9th Sept Swan Hill 0739 I saw the shunter came to hook up loco N460 but there was extra people!
Hang on, a moment ….
Why are they training shunters on older trains when they are phasing out the older classic fleet which requires their skills to Marshall the carriages around along and locos with power van around Melb yard?
- 9/9 Swan Hill service had VN17 and noticed on the cleaners popped up just before departure time 0724hrs!
- As result it we had late boarding on the train that left at 0739hrs!
As soon as I was settled in BZN252 they got the train out the platform very promptly!
On time it left very relaxing run lots of people were on board considering it was the working day of the week.
- Noticed people got off mid route and some boarded mid route between Kyneton.
- Some people left at Castlemaine and few more boarded.
We arrived Bendigo Station 0958hrs
A good amount of people left the train and a driver and change took place at Bendigo and more people boarding the train as well.
I noticed with the crowd from my carriage from the front what looked to me as V/Line admin staff wearing those distinctive purple lanyards!
smartly dressed in business shirts & slacks
- The last time I saw people like this was when they installed the vending machines at Warrnambool station before doing away the loco haul services on the this line
- And in time Warrnambool Services has being problematic since the rolling stock change!
- Swan Hill: A good amount of people got off coaches from Mildura etc and some was already present waiting for 1335 Southern Cross Service
- It is possible the admin V/Line staff boarded at Southern Cross and got off at Bendigo!
- Exactly the same travelling pattern like those consultants of V/line plain clothes and car keys hanging from their belt straps on their pants did on the lunch Warrnambool run and got off Waurn Ponds.
- hasty decisions by phone and lap tops were made before Geelong on scaling back the classic fleet on the Warrnambool line. 20/11/2024
- https://www.vibewire.com.au/?p=150413
Wed 10th Sept I had the same set & loco for Swan Hill Down,But this this time it did not go so smoothly!!!
I was roused from a deep nap by PA on board by crew at 0844hrs unquote:
Customers, please be advised due:
Broken rail between Kyneton – Woodend.This train will be held at Woodend until the Southern Cross Services passes through
As on their website this was their notification at 0937hrs was posted
The 07:39 Southern Cross – Swan Hill service is delayed by 35 minutes due to a track fault.
More information at vline.com.au
From observation on route with broken rail incident that delayed the train I was on I thinking it occurred where a crossing loop was.
As the city bound services were still able to pass past our service whist waiting for them on route.
As our train was able to proceed onward toward Castlemaine whist I saw the VN10 the up Swan Hill return toward Southern Cross pass us at Castlemaine toward Bendigo
Shortly after we went through I notice via notification on V/line on Bendigo Line on route toward Kangaroo Flat.
As the later services were impacted as it seem to me they had temporally delayed the train services through those sections to allow repairs take place on the broken rail.
The “knock on effect” of the queue of trains services trying go through both directions in those affected sections would cause congestion on the Line.
It would of resulted in some cancellations of services both directions!
Had it occurred on sections with no crossing loop or the track points areas on the line.
There is a high possibility a Major disruption could of taken place as all services going from Southern Cross and to Southern Cross would being suspended until repairs took place!
We arrived at Swan Hill 1259 hrs due the delay
On the way back left on time and was very relaxing run to Southern Cross Melbourne and we rolled in 1810 hrs to end the day.
Saw the 1808 hrs Swan Hill down or evening service coming in it was late departing I saw people at Platform 1 waiting to board it!
VN10 was heading out and I later observed via notification that VN10 had a train fault delaying it 20 minutes!
Why haven’t they repaired that electrical connection problem on it yet?
The flow of people getting on & off is staggered throughout the route to Swan Hill
- working week ie:Bendigo the train fill up of working and school students
- weekend can be much the same when the footy or some sport event is happening in the city.
- Public Holiday can be more busier people want to get out and travel to see people etc.as I guess due to pot hole roads and high fuel cost for cars more people are heading for the trains.
It could be due to pot hole roads and high fuel cost for cars more people are heading for the trains
Conclusion:
There could be a possibility of rumbling of discontent amongst frontline staff about the way things are managed as when things go wrong they cope it from the public as they expected to tow the line or get ousted!
One can cut and streamline when you got surplus rolling stock to certain extent , but currently it seems they cut too much to the point of critical mass.
But when operational/safety issues occurs and impact on the public and crew’s safety onboard ie: Seymour Line trains separating what will happen next?
You can’t cut what you don’t have.
Now currently several Regional outlets are reporting about the New VoLcity trains not meeting their purpose in the function of time!
If the State Gov are still defending the safety and purpose of their newer train one might suggest their MP and their advisor in PT should get out their office to ride them in uncontrolled settings all the way & back again on a more regular basis instead relying on their company car!
This what the people who advises V/line would see if they just put in the effort ride their own system on the trains both old and new for the whole day with their lap tops and phone and without breaking the journey at designated days of the week Instead of relying on outdated data and update their data periodically!
In VR era some the top management would ride the commissioners car and travel regularly there and back and would talk who the people who lived Regional Vic as part of their role in the railways!
- South Western Rail Corridor: //www.standard.net.au/story/9061001/why-victorias-fast-trains-are-still-a-long-way-off-full-speed/ South Western Rail Corridor
- Bendigo: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/9051954/victorias-train-punctuality-issues-revealed-in-new-vline-data/
- Gippsland: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/gippsland-vline-timetable-bus-replacement-no-trains/105503728
- Albury:https://www.farmernews.com.au/news-news/state-government-defend-safety-of-albury-vline-service
Great information and reporting there is nothing like getting an update from the coal face from people who ride the system rather than from stinking management who lie.
great article you follow the management of the network well, V/line try to hide their mistakes.
Thanks for your Kind words…..
I am was enjoying what’s left of the older classic fleet….it was by “accident” I ran into them during my travels…
As Concerned Train Traveller who was guided by some mentors along the way in the profession……