I was sampling the 10:13 service to Warrnambool before the working timetable is amended to allow the Velocities Rail Motors [DMU] taking over the Warrnambool line.
I am was riding what is a end of era as progressively after 1st Nov 2024 the 10:13 service will be 3x Car Velocity DMU railcar from now on….
I had found via cater worker who stocks the buffet cars on v/line who spends $4 Million on food and catering and he will eventually lose his job with the shunters which I noticed recently looked rather miserable not their cheerful selfs when I observed them that day when the N set are withdrawn fully about next year all stabling yard are installed in Warrnambool line.
We rolled to Geelong and before pulling in I noticed A66 at Geelong yard….and bunch of rail enthusiasts hanging around Geelong after leaving the train there.
From my observations I noted one one passenger who looked from Admin and he looked like person from the head office from V/line as I noted his distinct purple lanyard around his neck and purple stripped v/line shirt and noticed was riding the ACN from Southern Cross and he oversaw the installation on vending machines at Warrnambool station after we arrived.
When I shuffled to see what happening around the waiting room and noted the various vending food and drink machines installed in preparation for the withdrawal and scaling back the old loco haul equipped with buffet catering on board.
To my surprise station staff asked me have they done any test runs?
I replied to him: “From what I heard via contact who know two contacts in the service doing the test runs they sent a few new Velocities 3×1 units down to Warrnambool as test run but from some odd reason they keep terminating them at Geelong!…..Why?
I don’t know….TBA
As I understand the new train tabled for first run the 10:13 Warrnambool down will come to Warrnambool loaded with passengers it seems concerning the decision makers are doing a suck it and see method with the Vlocities travelling to Warrnambool!
Suck and See happens in most situations I understand but when things doesn’t go to plan it can be rather expensive to rectify!
I re boarded the train N13 hauled by locomotive N453 and later I shuffled into ACN when I noticed the buffet was unmanned as the crew had something to do elsewhere for moment I noticed the Admin from V/line was not onboard before getting another drink from the buffet on board.
From the information I gathered from ground zero: Staff from Southern Cross unquote:
The 1st December the Only VN Set will be 17:06 and 19:12 Down and the Next Day Morning Up 06:09 and 09:33 The rest of the Day Trips will be Vlocity’s sadly.
The storage yard are not installed or built yet until sometime next year
For now is TBA as anything can happen, but this will similar to Gippsland line to Bairnsdale that suffered the same situation with the longer distance trains.
I got a few questions about the vending machines doing the task the BRN or buffet car will cease to cater progressively after 1 st of Dec 2024 when the new working timetable comes out.
- The Vending machine when it fails or get vandalised do they have back up plan available to still provide food/drinks for passengers coming off those newer trains replacing the older fit for purpose trains?
- As I understand the vendor repair for the machine are outsource are they available to attend to maintain and restock it at regular basis?
- Do the management who introduce this realise that no eating and drinking applies on most coach services?
- It seems lengthy queues could be problem when every person who require food and drinks before boarding trains and coach as it may encourage squabbles and disagreements over lining up for buying food and drinks before travelling or before coach transfers
- Did they consider the tight constraints of time passengers deal with moving with their luggage to get on board the coaches after getting off the newer trains vica versa?
From my observations of this it is seems this will make travel more stressful for some people and they may turn back for their cars or not travel at all…
When the fit for purpose train is withdrawn which was the acceptable standard for rail travel although very long in tooth are being replaced with not fit for purpose train it’s seems concerning when operator V/line so I found spent $30 Million on coach replacements, $4 Million on food catering in their Annual Report!
It seems to indicate all they only interested in is bum on seats!
The odd thing I don’t understand is why the managemeant is so hasty to get rid of the older loco haul before a newer fit for purpose design modern train takes it’s place?
I don’t understand….the past indicators to now is on the other long distance regional lines Ararat, Shepparton, Albury, Bairnsdale are having problems with newer trains being reduced from 3×2 to 3×1 is a strong indicator that this method of using this particular design is not working for the longer routes!
You can’t jam a square peg in round hole….
As when riding the Vlocities last Sunday I noticed the bin receptacles on board are very small opening and some located in odd locations like on the ground between enjoining seat beside the aisle between seats rows either side.
Geez they don’t expect people some with a sore back etc. to bend down to throw their food warps or drink containers in those bins whist the train moving and bouncing along the line mainline speed 120-130 kms!
Compared to the older rolling stock N and Z car the bins are easy to access and throw you drink container and food wrappers in them without having bend over what more it hold more trash unlike the newer trains in no time it look those bin can’t cater for food warps, containers or drink containers on mass like the on the older trains…..I found the old bin more user friendly in the older rolling stock compared the new bin receptacle on board the newer modern Velocities as a concerned train traveller!
The main concerns to be addressed with the management is do these people in the leading, critical design making roles know what they are doing?
If not what should or could happen now to rectify it?
Thoughtful article and some great questions. Do you believe V/Line has a plan to replace snack bars from the network rolling stock with vending machines at stations when the train stops for less than 60 seconds. Not enough time to get off and on the train and many for Warrnambool would go through to Melbourne or from Melbourne.
V/Line are taking the network backwards with the removal of snack bars or on train services. 4 hour trip to Warrnambool and the timetable with the Vlocity trains is not much different so why did V/Line say it would be an upgrade when clearly it is not an upgrade.