Abrupt change for me on 6/12 so I went to Southern Cross to see the action and see for myself what is going on.
I was aware of issues on the Ballarat, Wendouree and Waurn Ponds services and the reasons on the website for V/Line for the changes or cancellation was “Delayed Train Crew”
I don’t understand is why were most V/Line media advice that period on Sat and Sun for disruptions repeatedly stated “Delayed Train Crew”?
- On 3/12 & 7/12 I saw VLocity IMU being taken out of platforms after it lit up seemly ready to do service run on the system.
- I can understand after arriving with passengers it might be booked out to refuel and do other thing whist prepping it for it next run
- As what I saw seems to a more frequent occurrence in when I arrive whist waiting for my train time slot first thing in morning, is abrupt platform changes via PA some of the train services on Ballarat, Wendouree, Waurn Pond Services.
- I understand some are related to something happening around the system
- But notice recently passenger and conductors are made to change for another IMU VLocity
I grabbed 15:15 Wendouree VLocity 3×2 to see for myself how patronage what happening on that line regarding the on going disruptions
I settled down in VLocity and thought this was nice way to spend the rest of the day since the weather was a bit mushy, humid, unsettled with rain showers and see them put the VLocity IMU rail car through it’s pace with talking those hilly areas on route after Bacchus Mash!
Iwas aware that these grades had a past track record causing heavy trains stall on route when the rail were greasy
My first experience of this occurring was on Heritage Tour weekender, a 13 car train many years ago.
- our steam locomotive stalled that late hrs at night on the grades after Bacchus Marsh as some sections are 1/30 and 1/60 and considered steep for railways.
- The consist was a combination of older wooden passenger bodied BE carriages
- older wooden bodied Sleeping cars Indi, Werribee which air conditioned the odd sleeper which non air-condition, with showers onboard was Goulburn
- at the end the combination pass/ guard van known as 1BCE!
We had to wait until the first morning public service a loco haul and it 5 carriages came to assist our train up the hill to Ballarat did’t arrive until early hrs morning 02:00-03:00!!!
Before the departure of our VLocity to Wendouree the driver came out from the cab walking down the length of the 3 car and went out to the platform 6A.
This didn’t seem normal to me as I understand the driver stay in the cab most the VoLcity ride I experienced was there something emerging that we didn’t know about?
The train boarding advice was as follows.
Back 3 cars Ballarat Passengers whist front 3 cars were for Wendouree passengers
Had a few refreshment on board most seats were occupied even next me, A good load of people!
- Some with bags, big luggage, backbacks and prams
- one even carrying their motorised skate board that was placed in the overhead luggage space above me by its owner!
- Footscray as it was stopping all stations the train filled up some people stood or sat down in any space they could.
I decide to compare the decibel level on board to older train and see for myself using decibel app dB decibel meter on my phone.
Here are some data of dBs levels in the passenger areas on board the VLocity IMU Rail cars
- 15:04 VoLcity was stationary 99 dBs at the Platform 6A Southern Cross
- 15:28 toward Sunshine low speed was 95.9 dBs -100 Dbs Very loud Motor Cycle, Lawn Mower
- The brake application was 76 dBs before stopping at Sunshine
- 16:04 VoLcity was working hard on the grades after Ballarat 101 dBs
- 17:33 on the up direction from Wendouree dB hit 121.1
- surprisingly too I noticed the distinct sounds of fishplate holding the rails together older rail technology underneath before pulling in Ballarat
- 17:34 working hard on the grades toward Bacchus Marsh on a Ararat 3x car Service 127 dBs, Rock Concert,Chain Saw
Whist 14:46 26/11 riding on the older train was when in BZN258 2nd last car 73.1 dB
Disclaimer:
The app readings all need to verified by independent sound technician and engineer using their specialised equipment but it can be costly to use their expertise and services!
Beside that I experience some odd events on route and some questions to considered:
- I had dispose my drink containers and when I went to the waste receptacle in the 3 cars I saw it overstuffed and overflowing of garbage and no more could in the bin of the VLocity IMU rail car.
- Reluctantly I put the plastic bottle which tightly sealed on the flat area above the bin
- Is it possible it was design was approve by a person who doesn’t even use their own public transport service let alone the newer train now replacing the classic fleet?
- The older classic fleet bin receptacle areas was design for volume and mass and bins could be emptied via car cleaners at the end of it’s rostered leg to and foe back to Southern Cross unlike the VLocity IMU rail cars.
Yes older train are long in the tooth but at least the design of their bins and other items was FIT FOR PURPOSE!
Arrived Ballarat 16:46 notice people swarming out from the train and crew change we rolled on to Wendouree!
Things took a weird turn after it terminated at Wendouree, I was advise by station staff that the whole 3×2 car set was not taking passengers BUT going empty cars back to Ballarat to the Workshop!!!
The PID of Wendouree showed 17:08 Southern Cross
- I saw the 3×2 VoLcity leave the plaform, amongst me a small crowd was forming
- I found myself boarding the Ararat Return Service on that time slot but only there cars
- Unwelded track join after Ballarat!!!
- Could this be seen as a clue on why the Ararat VLocity services keep getting cancelled at odd times and replaced by coaches?
- I understand the Electrical connection in those newer train going past 115 km/ph is subjected to more severe impact due the increased track speed it going on the track sections.
- I had sample of it I could clearly feel and hear the distinct “click, clack” of the wheels going over the rail join and edges over the racket of train it’s self…
- I wonder is just as rough as Standard Gauge which the Overland operates is scheduled to stop at Ararat?
I had taste of what has happened when a trains get bounced too hard in time, ranging from blown lights in the carriages to more serious electrical issue on route.
Ranging from blown carriage lights in the Old Interstate rolling stock to the Modern Regional VLocity IMU Railcars having whole train shutdown at Geelong after returning from Warrnambool!!
Two examples:
- 03/03/2025 I rode N12 to Birregurra got off and caught a VLocity back to Southern Cross and we got bounced too hard the VLocity I was on abruptly shut down at Geelong Station losing power, lights and air conditioning!
- 08/08/2025 Rode the Overland and Newport rough sections present in metropolitan areas toward Werribee 50 – 55 peg it really shook up the train! One the fluro tube blew and went out!
- Arrived at Ballarat 17:20 where they add 3 cars front of the seat I sitting with good crowd of people on board.
- A thick line of people waiting to board at Ballarat
- 18:40 we pulled in 16 A, not found of that platform!!!
- Sighted the Swan Hill 18:43 VN14 still at 3B whist arriving “huh? she’s tad late….”
I shuffled to 3B and saw the train was not lit up yet or prep I saw the train crew quickly setting up it amongst the crowd waiting as soon it was lit up they boarded them.
However the advice from V/Line website later came out advising delay to a train fault when I saw on site that late staggers and mobility access passenger want to get on as soon they were about depart!
I noticed the conductor and station staff looked annoyed due the tardiness of some travellers along with assisting a need for mobility access customer made things harder by causing delays
19:44 from V/Line website:
The 18:43 Southern Cross -Swan Hill service delayed by 30 mins, reason when link was checked “train fault”
A few interesting questions could be raised:
Recently since Sat on the Ballarat, Wendouree and Waurn Ponds lines the advice given was the disruptions Crew Delays for changes to most of services for a few days…..
- I can understand once, twice could be honest mistype or mistake by Transport operator etc but when it happen all day and continues on for few days and look like constant pattern could it be seen by some people is misleading anyway?
- I personally don’t think it fair to blame the crew operating the train as NOT all train cancellation or changes mid route could be caused by them.
- as most frontline workers I see do their best in most testing situation on route be it on off the train in their system.
- I seen some them get raw deal when they at short notice get shuffled off on another platform to prep another train at short notice along with passenger having lug their bags to another platform!!!
- When I saw a yard full of VoLcity IMU cars at Bendigo on the 7/12/2025 from VN10 after it return after it was found to missing a handrail from one the carriages I wonder why aren’t they operating?
- I can understand tagged set can’t run in that state but the others?
- Wouldn’t you think that it would all hand on deck for all those IMU VoLcity would operating since “Free Travel” as touted by Vic Government MPs etc.
Wouldn’t you think that it would all hand on deck for all those IMU VoLcity would operating since “Free Travel” as touted by Vic Government MPs etc.?
The poor fleet availability problem still exists, could this be pre election gimmick?
- if it free all train staff and crew and ground staff are working long hrs for nothing as bills don’t stop coming in one wonders this might be causing some discontent amongst those involved?
- I wonder if these’s potential incident of operation crew who operate the trains might not be getting paid?
- since it “Free Travel” as I wonder if this putting pressure on management of V/Line to cut back vital services from the contractors that clean and transport providers ie: Alstom to maintain the fleet?
- 7/12 I understand the train was not clean by the cleaners when it came back the day before when was on the Swan Hill run which was VN10
- That day I happen to see only one cleaner therefore it took longer to clean the train that morning, usual there two cleaners doing the 5 car set.
I don’t think this free travel campaign election push could last long….
From my observation: travel is not free unless all the supporters of this in Spring St donate from their personal generous pay ie: least 60% on fortnightly basis for now on to the transport operates to pay the wages of their workers and staff and address the maintenance programs of those services be trains, buses or trams!!!
I understand there was track work in the system at night during the festive season please refer to these links
Seymour, Warrnambool, Geelong, Ballarat and Gippsland atm.
https://www.vline.com.au/Timetable/Service-changes
Albury line standard gauge after Boom gate removal it was reopen about 21:00 last night as I managed to see 4x Cube Rail & freight making it way in the darkness from VN10 returning toward Albury and beyond at Tottenham Yard….
Conclusion:
It seem to me looks in the “function of time” that the modern VLocity fleet too are starting feel the pitch as well as the classic fleet when comes to preventive maintenance for it!
As the newer VLocity that being forced the operate in conditions beyond it mechanical limitations and design capabilities are being run into ground.
As it look they are not operating them within their design & mechanical stress tolerance threshold limitations.
Is this due to outdated rail infrastructure which can’t support them to get to them to operate at least 130 km/h min on most railway corridors?
It sad, that the modern younger train VLocity IMU seem to be operating like ill maintained N sets because of stubborn inflexible decision makers who insist on a one size fit all concept in VIC!!!
