V/Line had few hiccup on Bendigo line on the weekend as there two incidents:
- 26/9 DN Swan Hill Service VN17 07:40
- 27/9 DN Swan Hill Service 18:40 N12 with N452
The time line from V/Line is as follows:
16:17 on seeing time of advice I understood the Morning Service returning from Swan Hill had issues on route.
The 13:37 Swan Hill – Southern Cross is delayed 25 mins due to Train Fault.
Shortly after 16:39 the service was terminated at Bendigo originally was going be rail replacement buses as per website at the time
Strangely why did advice suddenly change?
Unquote from V/Line:
The 13:37 Swan Hill is delayed 58 mins reason: Train fault
- That is very interesting, during a busy Grand Final period and lot people travelling that day I wonder if people jacked up about having ride a coach back to city?
- After some thought about it was to due to these two factors?
- Was buses was hard to arrange on busy period whist at time a big event is on in the city at short notice?
- Was a VLocity rail car source at short notice since they got delayed for almost a hr?
27/9 DN VN14 & N453 Swan Hill Service
“Whist shuffling past before they prepped the train passed along BRN and noticed it sounded sick.”
I wondering why auxiliary generator system or AGS was working very hard revving and rough cycling which sounded jagged and oscillating very noticeably?
Even next to the 5th car at Platform 3 B I could hear it, was abnormally louder then usual.
On Thur 1st Oct 2026 I had VN14 for the DN Swan Hill at 07:38, the set was attached to PH Van no. 451 behind N458
This old Power Van was not used for long time since Apr 9th 2026 when N12 had BZN252 & BZN 258 second from Lead car had serious electical problems with along AGS perviously and had power outage throughout the trip UP and DN.
Train left on time and ride was very pleasant after hectic day the before toward Castlemaine and beyond.
At 10:03 I saw at Bendigo in the siding near the station VN17 hooked up to it loco N460 and was bemused by it presence.
What with the 5 car stabled in Bendigo Rly Workshop?
I understand BZN258 has had some major electrical issues and had not seen her since the 9th of Apr 2026 what happened to her?
As N12 could do with extra carraige as currently reduced to 4 cars and it get rather crowded seen how full it gets whist on it!
I thought with VN17 nothing to see they’ll run it back empty car as time permits later on being a Sun timetable!
Afterward the train arrives at Swan Hill at 12:30, being a Sunday it sit there for few hrs until leaving at 16:35 to return to Southern Cross late evening.
There was good amount people using that service the day after the Grand Finals and being holiday period too on the return…
The ride back was uneventful after nice dinner on board and there was good amount getting off the coach connection from Mildura that afternoon to join the service.
Pulled in Bendigo and left saw N460 & VN17 was still in the siding.
Asked a question as concerned train traveller on X.
VN17 & Loco is still at Bendigo
When are they going to repair her and get her back in action please Bendigo V/Line?
Kyneton N452 & N12 which is currently 4 cars was seen making the DN toward Swan Hill at 20:07
before I got off the train notification sounded 21:28
Live Disruptions
Service Delay – Bendigo line
The 18:40 Southern Cross – Swan Hill service is delayed 33 minutes due to an incident requiring emergency services. We apologise for the delay to your journey.[21:28 27/09]
Oh dear, not good end to the day with other notification followed from V/Line.
From time given all DN services from Southern Cross to Bendigo was halted on route that night.
At the I felt it was really bad to to stop all service after that time frame after the advice came out on the Swan Hill Service.
On Mon 28/9 service on UP 06:52 Swan Hill – Southern Cross originated at Bendigo 09:18 which I would presume it would be a VLocity Rail car after coach came in from Swan Hill that morning!
https://x.com/vline_bendigo/status/2104282450092233124?s=20
Now It look they got two set out of position and now stuck at Bendigo!
29/9/2026 – From VN10 I saw VN17 & N12 coupled together as 9 cars!
The locomotives pulling N452 & N460 leading passing by off Woodend at 09:02 heading toward Southern Cross as empty car movement!
I saw it shuffle past the window of the carriage I was riding in that day as only few rail enthusiast saw the train movement near the end of it’s run near West Footscray and Southern Cross….
Conclusion:
As concerned train traveller why it seems very odd that looks as though two trains got stuck at Bendigo over the weekend as VN17 was present at Bendigo on Saturday night?
Due to busy nature of things at ground zero aka Southern Cross and various teams managing the train movements in the whole system by any chance was the defective train and location was overlooked?
Did Sun events delayed train movement for VN17 and it’s Loco?
As on 29/9/2026 was a rare event that N12 & VN17 was double heading ie:N460 & N452 on early dawn to Southern Cross.
You decide…