{"id":407362,"date":"2026-04-28T22:10:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T12:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=407362"},"modified":"2026-05-01T11:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T01:43:20","slug":"abrupt-change-of-trains-as-v-line-finds-the-train-examiner-is-mia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=407362","title":{"rendered":"Abrupt change of trains as V\/Line finds the train examiner is MIA!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

22\/4\/ 2026<\/strong> I saw N12 ready and all seemed normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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caterer stocks buffet & conductors does safety checks to prepare the train for the service, looks okay for now<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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

      There was NO Train Examiner on site to oversee loco movement to shunt couple up on the 5 car set of carriages!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I saw the changes to travelling arrangements at short notice: from a Train and Coach<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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

            Abruptly a PA advice sounded near departure time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            \n

            Attention Customers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Customers for 07:38 Swan Hill 3B<\/strong>. Please be advised there have been a platform change and the 07:30 Swan Hill Service will depart from 3A<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

            At 3 A did I see the big crowd reduce in numbers?<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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            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!\n
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              • coaches is reservation only :<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Bookings are for travel long distance and people made booking in advance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • reservations before 1 Apr takes priority on trains & coach services as currently it now Free for All <\/strong>on the longer distance lines!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                Currently Local Media & MSM has been reporting all long distance lines were impacted by overcrowding this during Free Travel period.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                I went for Ararat service, front 3 car not too full but back 3 cars packed!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                • As front 3 car were strictly for those travelling toward Ararat after Ballarat<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • The crowd of travellers after Sunshine <\/strong>who couldn’t get on the back 3 car<\/strong> went in front 3 cars that was partially empty!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • After Ballarat<\/strong> a good crowd had shuffled in after waking near Wendouree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Arrive at Ararat good amount people got off from the train and made their coach connection to Dimboola.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                  Returning there was more crowds past Ballarat it was Standing Room only <\/strong><\/em>& more people on the city bound train toward Southern Cross<\/strong> late afternoon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Conclusion:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                  \n

                  V\/Line state it the Bendigo Line service on the website on the day:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Reason: Delayed train crew.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                  From what I saw a It seemed to look like a Train Examiner was not available to cover this time slot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Since Free Travel being extend to end of May the Overcrowding has not being addressed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                  It is very unheard of a train being cancelled at very short notice due a absent ground staff.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                  Tues was a dog’s breakfast,VN14 led by N458 was uneventful, but was heavily loaded on the return<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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                  Being 5 cars consist has being seen to handle the increased demand of people a bit better in my experien<\/em>ce<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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

                    Since Apr increased demand standing room only. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                    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?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                    Free Travel extended to end of May the Overcrowding has not being addressed.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                    It looks like DOT & V\/Line hampered the flexibility of the older fleet of increasing seats by adding carriages <\/em>by withdrawing too many older carriages!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

                    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    Free Travel =Tax Funded! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                    \n

                    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 <\/strong>Free at all!!!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                    The experiment is failing due to overcrowding as trains and infrastructure must expand to cope with demand <\/strong>to cope with the influx of people using it!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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                    1. BOTH<\/strong> major parties might be at fault as what was 1 world rail system had declined so badly!\n
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                      • 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Does both parties <\/strong>favours in their public transport portfolios policies the powerful road transport <\/strong><\/em>& air transport groups?<\/strong><\/em>\n
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                        • 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!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                          \n

                          I felt that most MP & Ministers in Public Transport Dept. should be made to use public transport as part their portfolios!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

                          As <\/em>the current situation which has emerged has highlighted why managers on top should not make decisions from behind desk.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
                            \n
                          • They taking recommendations from some advisors of DOT some are from overseas transport depts.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • and some concerned train traveller has concerns that they not might not be familiar of the local Vic Regional Rly conditions.<\/strong><\/em>\n
                              \n
                            • Seasonal day and night temperature in the local Vic Regional areas<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Rolling stock outline measuremeants<\/strong> 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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                              \n

                              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<\/em><\/strong> in a uncontrolled setting!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                                \n
                              • Metro Urban<\/strong>– under 2.5 hrs to terminating point <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Regional Intercity <\/strong>– over 2.5 hrs to terminating point<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Interstate<\/strong> – 5+ hrs or days to terminating point<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                On top of what can be done for the newer train technology to modified and tailored to Vic Regional Local track conditions ie: <\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                1. Currently the old Track Infrastructure doesn’t support the VLocity<\/strong> interface ie: platform length issues & riding quality.<\/em>\n
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                                  • Imported from Europe where the track bed are concrete with special fastening supporting the use of VLocity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Currently Vic Regional Track<\/strong> consist of Ballast bed, concrete sleepers and clip fastening the rails\n
                                      \n
                                    • There is mix of concrete and timber sleepers with dog spikes in most some the Vic Regional Lines away from the CBD<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Some of the railway lines is still has the fishplate bolted joins in VIC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Continuous Weld Rail Joins are used on most railway Lines<\/strong> in Vic <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n

                                      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”<\/strong> train design?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      A mentor advised me: <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                                      ” You can’t get a sail barge to cruise the Indian Ocean<\/em>!<\/strong>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

                                      Some factors to be considered whist doing cost<\/em> “benefit & analysis<\/em><\/em><\/strong>” <\/strong>that<\/em> takes plac<\/em>e before <\/em>a change of rolling stock is to be considered! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      Tues was a dog’s breakfast,VN14 led by N458 was uneventful, but was heavily loaded on the return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":243105,"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":[47,17684,186],"tags":[10852,19130,17968,14498],"class_list":["post-407362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","category-transport-victoria","category-v-line","tag-bendigo","tag-freetravel","tag-operations","tag-swan-hill"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t