The 07:38 Swan Hill Service will end early and will no longer run to Swan Hill…on opening the link reason: Train Fault
This can be a very misleading to general public it wasn’t train fault that caused this as one was aware there is spare set in the yard available for the run!
One arriving at 3B I saw VN10 at the yard and somehow there was word going they had training run taking place that a week ago
One arriving that morning I had advice a VLocity and Bus was in place of the full run to Swan that day.
The gossip online is now verified true after arriving on the 07:01 Echuca Service that driver training had taken place N460 leading VN10 [empty] was now at Platform 2!
VN10 is x4 cars as one was in repairs they day before it had few electrical issue on route the day before!
I was waiting atBendigo Station ready for the returning service from Swan Hill 09:18 which I had a feeling it would be N12!
On pulling in what did I see?
N12 with Loco N452!!!
I would say it was a wild coincidence N12 was shuffling around as there was 2 other sets to consider as well that are rotated on a regular basis as required!
Here is the link to verify they are hiring trainee driver currently the selection close 17th Feb 2026
After my short ride on N12 headed off 3B for 13:30 Waurn Ponds through the windows of the VLocity saw N460 & VN10 rolling past returning from Bendigo!
N460 and VN10 at Bendigo empty car taken whist waiting for the up service
Questions:
I don’t understand why should a training run impact a revenue services to such a degree that the service to Swan Hill is no longer full train service and the quality control of service is seemly less?
Why is that it look they no longer consider the Rail user’s needs with a abrupt change of rolling arrangements from the usual loco haul service only to reduce it to “not fit for purpose” VLocity IMU Rail Car and coaches beyond Bendigo?
The VLocity rostered for the run was one the worse choices of rolling stock due to those very hard metro grade foam cushioned seats!!!
Riding those seats for longer route as with some travellers after long ride to terminating points not only cramped but narrow : Warrnambool etc. it made my bottom sore and numb too!
After a long ride one get up off them seats one’s bottom would flat & square as those bookshelves in the library! (sarcasm!)
Whoever approved the design of the Metro grade seats to be used for longer distance routes obviously has not ridden on them for the full duration of the journey in uncontrolled setting with people on board in VLocity sitting next them!
One would thought the Operator would run the revenue service concurrently with the training runs…
Would it be prudent to have another set to accommodate for training runs in total 5 sets min?
As on 6/2/2026 when they did a training run with VN10 when 2x set were out for repairs and there was no set available for the revenue morning service for Swan Hill that period.
In that period it was happening VN14 as out for repairs with N12 pulled from service and VN17 in use for the evening service the day before!
It seem they might done the same thing on 13/2/2026 as the advice is the same is the 12/2/2026 which it really pushing it, as some people would get very annoyed they are not running the full train service and are contracting the use of coaches flippently when one has good number of luggages to lug to and foe from the VLocity and coaches, sourcing food and drink with little time and requiring moblitiy access assitance at short notice!
One can understand the use of coaches when there track works and major safety cirtical disruptions on route.
But this seems to be a callous uncaring way of managing fleet avablity by those involed in postion of responsblity when there is spare sets and locomotive in the yard!!!
VN10 ready for Swan Hill but at late noticed was allocated for training run to Bendigo with N460
Conclusion:
I think it very good they are recruiting more drivers.so why should they be shy of showing this to general public the are expanding their crew?
In doing this so they might need more yard staff as well to accommodate the growing fleet!
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