V/Line’s response to hot spell of 2025-26 “Full heat timetable” halting some train services

As some recall the hot spell at year 2024-2025 they did not stop the other service the longer distance trains services , they just slow them down abit!

I came during this hot weather spell nice slow pace day on the trains for me in my case, as at the time I understand they are running heat timetable for understandable reasons ie: Heat Buckles, mechanical on the trains operating on them in hot weather conditions.

Observations on site:

1. I noticed the longer distance N set being changed to VLocity and bus for several days since the 7/11 both morning and days services….
   • What I noticed was after 07:00 was very few ground staff, customer staff etc were to be seen then compared to other weekdays
   • Wednesday the platforms was unusually empty normally have few VLocity IMU’s sitting around ready for the timetables runs with few arriving in with people on board
2. I was waiting for the VLocity connection from Southern Cross to Bendigo which was coach onward from Bendigo and settle back and see what unfold as the day marches on and plan my rides to their working timetable!
   • Mindful of the urban commuter setting I requiring refreshments throughout the day my travel was planned to only Major stations system
3. On route toward Bendigo, a good crowd people were going out toward Swan Hill beyond despite the hot weather some boarded Southern Cross and Footscray and bigger stops not so much the smaller ones like Woodend etc.
4. Before 132 peg a noticeable bump was felt and broke the Rhythm of the VLocity on the high speed stretch towards Kangaroo Flat a the time a click, clack was heard as we passed over. 09:35

Bendigo station

Arrived 09:53 and saw the people getting off making their coach connection and a good crowd was waiting for the train I was on that made up the 10:32 Southern Cross

• This service stopped all station and had a good crowd as it made it way toward Southern Cross
• On departure the yard at Bendigo look strangely empty….why?

Southern Cross after lunch getting info on the next service oh wow confusing advice due to abrupt changes!

1. I checked PID and board at main area Wendouree 13:12 15A
2. On arrival at 15 & 16 check with a Customer Staff who and look at train label look okay Bairnsdale on 16 and one with at 15 with no sign lit up at time with crowd of people waiting
3. Custom staff advice board 15A for Wendouree, I went on board all sudden PA sounds and mentioned Welcome to your Bairnsdale service….

I heard the PA aright and blurted: “What? What happened to the Wendouree Service?”

• I promptly turned and exited the train at 15A and went to 16A and saw the train label name Bairnsdale had changed from the train on 16 to 15 that was present at the time.
• I saw the VLocity at 16A and shuffled in and as I went I thought out the corner my eye label flashed up, thinking now I got the Wendouree, but again PA sounds at departure mentioning the Warrnambool Service!!!

Oh darn it, thanks to the confusion & unforeseen changes I had stumbled on the wrong train service!

I had being a while since I rode this line so I settled in to observe as think where to get off later on afterward after my meal on board.

1. Some online & alert notifications from V/Line website of the other services behind on the same rail corridor at the time as I felt there was something emerging somewhere and possibly of getting stuck on route could be a issue.
   • Well I decided to make the most of this at least I can sit and watch and sample what happening on route on this line the people getting on board, a few people on board and filled steady as the train rolled toward Geelong.
   • Holding yard and refuel at Tarneit 13:46 3x VL sitting idle what caught my eye was the lack of staff cars in the carpark.
   • Notice the old yard, empty the Geelong yard where several VoLcity sat in active but seem little movement

15:15 a Level Crossing fault at Melton holding the services as advised on X Ballarat Line & V/line website

I wonder, could the earlier blunder on my part and boarding the wrong train could being a blessing in disguise?

The rest of of the ride was uneventful…..a good load of people on board.

1. The board riding conditions on board was hitting above 90 -100+ Dbs at time on route via decibel meter app on my device ie: at Colac-Camperdown.
   • The noise is constant on board and sitting on the source of noise and vibration is not in my view is good for anyone’s hearing in the long term
     • I observe the young kid got so overwhelmed by the sound not only they started misbehaving but screaming and crying!
     • as I am not surprised as their ears might be aching from it above 95 Dbs for long period of time can cause hearing injury and kid ears are more sensitive the parents did their best to try to sooth them.

I saw this on board I can say these train are NOT fit for purpose as with the older classic fleet the people are not travelling in the same area of the source of the noise.

Whoever approved that design for these train design to be rolled out as one size fits all for longer Regional, intercity route over 3-4 hrs in constant sound.

They may not even ride it and don’t have a clue or might not careless what constant noise exposure does to some people!

disclaimer the app need to verified by independent Sound Engineers and their sound equipment….

17:32 Major Rail Equipment fault at Sunshine this impacted 3 lines all train movement both directions were disrupted!

We waited half an hour at the crossing loop before Birregurra for the delayed service 17:06 Warrnambool due knock on effect of the track problems off Sunshine.

Made it back and arrived at Southern Cross 21:51 from the normal time 21:07 the train was making up Shepparton Service afterward!

Questions to be considered:

Was this a full heat blanket timetable for several days where some trains didn’t run or cancelled seemly little or no monitoring the situation on case to case basis?

As some people realise the BOM sometimes gets their weather forecast wrong temperature wise at time, as weather can either speed or slow down.

1. I found it sort of strange that with past Summer Heat Vic had late 2024-25 that most the older classic fleet and trains ran at temporary heat time table slower running speeds during the time. and some the temperature were just as warm is this summer what has changed?
   • During that classic fleet just went slower track speed to reduce stress on rails in regard to track buckles etc.
2. I can understand them trains services being replace with coach in hottest period of day mid to late afternoon in regard with people working in the yard prepping them etc. but early morning service where temp is a bit cooler?
3. I notice on V/Line website the heat timetable was updated 1/12/2025 I wonder was amended applying it to train operations to pervious heat time pervious summers they used it?
4. Is it because the newer trains being rolled out currently are not suitable for the AUS,Vic track and weather conditions as some the newer components are imported assembled from overseas ie: Bombardier Europe ie:their modern train design’s tolerances levels are suited for track infrastructure to their local Rly and weather conditions?
5. Plus since now the system majority has continuous weld track joins, it look there’s less give for heat expansion and heat buckles and cracks is a issue.
   • As I understand the older rail technology: bolt & fishplate track joins allowed this expansion for AUS VIC weather condition.
6. It looks this was discontinued as the train going over damaged the wheel of trains passing over it and was high maintenance but what is stopping them putting a rubber elastomer between the gap of the two rails where the fish plated bolted the rails together to lessen the impact on it?
7. Supporting the newer train come from overseas to operate in AUS I am not sure what they going do current railway infrastructure replace to support the newer trains,but who or what leaders is strong enough to put this forward in actions and make it eventuate ?
   • Currently our transport minister and their supporters they do a case, too costly dump it, repeat. How do you break the this current patten?

We are sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rain…..

Dorothea Mackellar, written in 1906

Conclusion:

Why is this this summer so different with the heat tables previously , why looked like the whole system collapsed?

1. Why was the station was empty of staff and worker on a early weekday morning and they very little train around around the place?
2. Based on the animal strikes, crew delays and train faults I observed the past few days on line I think it sort of strange seeing empty yards in Melb yard with little trains at the Southern Cross platforms where did they all go?

Usually on Weds before lunch I see good staff presence, most the day but for some reason the Station looked rather empty!!!

I do understand in the period of Jan 11-23 2026 there are currently track works and upgrade happening at the same time on various major routes…..Geelong, Ballarat and Gippsland.

I don’t understand,am I missing something?