{"id":398962,"date":"2026-04-13T10:45:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T00:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=398962"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:45:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T00:45:29","slug":"standing-room-on-v-line-trains-old-new-on-all-lines-i-saw-people-left-behind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=398962","title":{"rendered":"Standing room on V\/line trains old &amp; new on all lines I saw people left behind!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>31st Mar &#8211; 30 Apr Free Travel V\/Line suspend the reservation system on all services <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>31st Mar &#8211; 30 Apr Free Travel started Free for all on 1st of Apr on all services <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">including  <em>Albury, Warrnambool, Swan Hill, Ararat and Bairnsdale lines.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>booked seats I understood their reservations would be honoured on the day of travel or they can get a refund!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>31 st Mar day 1- <\/em>riding <em>Swan Hill service is the only remaining loco haul line left on V\/Line<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>2\/04\/26-<\/em>N467 &amp; VN14<\/strong> had  <strong>3x reservation  car<\/strong> and <strong>2x Non reservation cars<\/strong> more  people on route<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased seats occupied beyond  <strong>Bendigo<\/strong> in <strong>car B<\/strong> while getting refreshments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <strong>Swan Hill<\/strong>  school group all seated in <strong>car B<\/strong> &amp; crowd from Mildura coach making connection from and to the station.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Car <strong>C,D and E <\/strong> filled up it few delays on route ie: <em><strong>Police Request<\/strong> at Bendigo &#8211; <\/em>Kangaroo Flat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Service Delay &#8211; Bendigo line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>13:36 Swan Hill &#8211; Southern Cross service is delayed 36 minutes due to a earlier train fault.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We apologise for the delay to your journey. We are sorry for the delay in your journey. [17:26 02\/04]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> train held at Bendigo until safe and approach those area at caution speed ie: <strong>slower speed less 90 <strong>km\/h<\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>this section is high speed track section <strong>130<\/strong> <strong>km\/h<\/strong> <strong>max<\/strong> according to blue speed sign on route.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>15:02 Echuca Service VLocity rail car had issues &amp; terminated at Sunbury!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>As a result messed up the services moving up and down the line and Train Control to shuffle the services around. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our train was held at Castlemaine we had a stopping all station service from Bendigo put ahead of our train<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> resulting the train  from Swan Hill to arrive back a almost a hour late, speed restrictions and combination factors on route\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>18:56 <\/strong>interesting arrival a rough stop, not a relaxing run for crew driving the train!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>That must being a dog&#8217;s breakfast start of a shift for him as he may of got on at Bendigo!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">It too messed up the services come to and from <strong>Epsom<\/strong> that night<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">  Local Media  outlets were reporting from 29\/3 Train services were not coping with extra crowds.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/victoria-free-transport-overcrowding-vline\/\" title=\"\">https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/victoria-free-transport-overcrowding-vline\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>South Western Line<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.net.au\/story\/9210405\/warrnambool-line-free-travel-plan-risks-vulnerable-passengers\/\" title=\"\">https:\/\/www.standard.net.au\/story\/9210405\/warrnambool-line-free-travel-plan-risks-vulnerable-passengers\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gippsland Line: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ssbcrack.com\/passengers-brace-for-overcrowding-on-regional-trains-as-free-travel-begins-in-victoria\/\" title=\"\">https:\/\/news.ssbcrack.com\/passengers-brace-for-overcrowding-on-regional-trains-as-free-travel-begins-in-victoria\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Albury Line: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bordermail.com.au\/story\/9212643\/vline-explains-end-to-reservations-for-free-travel-month\/\" title=\"\">https:\/\/www.bordermail.com.au\/story\/9212643\/vline-explains-end-to-reservations-for-free-travel-month\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>For some odd reason the bigger Media News outlets took a while until they were reporting too the same thing!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Severe overcrowding on Swan Hill Easter Sun!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When arriving at Southern Cross before <strong>06:30 <\/strong>there already a crowd building waiting for the <strong>Swan Hill 07:38 Service<\/strong>!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I was embedded with big crowd before boarding all crowd along the length of train some crowd at doors of each carriage. I was at<strong> car D<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crew shunt train <strong>VN10 <\/strong>approx. <strong>07:30 <\/strong>and couple up Locomotive <strong>07:34<\/strong> \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Customer Staff had issue with big crowds of people boarding before ready as they wouldn&#8217;t even let them prep the train properly!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doors disarmed when PA sounded for boarding and they surged forward with me amongst em!\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Distressed passenger yelling don&#8217;t push but none listened<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> This rowdy behaviour is often experienced in more densely populated countries were transport services are limited. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Experienced this in Hong Kong once the people move as one!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Lucky to get a seat there were signs overcrowding two people sitting beside me.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>From the window I saw still lot people and  they couldn&#8217;t get on before departing as PA was made: <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">PA was made for those standing who wanted seat but standing in doorway to disembark and catch the coach express to Bendigo but few got off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Go the coach bay for express coaches to Bendigo or get on next service.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"> 5 car train departs heavily loaded people standing in aisles, vestibule areas &amp; doorways.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>08:30 Footscray more people try to board few got on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>when train arrives Watergardens people are left behind \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Car A <\/strong>had people standing in it too with<strong> Car B <\/strong>as PA was made by crew at Buffet for people to move along the train out way of the buffet serving area!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>08:56<\/strong> -PA was made for people  who didn&#8217;t get seat or standing on route to <strong>Gisborne <\/strong>there was 3x express coaches to Bendigo \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong> Gisborne<\/strong> off loading  passengers&nbsp; on to Coaches some people  left but still many on board when we departed <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Train was rolling at reduced speed I am guess in caution of the  people on board standing throughout the train\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> to reduce the risk of injury to those standing for over 1-2 hrs in a moving train <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>10:05-<\/strong>Castlemaine <strong>VN14 from Swan Hill<\/strong> Pulling beside us 5 cars heavily loaded at the same time more people offload on coaches to <strong>Bendigo<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"> Bendigo 10:30 and the crowd gets out for Easter Fair.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">After the carriage emptied out  I whipped out my pre packed meal of spuds and pumpkin.As more  people were boarding from <strong>Bendigo<\/strong> on route!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Train arrives at Swan Hill 12:54.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Train arrived with a good load of people making coach transfers to Robinvale and Mildura and Bendigo however a few people missed out on coaches as they were fully booked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After few hour at Swan Hill I went  the train departs at <strong>16:35<\/strong>  for the return with bus load from Mildura. A quite relax run I felt it might be crowded from Bendigo onward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">19:21 from <strong>Bendigo tr<\/strong>ain was once again packed standing room only!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There was people standing aisles and vestibule areas.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Elderly and small children were amongst the people forced to stand <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some sat on the floor whist some stood or swapped seats with each other<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>20:32 &#8211; V\/Line put out travelling advice:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 16:36 Swan Hill is delayed 22 Minutes \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Train rolling lower speed on route due to the overcrowding<strong> <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Car E <\/strong>was so packed it was hard to get to the WC when required, in my case I had to due having few refreshment beforehand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A person who just used it told was stinky, as to me that&#8217;s normal I never known a WC that smelt nice after it being used!\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oh joy, just found out the WC had failed and the sight was not pleasant!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On exiting a person was waiting to access it which I cautioned her.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The WC  in this carriage is unserviceable and she is stuffed!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And they need to pump it out!  Please use the next car.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Train remain full most the trip for some odd reason there no coaches to off load passengers  on route <strong>excluding car A after Kyneton<\/strong> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> Some people didn&#8217;t leave until we hit the CBD<strong> Watergardens, Footscray<\/strong> areas. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The bulk of travellers got off at terminating point <strong>Southern Cross<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>21:55 <\/strong>on arrival the Crew apologised for the Overcrowding due to Easter Fair<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"> weekday of Free Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>With no reservation system in place and not enough seats on all lines it was such a mess few even eventually MSM was lighting up the internet with this saga!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I went for ride on <strong>VN14 behind N458 7\/3\/2026 <\/strong>less people then Easter Sunday but went smoothly  BUT next day on <strong>8\/3\/26 on VN10 behind Loco N452 on th<\/strong>e return Standing room again from Bendigo to Melb, Got info that Easter V\/Line  got swamped!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Obeservations:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"> I am seeing unfold is the results of the failure of the V\/Line&#8217;s and DOT poor policy of a <strong>&#8220;One Size Fits All<\/strong>&#8221; train design policy on those mid &#8211; short distance rail 3 car set aka VLocity that has emerged in time of great need ie: Fuel Crisis\/Holidays<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Does look like they hastily withdrew all the older classic fleet and gave away too many locomotives?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They knew when they forced the VLocity to take over the longer route ie: Warrnambool teething is issues of accessibility issues ie luggage storage, scooters etc and overcrowding were a major concern with crew and users why did they seem it swept under the carpet?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This issue being plaguing the longer distance routes  long <strong>before the fuel crisis took place<\/strong> and still is big issue despite a reservation system in place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VLocity&#8217;s design limitations emerges when they want to increase capacity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the cab at the ends of 3 cars<strong> hinders the crew movements ie: <\/strong><em>Albury&#8217;s VLocity with buffet module that was modified for that line.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The buffet Module crew can serve passenger 3x cars and conductor can account for all travellers in 3x cars!<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> buffet crew ie: <strong>Seymour<\/strong> has  toclose the buffet to change set mid route and change set.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They have to set up the buffet for passengers in the next set!<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong> <\/strong><em>Whist the older buffet in BRN is they set up and it covers all the passengers in the full length of the train<\/em> all the trip <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do they need a extra conductor for the next set of cars or do they have to change mid route too?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why did they suspend the booking system during the Free Travel Period from<\/strong><em><strong> <\/strong><\/em><strong><em>31 st Mar to 30 Apr?<\/em><\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> as I saw that several people at Swan Hill want make train seat booking and I saw the look of debrief when they said it&#8217;s non reserve and just turn up to get a seat!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Who should be accountable for this seemly lack of judgment in the withdrawal of older rolling stock?<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why not limit the VLocity to the routes they were design for short to mid distance routes as it may reduce duration on their wear and tear on them?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> as there 3 Classic carriages near Castlemaine that are looking very run down paint peeling and hasn&#8217;t turn a wheel since they got them!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What wrong with refurbishing the older carriages, reconditioning the old locomotives to fill the rolling stock shortage until things stabilise with the state finances?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>All I can say is what a mess and what a dog&#8217;s breakfast!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>I don&#8217;t know how they going sort this out&#8230;..<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am seeing unfold is the results of the failure of the V\/Line&#8217;s and DOT poor policy of a &#8220;One Size Fits All&#8221; train design policy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":400981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,174,17684,186],"tags":[19130,20065,8],"class_list":["post-398962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","category-train-operations","category-transport-victoria","category-v-line","tag-freetravel","tag-overcrowding","tag-victoria"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=398962"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":404585,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398962\/revisions\/404585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/400981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=398962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=398962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=398962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}