Swan Hill Line in shambles May 19th weekend!

Sat 19th May Southern Cross station has unusual activities happening as I arrived

V/line advice was 5A for Swan Hill but on 3 B I noticed VN17 standing there and shortly after a loco hooked up 06:33 hrs

At 07:28 I notice advice on V/line Bendigo X & website that Swan Hill toward Melb was having issues on route.

• I observed VN14 passed me by as empty car movement before Footscray toward Southern Cross!!!
  • Push pull from Bacchus Marsh x 2 N classes seen at 07:48 hrs
• All went well until woke up before Gisborne a PA announcement came advising the train was terminating at Bendigo from Bendigo to Swan Hill!

At 08:15 the advice came out online from V/Line Swan Hill train service was impacted as well!

reason given: train fault, as I was riding at the time this happened as I felt was a tad misleading to the public as it implies BOTH train service had broken down on route!

1. The termination of the morning Swan Hill service was due to the ” knock on effect”and high possibility of delayed work order to Bendigo Railway workshops for their response.
2. I managed gather info at Bendigo it is possible may have suffered brake issues on the return service!
   • As I understand 3rd party contractors now maintain and service our Regional train services so the work order[s] sent from the operator may take some time to get approved and responded to.
   • As this involved sending a light engine movement to rescue the faulty train from Swan Hill.
3. The fault on the Swan Hill service heading toward Bendigo indicated a external door locking system fault
   • As PA advice by crew on board at Castlemaine after departure that they had to reset something.
   • Thus a intermittent fault that was rectified on route.
   • Perviously these electrical and mechanical issues with external doors was very rare non existent as it was older manual operated lock.
   • As the external door lock system in the train is operated by electrical components activating the moving parts in it thus locking the carriage.
   • Once is locked it closed can’t be open until conductor de actives the locking system.
     • Due to OHS it changed, irrefutable reasons ie: Prevention of person[s] opening the door and falling out whist train was in motion whist going to the WC etc!

A lot people grumbled on board and I don’t blame them about the sudden change as it was a Saturday and there was a good amount people on board travelling!

Bendigo Platform 2 train was terminated the remaining people who travelled beyond Bendigo made their way to the coach bay.

I observed the train movement as I wasn’t sure if they’d shunt it in a yard and replace the 16:01 with a Vlocity

• I noticed the loco was detached run around next to the train and hooked up to other the end 5 carriages,VN10
  • I was aware the 16:01 time slot the loco haul was tabled to return to Bendigo as the 13:35 Southern Cross from Swan Hill.
• I observed the crew shuffling off I was thinking the return will be a loco haul or else this set will out of sequence like the one stuck at Swan Hill I would presume it could be N12.
  • What did they do with VN17 and VN14 ?
  • If those sets are out of service for bit this may mean are no set available for the next service to Swan Hill in the Evening!

I stayed to check out the shopping mall after lunch I returned to the Station the weather was changing getting very cold by the cloud pattern was expecting rain by early evening.

After lunch advice from V/line on X and their website:

• I crossed the overpass to the loco haul train at the platform from the bridge I noticed the roof of the train looking very weathered.
• From my past experience as hands on type of train person this train could do with a good scuff and roof paint with a body repaint too!
  • Oh golly, shortly after the advice came out from v/line confirmed my observations on the evening Swan Hill service at 14:08 hrs!!

After boarding VN10 15:58 hrs I was happy to get on board a nice warm carriage and rested awhile enjoying drink on board & rode back to Southern Cross arriving Platform 2 early evening.

1. More delays and when I returned that evening no older classic set were seen available in Melb Yard.
   • Even if they DID have one set tucked away somewhere near Dudley St it would not be able to go there as the train & Loco at Swan Hill was still stuck up there!

Sun 20/7/25 VN10 same set as Sat, noticed a powervan being attached a good crowd was waiting for Swan Hill 07:40

This service at 07:39 left as normal.

• Pulled by loco N467 and it was late boarding as I observed the lead car had some sort air leak from when they did their brake test!
• Was rectified and board late on board a BZN262 and the day before event took it effect on me and dozed the comfortable old carriage for bit
• At Castlemaine we were a bit late, but PA advised we are waiting for return Bendigo Service which happen to be N12 ex Swan Hill with passengers on board and hauled by two N class locomotives as the one behind seemed to be faulty at 09:53 hrs

As for this trip it made it all the way there and back again which I was happy about!!

I had concerns staff at the station and on the train that period may copped a earful from angry travellers over the period of time it took to recover that train & get it back in service again!!

It seems they have has hit critical mass, It looks like classic fleets was withdrawn too hastily!

Is funding of maintenance for the classic fleet service being delayed to justify their bad decisions made recently with the Vlocitt trains improperly being placed on longer routes ?

it seems the classic fleet is progressively run into the ground until the faults become serious enough for train & bus transfers at least twice week.

Past trip observations on board seems to indicates thing are not being fixed I too being caught in few of these changes!

• forcing a short distance IMU Vlocity inter urban commuter rail car on the longer routes.
  • Many of which more 3-4+ hrs to terminating station with coach transfers connection
  • Vending machine are hit and miss due it being broken or out of order which v/line staff has said they are not responsible this.
  • Before Sunday I experience what was the worse of the lot on this line as it Impacted BOTH morning and days services on Saturday the day before!
  • Seats some are very worn and not replaced
  • Fluro tube in main carriage light blown and not replaced
  • Curtains are unfasten from hook and track and dropped down in few window areas
  • communication doors are stiff at time and door engines might need attending and pulleys adjusted
  • As well coffee machine problems/ water problems on board on recent trips on board
  • crew shortages is a factor in buffet service on classic fleets
  • BRN fridge was having issue on down leg in this case as a result there was no buffet service onboard!
  • Back up generator issues in BRN
• For this trip they managed to get the fridge working at buffet but the cash machine failed and it was cash only!
  • only people who had cash on them could buy food and drinks whist other got caught out!
  • Most access food and drinks at short notice and vending machine at the station before leaving 16:35 that evening!
    • Having no buffet on the down leg I had gotten some food and drinks as backup.
    • was happy they got the fridge working again in the Buffet or BRN and proceed to have dinner on board the train as usual with my usual food I have and stuff from the buffet as I had cash on hand
    • Other people on board looked me as came from Pluto!!! [ As lot use their phone and card]
    • Cashless is problematic on moving working conditions such as trains as the bumping and vibration doesn’t to the machine to do it much good

Conclusion:

I am observing that 4 N set [20 carriages] and handful of locomotives is not enough to account for the time required on route to go the various refuel point, empty car movements through to other siding and workshops around the state.

I think 5-6 VN sets on stand by at least for such events ,until they can get fit for purpose train for the longer routes

Does the DOPT adviser Ben Phyland know the difference between Regional and Metropolitan rolling stock?

Regional standard: WC, Bi directional seats ,buffet to cater refreshments for lengthy the time on board ,storage racks for bags & smaller items and designated luggage area for bigger items with better insulation on board!

Metropolitan standard: A CMU = Commuter Multiple Unit ” Metro trains bare min with no WC and fixed seat very firm to sit on and people are on it for very short durations compared to Regional rolling stock

3. VoLctiy is a IMU =Inter Urban Units one step up from CMUs or a glorified railmotors with WC drinking fountains and fixed seats softer but bit more suited for mid distance travel ie: Bendigo, Geelong at the furthest. [later series not the newest which have very hard seats]

The VLocity could be nice train BUT it need be operated within its mechanical and stress threshold as shorter distance designed rail car!

Why are the It seemly in stealth the top level of V/line are downgrading and wreaking what was reasonable rail service?

I have observing the indicators since mid 2024 on the Warrnambool line and the troubled Gippsland line are in a very bad state constant track works and bus replacements!

It looks like seemly very sly way to get rid of them, they let run down and say it unviable to operate end of story!

As I observed that some non profit tourist railway operator organisation can preserve the life older rolling stock some nearly 80 years old in reasonable operable state on their limited funds to operate trips around VIC.

When maintained regularly, these older trains should last for a long enough until the state in strong financial position to order & design fit for purpose designated fleet fit for the purpose of the longer routes ie: Swan Hill etc.

What’s stopping a “Public” funded rail transport operator from doing the same thing?