Riding both Old and New trains in one day!

Looking towards a restful day on the older train to Swan Hill 3B on 8/10 did I get it?

Nope, because of last minute platform change from 3B to 6B!!!

Before the platform and rolling stock change

1. I noticed a N loco up the yard lit up on the holding yard near the Signal Box next to coach bay, and no sign of shunters before Albury Standard Gauge VLocity was due to depart at 07:07 from no. 1 platform.
2. Plus I notice the buffet catering pulling way and I was alerted something was going happen and as soon as it went down the ramp the PA sounded.

Attention Customers: Please be advised the 07:39 Swan Hill Service has had a platform Change and will now be departing from platform 6B.

VLocity 3×1 to Bendigo & Bus to Swan Hill Both ways

Function of time has led to a sudden more frequent rolling stock changes for Swan Hill Service.

1. I was observing the past few runs on VN17 or the loco got bounced too hard on the rough riding sections to and from Swan Hill!
   • impactive forces and vibrations subjected to the train’s physical structure its self has a potential to damage to the electrical connections and components within the train.
   • Their constant use has potential to speed up wear and tear in older and newer trains

VLocity 3×1 to Bendigo & Bus to Swan Hill Both ways!

It caught one of the conductors off guard ,as one mention he wanted his cup of coffee from the buffet before opening up for service!

I had bought refreshments beforehand but not sure about the other passenger boarding mid route!

1. VLocity IMU rail car to Bendigo, cramped and quite crowded on toward Bendigo
   • VLocity are no. layout is different to the older train and when this happens it’s currently Free for all seating non allocated IMU VLocity toward Bendigo
2. The seat number and letter allocation on their tickets at the time confused a few travellers as some had reservation tickets.
   • This currently only applies to the older loco hauled train on the Swan Hill Service.
   • Had a look in the yard observed crew looking at Loco N452 why it is unknown.
   • Noticed VN17 in the yard and two loco in the back near Dudley St next the Bombardier Railway Workshop

Castlemaine and caught VN14 & loco N460 returning to Southern Cross

This was type of train which I intended to ride for the day but the rolling stock change stuffed that up!!!

I sat in BZN476 as BZN258 was crowded as after a nice relaxing ride back to Southern Cross late t 11:45 due to speed restriction on rough riding areas:

Interestingly, there was a light engine movement passing me by on the down toward Castlemaine Bendigo

Why and what it was doing is currently unknown…..

1. V/Line areas Hill, Kerang,Raywood,Macedon ,Woodend sections from Keilor Plains
2. Metro Areas Rest, Sunbury, Water Gardens and Albion where the train sometimes scraps the platform

When the train scrap the platform it’s rotten noise!!!

It sounds worse when the carriage has got rivets like BZN265 as now most modern techniques currently used is to heat, stretch and spot weld to attach the metal steel skin on the frame of the carriage!

After grabbing a bite to eat rode Wendouree via 12:35 VLocity

I was on the older series with no table in end car with those purple seats after choosing my seat near window I ate my lunch went there all the way and back.

I caught sight of A66 at 3B between two VLocity

1. We shuffled past Bacchus Marsh and I spotted N12 4 car N set sitting in a storage siding!!!
2. When I pulled in from Wendouree I saw VN10 & VN14 in the yard, and VN17 was not visible there is possibility being inshopped and being looked at.

Maybe some questions could be considered via MSM.

Why is N12 sitting that siding and is being repaired or they did the run out of storage in Melbourne yard?

1. As I understand has workorders approved by the top level of the operator carry out via train movement to take place to access the various workshops in VIC:
   • I wonder have they reduced the amount of funding for workshops allocated to carry out preventive maintenance on them?
2. Does it seem that the top managment of the operator has being given poor advice?
   • Why reduce the amount older classic fleet to the point when several set and loco get taken out of service there is not enough to cover the locomotive or carriage sets that are booked out for repairs?
3. What happen to current track upgrades and those Digger Rest Build and why do they have keep redoing it?
   • Is anything to do with quality control?

Conclusion:

All I can say it getting rather messy out on the system, people who are pressed for time commitments personal or vocational won’t be too happy about their sudden travelling arrangement changes …

The VLocity cramped seat areas and lack of space moving along the seats of to access the water fountain in the train for filling my cup of water to take to my seat is downgrade compared to the older classic fleet BZN where I had more space to walk without bumping anything.