Abrupt change of trains as V/Line finds the train examiner is MIA!

22/4/ 2026 I saw N12 ready and all seemed normal.

caterer stocks buffet & conductors does safety checks to prepare the train for the service, looks okay for now

1. Saw shunters clock in ready to couple up the loco,I heard the honk of the locomotive approaching the train
   • Now in position for the coupling and prep of the train
2. A big crowd was waited at 3B for the train to be prepared
3. waiting boarding advice to board the service

There was NO Train Examiner on site to oversee loco movement to shunt couple up on the 5 car set of carriages!!!

I saw the changes to travelling arrangements at short notice: from a Train and Coach

1. Train Examiner oversees the locomotive was coupled to carraiges
   • power from locomotive or head end power was active and working properly.
2. They carry out train inspection, check the braking system and do holding test to ensure the brake working
   • This done by applying and releasing on all carriages and locomotive for set time.
3. Without this process being carried out and train certifed to run it will not be servicable.

Abruptly a PA advice sounded near departure time

Attention Customers:

Customers for 07:38 Swan Hill 3B. Please be advised there have been a platform change and the 07:30 Swan Hill Service will depart from 3A

At 3 A did I see the big crowd reduce in numbers?

1. some travellers got fed up with the sudden change from a 5 car loco haul all the way to a messy 3x 1 VLocity and coach transfer from Bendigo!
   • coaches is reservation only :
   • Bookings are for travel long distance and people made booking in advance.
2. reservations before 1 Apr takes priority on trains & coach services as currently it now Free for All on the longer distance lines!

As some people may had concerns of a high chance of overcrowding on longer route standing for long period of time over 2-3 hrs.

Currently Local Media & MSM has been reporting all long distance lines were impacted by overcrowding this during Free Travel period.

I had a plan B after looking in the roster VLocity taking the loco hauls and amount bags some people took on aboard at Southern Cross. I went for another route as this one service had good amount on board as this could be a cramped ride for people to Bendigo.

I went for Ararat service, front 3 car not too full but back 3 cars packed!

• As front 3 car were strictly for those travelling toward Ararat after Ballarat
• The crowd of travellers after Sunshine who couldn’t get on the back 3 car went in front 3 cars that was partially empty!
• After Ballarat a good crowd had shuffled in after waking near Wendouree.

Arrive at Ararat good amount people got off from the train and made their coach connection to Dimboola.

Returning there was more crowds past Ballarat it was Standing Room only & more people on the city bound train toward Southern Cross late afternoon!

Conclusion:

V/Line state it the Bendigo Line service on the website on the day:

Reason: Delayed train crew.

From what I saw a It seemed to look like a Train Examiner was not available to cover this time slot.

Since Free Travel being extend to end of May the Overcrowding has not being addressed

It is very unheard of a train being cancelled at very short notice due a absent ground staff.

Tues was a dog’s breakfast,VN14 led by N458 was uneventful, but was heavily loaded on the return.

Being 5 cars consist has being seen to handle the increased demand of people a bit better in my experience

1. Noticed most people were seated in the carriage I was riding in.
2. I noticed older train had a fewer people standing and people sitting in the vestibule areas
3. big crowd of people left the train at plaform 6

Since Apr increased demand standing room only.

The young and old forced stand for over 3 hrs in a moving train during Easter till now on some routes,what happened to Duty of Care?

Free Travel extended to end of May the Overcrowding has not being addressed.

It looks like DOT & V/Line hampered the flexibility of the older fleet of increasing seats by adding carriages by withdrawing too many older carriages!

VLoctiy IMU are not coping as well compared with older train with free travel as the booking portal for reserving seats is still suspended for longer routes.

I wonder if this increased stress and uncertainly inflicted on the long distance travellers in getting seat is causing fight on board the trains over seats on other train routes?

Free Travel =Tax Funded!

Cost to operators is not covered from the wealthy MP’s personal bank accounts in all levels who are pushing this as it’s NOT Free at all!!!

The experiment is failing due to overcrowding as trains and infrastructure must expand to cope with demand to cope with the influx of people using it!

1. BOTH major parties might be at fault as what was 1 world rail system had declined so badly!
   • people are experincing of what overseas in the more densely populated country were the rail system/services can’t cope with amount people using it.
2. Does both parties favours in their public transport portfolios policies the powerful road transport & air transport groups?
   • Why I ask is the fact I noticed most MPs & advsiors’s tax funded travel work & perks involves using that mode of travel in the country and aboard!

I felt that most MP & Ministers in Public Transport Dept. should be made to use public transport as part their portfolios!

As I have seen people using laptop & phone to work whist riding trains, one feels that’s no excuse why they can’t be out of their offices for set days of the week all day and seeing what traveller experience first hand!

As the current situation which has emerged has highlighted why managers on top should not make decisions from behind desk.

• They taking recommendations from some advisors of DOT some are from overseas transport depts.
• and some concerned train traveller has concerns that they not might not be familiar of the local Vic Regional Rly conditions.
  • Seasonal day and night temperature in the local Vic Regional areas
  • Rolling stock outline measuremeants for trains and rail corridor from overseas to be included in the design framework for overseas transport manufactures of trains for Vic,AUS broad gauge

Recent decisions made on longer routes in V/Line it becomes glaringly obvious these people making decisions on the Regional Traveller’s behalf don’t use use the rail system or the newer trains on regular basis in a uncontrolled setting!

• Metro Urban– under 2.5 hrs to terminating point
• Regional Intercity – over 2.5 hrs to terminating point
• Interstate – 5+ hrs or days to terminating point

On top of what can be done for the newer train technology to modified and tailored to Vic Regional Local track conditions ie:

1. Currently the old Track Infrastructure doesn’t support the VLocity interface ie: platform length issues & riding quality.
   • Imported from Europe where the track bed are concrete with special fastening supporting the use of VLocity
2. Currently Vic Regional Track consist of Ballast bed, concrete sleepers and clip fastening the rails
   • There is mix of concrete and timber sleepers with dog spikes in most some the Vic Regional Lines away from the CBD
   • Some of the railway lines is still has the fishplate bolted joins in VIC.
   • Continuous Weld Rail Joins are used on most railway Lines in Vic

I wonder if this issue is speeding up the wear and tear on the those VLocitys IMU rail cars considering they forced to operate as a “One Size Fits All” train design?

A mentor advised me:

” You can’t get a sail barge to cruise the Indian Ocean!“

Some factors to be considered whist doing cost “benefit & analysis” that takes place before a change of rolling stock is to be considered!