1st Feb 2026-N12 on the down and saw the track workers on the sections on the way to Kerang!!!
I found very this intriguing as I was lucky enough have little exposure from a former Flag who shared his experience in the profession.
in the procedures carried out in protecting the track site machinery and men who works along the rail corridor!
- Before reaching the area were track works were in progress I had being on the move since 07:38 on the loco haul service Swan Hill
- When we past Pyramid Hill a good distance way saw a 4WDs by trackside and shortly after I heard the detonators sound as the train rolled over them 3 explodesion were heard know as TWDs [Track Warning Devices]
- This was part of Out Flagmen’s role, to ensure all TWD’s were in place and standing certin distance from were TWD were placed on hearing them explode as the train passes over them the Outer Flag was to hold up the “Yellow Flag”
- Driver respond by reducing the speed of the train as it rolls toward the worksite areas.
- I saw the work in progress, does it seem to look as though they are putting new rail corridor next to existing rail corridor the train was currently operating on?
- It there high possibility it can be passing loop included in this too?
Managed to get video footage of the track works in progress…
It look like they are upgrading the line stage by stage….
As I understand currently there is lot of speed restrictions currently with unprotected crossing and one interesting feature is from Raywood toward Swan Hill most the track seem to be the older fishplate joins with long track lengths!
Don’t know what they are doing but with better track need to be fit for purpose trains to take aging the loco haul place!
- I feel it would be total waste of upgrade if they didn’t get fit for purpose rolling stock to support the upgrades and no person will tolerate going with food and drinks and doing coach transfers shortly after getting off the Swan Hill Services.
- as the Urban Commuter Rail Car VLocity won’t cut it for a Regional major transport hub for Mildura Travellers who transfer to a bus shortly after arriving at Swan Hill station to Mildura!
- Since the inflexible top management since has hastily cut back the older classic fleet without a designated fit for purpose fleet“Inter city” rolling stock
- Which requires to tested and proven in Vic local weather & AUS Regional Rail conditions that’s ready to roll!
- The Hot Summer and odd weather changes has taken their toll as it seem the Extreme Heat Timetables partial heat were recently amended at 1-12-2025 resulting in mass heat restriction on the long distance routes replacing part the journey with coaches!
- I wonder if this was done as the newer VLocity components ie: Air Conditioning System and other thing had issues with local operating conditions AUS Vic hot summers?
- As the internal are imported from a European Rail Transport Manufacturing provider where their local operating conditions which range Temperate and Semi Polar weather conditions!
Why not rectify limit the operation of IMU VLocity to mid distance Urban Metro routes as what they were designed for?
Since VIC in a bad financial state why not get some those XPT NSW are off loading for that new XPT they are getting and gauge convert the bogies and get them to replace our aging loco haul?
- Why not the state start overhauling the locomotives and some loco leased off to SSR and take back some the N classic fleet cars allocated to groups around Vic?
Why does it look handful of them doesn’t seem to have the maintenance programs or program of it’s operation in place to justify them keeping them?
ie: 3 of them those classic fleet carriages sitting by the mainline in Central Vic near the railway station which has not turn a wheel since they got them and it looking very neglected!
