of time!

After falling asleep due to relentless roar and vibrations traction engines of the IMU VLocity near Birregurra the weather took a turn, cold and rain…..

this will make interesting conditions for observing the train riding conditions on route

15:57 off Camperdown the VLocity I noticed the traction engine seems to spiking in frequency regularly at intervals whist coasting

• Emerging electical issue after being bounced too hard?
• Saw the return ex 10:12 VLocity down service looking rather empty at Boorcan Loop
• It looked it was bounced a fair bit too
• those track area toward Camperdown after Colac are quite tricky at times, it get rather rough at time used to shake up the older loco haul service up bit there too at 108 Kms per hr!
• Oh dear the VLocity is sluggish to Sherwood Park….she doesn’t sound well
• trying to power but not going at speed we normally do.

Mobility access WC was faulty and not working properly I can say by observation at odd time I required it on route on the down

• Door locking mechanism was not working
• Door button pressed but door will not operate to close it
• Door will not open after door button is pressed
• To get in on or out you go manual pull open or close it but without a lock to secure your privacy it is useless!
• Should stick to the conventional turn knob to lock it, but open it can be operated by door engine and pulley system like some the cars in the Overland the BJs older carriages heavily modified for mobility access

One can say it electrical issue and door engine issue, the train technical staff properly have to pull it apart and see what malfunctioned diagnosis and rectify it

Warrnambool station 16:40 it was cold and rainy and saw Warrnambool Yard a bit of machinery with few concert sleepers here and there!

When I looked at the vending machines in the station the one Vending machine for food had a sign “Out of Order” whist the snack vending machine was nearly empty with few lollies bar available and the drink machine the station when I operated I managed to get some Coke, but not water….as it was empty!!!

And the top V/Line management says it is upgrade?

This a regression of service of what it was perviously when the older loco haul which was fit for purpose with catering were in service to Warrnambool!

As now getting food and drink is a hit and miss affair for train connection travellers and train travellers and for those people who don’t know the town is how do get food and drink at such short notice especially those with mobility and dietary food requirements!

I was listening to the working parts of the VLocity whist at stand still before departure

1. It didn’t seem to sound normal it sounded a bit harsher then usual not a smooth but rather jagged rhythm at times!
2. I board sat myself down in seat area with bit more extra space and by window and we made are departure on time 17:35 ate dinner on board, awkward I had not enough drinks on board let along snacks
3. I wasn’t able buy much drink or snacks from Warrnambool so I drank the water from my big cup filling from the drinking fountains in the VLocity.
4. I was on the wrong side but noticed over the noise of the VoLcity turned my head in time just to see the 17:06 VLocity to Warrnambool on the way on Birregurra loop
5. Near Nth Geelong sighted the 19:26 down VLocity to Warrnambool last service of the day!

Pulled in 21:03 and the VLocity was put out service and it possible shunted in for repairs

As beforehand mid trip before arriving at Warrnambool observed the conductor writing something in his white book, maybe reporting a fault with the IMU Unit I returned in.

I found from custom staff the newer VLocity IMU are having some sort faults and they have being knocking them out and replacing it with other sets….

If so, that may it explain the rolling stock shortages beside animal strikes and back log of VLocity sets waiting for bio wash and inspection for damage compounded by the time it take for it to rectified!!!

On top this they had scaled back the maintenance funding of the 4 remaining sets in the system,VN14,VN17,N12 and VN10 and a handful remaining N class locomotives in the system!

They are rolling stock at the moment N13,VN3,FN9,VN5,VN19 VN6,N11,FN4 has now taken off the public roster some found new owners or companies scattered around Vic but sadly the remains sets maybe scrapped!

Whist most N class loco were leased to SSR and reconditioned for freight use around Vic!

Conclusion of the current operational issue in the V/line system is:

They can’t keep cutting the rolling stock both loco and carriage sets when they are still having unresolved issues with those VLocitys and no dedicated replacement a “fit for purpose rolling stock tested certified and proven in the function of time”

As proven replacement of the aging N sets on the longer duration routes ie: Warrnambool etc!