The Management of V/line

Introduction

V/Line have made some recent decisions that in the mind of many have moved the network backwards when you consider customer service, on train catering and amenities, passenger comfort, noise levels on the train itself, the number of seats per service and of course the environment.

At the same time, there have been real questions being asked about the air quality at Southern Cross Railway Station for both passengers and staff who work at the station. The quality of the air around and inside the station has been the subject of much concern and has been exacerbated by the continued purchasing of diesel powered rail cars called Vlocities. V/Line have been removing longer distance passenger sets with one locomotives with trains of 6 cars with six engines all diesel powered and emitting fumes. Essentially we have added over 300 diesel engines to the V/Line network. That is not good for the environment.

The toxic air at Southern Cross Railway Station

There have been serious illnesses experienced by workers at Southern Cross allegedly due to the poor air quality at the station. As yet we have seen no public response from the Victorian Government other than continuing to purchase more polluting diesel rolling stock.

It is impossible to identify ANY plan by the PTV or V/Line to decarbonise the rail network between major regional centres such as Geelong and Ballarat. I will repeat that, it is impossible to find ANY plan to remove diesel trains from high capacity routes like Geelong that is approaching a 15 minute service for much of the day. Can you imagine the diesel fumes across that line. In almost any other jurisdiction this line would have previously been electrified. It should have been years ago.

This is incredibly poor decision making on the part of V/Line Management when most other companies have a clear decarbonisation plan and in a state that is delivering many renewable energy projects. The largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere is being built between Ballarat and Geelong but we cannot get an electrification project up and running between Melbourne/Geelong/Ballarat/Melbourne.

The poor decision making around longer distance rolling stock

The replacement of longer distance rolling stock with short haul, basic, uncomfortable and noisy rolling stock called a Vlocity train has not been popular with the travelling public. V/Line management have overseen the removal of capacity and service on the Albury Line, the Bairnsdale Line and soon the Warrnambool Line all highly unpopular decisions.

It should also be said the Vlocity trains are over 20 years old in design, however communications from V/Line state they are new and current. It is hard if not impossible to identify an operator world wide who use a Vlocity train style for long distance journeys and who would not have electrified regional rail lines.

The poor management decisions and blatant lack of strategic planning clearly fall on the Management of V/Line.

Why has this happened?

It has happened because the management of V/Line have failed to properly plan for the replacement of the longer distance rolling stock. As is the case with most projects in Victoria, they are delayed, when approved they cost three times as much and are delayed by years. This was become the rule now rather than the exception.

It is even worse when you think parliamentary members of the ALP , such as the member for Warrnambool, publicly state seat numbers are not reducing when V/Line communications to the public clearly show they are.

Vlocity trains are not the answer for the travelling public seeking a reliable, comfortable, quiet, and available service between regional Victoria and Melbourne.

Who is therefore making these decisions?

I have being looking at the top level of the Operator of V/line from my understanding they oversee the trains and coach transport network in Victoria. Let’s take a closer look at who these people are and their level of experience in relation to their very important role.

The Current Management is described as:

Matt Carrick

Chief Executive Officer at V/Line

Nada Jolic

Head of Internal Communications at V/Line

Kate McCardel

Legal Director at V/Line

Ray Whyte

Regional Manager at V/Line

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Dan Fogarty

Head of Media at V/Line

Daniel Filipovic

Head of Procurement at V/Line

Stuart Brockwell

Chief Information Officer at V/Line

Looking at their credential and qualifications which very intriguing and striking is their top CEO Matt Carrick his top mangers are quoted from the website.

• Government
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy
• Digital Strategy
• Grants
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Communications
• Business Requirements
• Public Policy
• Biotechnology

Kate McCardel Legal Director at V/Line:

• University of Melbourne Master of Laws – LLM
• Deakin University Bachelor of Property & Real Estate
• University of Melbourne Bachelor of Arts – BA – History and Modern Languages
• University of Melbourne Bachelor of Laws – LLB (Hons)

Ray Whyte Regional Manager at V/Line

• Deakin University Diploma (Business Management)
• 2024 – now  Regional Manager @ V/Line
• 2019 – now  Regional Manager @ Amart Furniture
• 2019 – 2024 Regional Manager @ Amart Furniture
• 2019 – 2024 State Operations Manager Vic and SA and WA @ Amart Furniture
• 2015 – 2019 Regional Manager @ Spotlight Retail Group (SRG)
• 2014 – 2015 Complex Manager @ Bunnings
• 2012 – 2014 District Manager @ Target Australia
• 2004 – 2012 Regional Manager @ Coles Liquor
• 2003 – 2004 Buyer @ Bilo Supermarkets
• 2003 – 2003 State Sales Manager @ Bilo Supermarkets

Nada Jolic

Head of Internal Communications at V/Line

• 2024 – now  Head of Internal Communications @ V/Line
• 2023 – now  Communications Consultant @ Nada Jolic Consulting
• 2021 – 2022 General Manager Brand, Marketing and Communications @ Engineers Australia
• 2020 – 2021 General Manager, Communications @ Engineers Australia
• 2018 – 2020 Head of Marketing and Communications, Advancement @ University of Melbourne
• 2015 – 2018 General Manager, Content and Publishing @ CPA Australia
• 2014 – 2015 Content Manager @ CPA Australia
• 2012 – 2014 Corporate Affairs Manager, National Australia Bank @ NAB
• 2011 – 2012 Communications Adviser @ CPA Australia
• 2009 – 2011 Managing Editor @ CPA Australia
• University of MelbourneBachelor of Arts (Hons) (English, Art History)1993 – 1997
• RMIT UniversityGraduate Diploma (Public Relations)2007 – 2008
• CAECertificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing (Professional Editing and Writing)2001 – 2002

I do not understand what I seeing on the top level names above the line in the management for now it seems that none of these top people in charge have No Railway Background…..on top their current qualifications!

I have some question relating to the current mess v/line is in as I observed with overcrowding etc.

• One the people in v/line is Kate McCardel I wondering is she the same person in ARTC too?
• Why aren’t they listening to feed back of those people who use the ride system as a passenger and regular traveller and and staff who operate it from the frontline who has put up people’s displeasure when things goes horribly wrong with those newer trains they got from Alstom?
• If they knew about the rolling stock shortages and overcrowding why were they so hasty to remove the older trains before the teething problems technically in design framework were addressed with those newer trains?
• And why rely on one train design which is over two decades old and do after thought design modifications when Alstom a French based Transport Provider uses many variation of trains designs for various conditions?
• Lastly, why are they pushing out these newer train that mechanically designed for short period of continuous operation to do longer routes that the older fit for purpose loco hauls did Barinsdale , Shepparton, Warrnambool, Epsom and beyond?

Sadly from my observation if they are so callous toward the travelling public’s concerns regarding overcrowding and not fit for purpose trains it seems a clean out at top maybe required….One doesn’t know if they are they may have a hidden conflict of interest with the powerful road transportation groups.

By their attitude and disregard to the regional traveller affected by their ill thought out decisions by their actions it seem they want to stuff the people in X wagons!!!

No food, no toilet no buffet for food and drinks just stuff em in!!!

Maybe it time to get people in top who are not so inward thinking as it seems these are not type people one would want to run a public transport system where customer comfort and reliability of service is paramount with Vic railway travel in regional areas….

Most people in Vic want reliable high speed modern trains BUT not the expense of their comfort and access to food and drink on board for the longer routes more then 2.5 hr duration one way to coach transfers or destination on the longer routes!

Reference for research: https://rocketreach.co/vline-management_b5c76067f42e0d6e