Festive free travel chaos mass disruptions failed trains and rolling stock shortages

Riding a A-C full D-E was Southern Cross return service as mass disruption took place!

27/12 at 18:03 saw a VLocity had failed on the mainline and passengers & conductors standing by the train on Platform 4 on the down direction!

Travelling advice from V/line:

service updates:

Geelong Line , Ballarat Line and Bendigo Line all read services are delayed due to train fault at Footscray.

Those lines were suspended shortly after and coaches were arranged via V/Line 19:43!

It was bedlam for all those involved that night!!!

• Advice was Ballarat coaches replace trains and for Geelong Wyndham Vale whist Bendigo passengers were advise to catch Metro Service to Sunbury and catch the next service!
• Line was reopened at 20:41 after deemed safe for train to resume resulting some big delay some up to 90 mins as the timetable was stuffed up due a failed VLocity blocking the mainline at Footscray Platform!

Early morning rolling stock changes for Swan Hill on 28/12

• On a very warm day these people had no choice but wait for next service of get more info from V/Line….being a festive period I had concerns could complicate things as some could got stranded!
• as I had to stand in the aisle myself myself after needing the WC mid trip. Although reasonable condition compared with other people can relate too with some travelling requirements whist on route in my case.
  • Some people who travel some aged and infirm and those with more serious underlying issues to consider en route this situation I don’t think it will do their medical conditions any good and it appears a big safety risk to them ie: condition flare up or losing balance in moving, in bouncing, shaking environment
• After arriving the people left me I had to hang back grab my stuff when the carriage empty which I could return not retrieve earlier due to heavy crowd in the where I sat earlier

The 07:40 Swan Hill service will end early at Bendigo and no longer Bendigo due to “Train fault”

But later on I found it was a rolling stock shortage and no locomotive a was available to pull the train!

It was the usual change 3×1 car VLocity and bus to Swan Hill but I was expecting a big crowd on board

1. I waited and 7A and looked over the inactive VLocity IMU 3×1 rostered in it’s place and saw it was older one with purple softer seats compared to the newer taller hard back seat.
2. The usual safety checks were done and board commenced when advised via PA I settled in for the trip to Castlemaine where I plan meet up with VN10 and it’s train on it’s return.
3. a good crowd had boarded and the IMU rail car and I noticed some people’s surprise and annoyance of having to change and Bendigo for a coach beyond to Swan Hill
4. when at just before departure sighted this and was curious about

I sighted N loco passing the other side of the from the window I was sighted to yard area at the same moment the Y class and behind it not far behind was N460 with N12 & carriage change with BZN258 at 0740 !!!

As we departed I wondered a Rolling stock shortage???

the knock on effect

I believe what I saw the night before could be combination ie: operational delays of refuelling prepping and reposition trains!

• tired staff and train crew from last night rescuing effort of the broken down train at Footscray and dealing with annoyed passengers during holiday period
  • I feel a strong contributing factor maybe the fact the loco for the train are sent from Dynon yard instead of Melbourne Yard currently
  • For some strange reason that procedure was changed since the loco haul on the timetables for Warrnambool was altered for the VLocity to take over that line completely
    • When issue with line signal near the mainline both Metro/Vline would that impact their movement from Dynon Yards?
    • Does it take longer to prep loco at Dynon and move it to the allocate Platform?
    • I saw the loco arrive very close to departure time to as shunters are often waiting for them and listening to their train radio beforehand on the progress of loco.

Wasting no time coupling them them up and do their safety checks all done after Train Examiner clears it by giving the important slip of paper from his pad clearing it now fit for service!

Question in preventing events of ie: no loco available within the set time frame.

Could they resume the pervious procedure of prepping as 6 remaining Locomotives left currently in Dynon could be split 3 to be stabled at Melb Yard?

1. Would it save time on train movement if 3 locomotive was stabled in Melb yard preped and later shunted directly into the platform allocated for it to hook to the set for Swan Hill Service?
2. I had rest in VLoctiy before meeting up with the return service from Swan Hill at the cross ie: Castlemaine. I saw VN 10 I was aware of the disruption the day before it would arrived at Swan Hill very late the day before! I was expecting to be a very packed service due Free Travel…..

It was no surprise it pulled and entering it very crowded on board.

1. I saw all seat were all taken people standing the Aisles and people sitting on the floor I myself sat on the floor near the window beside next few guys in BZN274!
   • seeing people in the access areas and in vestibule areas near external areas I figured anyone who needed to adress the call of nature at the WC may have problems getting through the line of people

Unfortunately, I too was the unlucky ones who DID have to address the call of nature it was not pleasant experience when the train is being treated like Metro CMU train as people where are packed in where people stay for short durations before alighting!

From my experience I had to shift carriages and sit in BZN262 on the floor carefully sitting in a way where my leg which I couldn’t bend out walking areas was out of way of the heavy foot traffic areas

I was sitting against the wall right in corner next to two elderly women in seats beside me and next me was the Door and Aisle way for the carriage

• As I too had to stand all the way after accessing WC few time in Aisle and could not return back where I was
  • I will say it not good situation for those who have underlying medical conditions with being elderly, infirm or bone and joint issues that can flare up badly
  • Fortunately I was reasonable condition the most it did was make me in tired and tad sore which easily dealt with in my case as I can strongly relate to some these people who fall in this group as well.
    

At Gisborne things got weird, as the train was so tightly packed and crowded saw out the window of the carriage the train pulled out leaving crowd of people behind!!!

Being Free travel It and festive season it could complicate things leaving those people stranded at Gisborne station and getting info what to do next from V/Line could be tricky

As soon as the train pulled at Spencer St 11:28 the big crowd of people got off as soon as as doors was disarmed!

I hung back in one of the seats and watched grab their bags etc pass by and when empty I went to collect my bag where I sitting on the floor before getting out!

Conclusion:

Look like this Free Travel that was touted by Vic Gov officials look like a big PR flop!!!

• It looks like on board standard has gone down, to the point it look like passengers safety and comfort on board has taken a back seat and due to this
• I have concerns it a matter of time some passengers safety and others might be compromised to a point!!!
  • New Year Eve 31/12 a squabble broke out on the train on the returning Swan Hill service there people having big row on board train after Dingee on ward to Raywood 15:29.
    • I could hear from my carriage going all out not forgetting the F bombs in the carriage behind me , it not even evening and New Year Festive season had not started yet!
    • Conductor intervened when other passenger got upset too the conductor had to intervened to settle them down!

As with VN17 had few electrical issues on route that was reported via train crew and was taken in for repairs that night after it’s run for the day.

Who would be held accountable, the Government MPs pushing this with little thought on the impact of service on the operators in regards with less $$$ to keep the service running at optimal standard or will the CEO will be left with the can worms due to this?

How would any competent manager agree to these poorly thought out arrangements unless pressure came from above?

Now free travel for all under 18’s being pushed with elder and carer for weekends

As I understand with 18 free travel already existing to and foe to school at the moment.

I had new year days rest on onboard sampling VN14 with 5 cars and riding BZN266 that hasn’t being used since Aug 25 which was on N12 before is now currently in use after a few little upgrades to aboard facilities in the mobility access areas!

1. The bins located near the doorway has being shifted to corner next wall and hand basin for unobstructed movement for walkers, wheelchairs for users etc.
2. The flush button upgraded like button the nurses uses in hospital to enter their clinics red push button by elbow etc.
3. As for the carriage I noticed the fresh paint stencilled and where it was at the time BWR = Ballarat Railway Workshops where notice the PV date had dates stencilled in some areas indicating has being looked at too!
4. As BZN258 she is now on N12!

As for the Vic Gov’s for Travel PR for Holiday Festive Period it looked like dog’s breakfast!

Being on the system in this period and seeing the teething issues with this I am not sure what will happen next as for now.