A surge in passenger numbers has heaped pressure on Victoria’s regional rail network but an 18-month delay for additional trains is set to tighten the squeeze.
Recently it was found V/Line had taken a great deal of capacity out of the network when it was known this would create overcrowding of the passenger services.
Why weren’t existing locomotive hauled carriages left in service if V/Line knew there would be delays and why can’t they be bought back into service?
Here is what V/Line think of their rolling stock they do not look after it and leave valuable capacity vandalised in regional rail yards.
Here’s the minutes of the meeting in Parliament….
No buffets/hard seats and 20 year design…..
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: You referenced buffet cars, Mr O’Brien, as well. It is important to note, as we are
trying to boost capacity on these lines as well, a buffet car represents about 42 seats lost in a three-car carriage
set and about 84 on a six-car carriage set –
Danny O’BRIEN: That is why I asked why you did not go with longer sets.
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: which is why we are maximising the space being able to be used for passengers
through these trains.
Danny O’BRIEN: Will there be any buffet cars on future VLocity services on the long-haul lines?
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: I think on the Albury line, from memory, there is.
Danny O’BRIEN: That is the only one.
Paul YOUNIS: Yes, we have got them on the standard gauge set for the Albury line.
Danny O’BRIEN: So you can do it on the Albury. Why haven’t we got them on the other long-haul
services?
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: Because our priority, Mr O’Brien, is to ensure that we can get as many passengers
to where they want to go as possible, and they represent a very significant loss of passenger capacity on these
trains.
The CHAIR: Thank you, Minister.