Riding the upgraded Warrnambool Line on 29th August 2024

At 14th of June the line closed down for occupational track works and 25th August it reopened for service again

After a lengthy closure of the rail corridor the was was much talk beforehand about the pending newer Velocities taking over the aging N set loco on hauls on route….

I managed to get the temporary time timetable of V/line when the line was due to open again after checking the timetable I was amused to notice the N sets are tabled to operate for now after the lengthy shutdown!

A new Warrnambool V/Line Temporary Timetable has been released and is available online

On the 26th of Aug I decided to sample this line as I was curious to see for myself and observe the riding quality of the trains on the new line and upgrade on this route to Warrnambool…..I rode on 10:13 Warrnambool down VN17 behind locomotive N461.

All went well from ground zero Southern Cross station to Geelong on route, the usual rough areas from Corio, North Shore toward Geelong. from the Tunnel onward I noted a change in riding quality on the newly upgraded rail corridor toward Marshall and Waurn Ponds, I wonder to myself why did it seemed more noisier on route on the newly upgrade track areas where they now go over some road areas?

I observed these interesting things on route to Warrnambool

• After taking a note of decibel on board BZN256 leading car behind the locomotive via decibel X app I was surprised that reading was as follows; Avg 109 decibels, Max 122 and Peak 125. toward Marshall.
• It seems the N set are now has now similar decibel range as the Newer Velocities in the middle car the loudest area!
• I noticed the concrete sleepers and metal bridge work around those areas.
• Beyond Waurn Ponds it seem quite rough but I noticed via using my speedo o app on my phone GalilioGP for my own enjoyment as I enjoy the driver put these trains thought their pace rolling the train to the grade of the tracks on route.
• Not all railway crossing were removed in this railway corridor
• Toward Colac I noted faster track speed, 100-115 at some areas
• Speed restrictions toward Camperdown as still sign of ballast and concert sleep next to track side in few location on route, so I guess they are still finishing it off on those areas.
• Pulled in Warrnambool yard, no storage sidings for the newer train yet although signs of newer sleepers and ballast around the area.
• Return trip was good saw N13 on the 13:08 Warrnabool down as we are waiting in Boorcan Loop for it before we headed toward Camperdown from Terang.

I don’t understand, they just upgraded it
I have a few questions to ask

1. Was the track that now concrete sleeper replacing amplifying the noise in the carriages and train?
2. Why was the riding quality seemed rougher then before as it managed to dislodge a light fitting in the vestibule area in my carriage during my trip down as I was shuffling toward the BRN buffet for a drink. [photo supplied]
3. Did they use any sort of rail fastener or rubber elastomer to lessen the impact on the wheels of the rain and reduce the noise and vibration on the concrete sleepers?

Dynamic flexural influence on a railway concrete sleeper in track system due to a single wheel impact

Railway sleepers in a track system are usually utilised to transfer any loading from the rails to the ground support. A wide range of loading conditions has been observed but the critical loading condition is the wheel impact force, which is often due to the wheel or rail irregularities. The railway industry has been aware of a high potential that an out-of-round, single-sided wheel defect may occur and cause cracking in the railway concrete sleepers. This paper presents the dynamic effects on the railway concrete sleeper in a track system due to a single wheel impact. In this study, the railway concrete sleeper is modelled using the beam on elastic foundation theory.

I am not sure how the newer trains are going cope with these vibrations and impact on them later on as I understand their track speeds is currently 130 kms-160 max in most rail corridor in some section in the lines upgraded for the newer trains in the other sections of the other rail corridors ie:Bendigo, Shepparton, Albury and Ballarat and beyond…..

From my observation it takes a lot of vibration and impact to dislodge a light fitting in older carriage or train, as those train can take quite a bit of punishment at times at 108 Kms on rough riding tracks it can bounce them quite severely on some those areas!

But in time with impact and vibrations the trains old and new may get damaged in their competent. But I see this as “teething “problems and is present in every newer technology I hope it may be resolved soon with the professionals in the Old Way and Works Dept or Rail Maintenance depts.