VN14 in former ACZ 525…..was going half pace then normal that day.
I was resting but observed two guys enter the carriage from the other carriages after boarding at Southern Cross armed with lap and phones sit across the carriage from where I was as causally resting before departure…..
Those guys were working on laptop PC and had phones , a normal occurrence on most services I sampled with some travellers. I later drifted off doing usual thing enjoying or observing what left of the loco haul service around the system.
Was roused from a deep sleep by a phone conversation next from one the two guys that the one seat next to his work mate closer to aisle of the carriage the tone of the voice seemed to me very in my perspective was agitated manner seemed not much but a gave a impression someone was having a bad day was work until I realise it related was the working time table for the Geelong Warrnambool lines!
As I manage to catch some the gist of the topic:
Despite what the feed back says about ABCE could or would, it will go by 1st December!
Very intriguing…..I saw myself observing what seemed to be a decisions made on the fly via what It seem to indicate managers of v/line was riding the 13:08 Warrnambool service as well!!!
The observations onboard Warrnambool down
- The service was very busy that day Cars C-A was very crowded most seat occupied in reservation cars
- Non reservation cars D -E had a good crowd on board
- For some odd reason there was no buffet service that day, due to staff shortages.
Were those two people with lap tops and moblie phones who were causal clothes disembarked the train at Waurn Ponds were from v/line management from the top?
It seem odd they didn’t have those purple lanyard of v/line around their neck like the person in uniform overseeing the installation of Vending Machines at Warrnambool 31 Oct 2024 to make way for the not fit for purpose Velocities DMUs with no buffet to take the place of the aging loco hauls.
- ABCD and E indicates the person was talking about the Loco haul services
- This person seem to make it very clear that Loco haul in the day will be reduced to what the Gippsland Line endured for months/years before losing the loco haul when the storage siding were installed and activated for the Velocities Rail Cars!
Wow!!! Did I just observe what seems like a “Captain’s call” situation unfold before my very eyes as a Concerned Train Traveller?
Sadly the ground staff and crew who doesn’t have much say in this so I found out so the vibe at the moment is not good.
Well from the recent info I gathered the ground staff some Train Examiners, Shunters and caters who stock the buffet are not too fond of those newer changes it seems the at risk of losing a job!
As for the buffet staff, I guess they will be retrained as conductors for Velocities….
The staff and crew can’t do anything about these changes without risking their profession and no one will do that unless they got another career waiting for them that is better.
So it up the travellers who use the system for longer distance travel more then 200+ kms from Southern Cross Station and doing coach transfer on top it on a regular basis to speak out, but it very hard to do so when I observe people seemed to be gaslit from all levels!
I get the impression that the people in top level in responsible roles approving these design for the new trains are confusing Plane Travel with Rail travel!
Most people can put up with the current passenger layout for planes travel cover more distance for less time on board, but trains covers less distance and with our currents newer trains layout for longer distance, it not fit purpose as people spend more time on board and need to be comfortable and buffet service on to food and drinks and other needs on route.
Unlike a plane that people will put being cramped seated together for short time on board to and from states in country like AUS on some airlines few amenities excluding international air travel.
As different boundary conditions applies for rail travel!!!
If these N sets have to go something like this from Alstom in the layout is better than these not fit for purpose DMU railmotor Velocities, only thing it good for is speed for shorter distance route, the cramped seats and continuous roar of traction motors and squealing when slowing down is hard to without getting headache or sore back from the cramped seating areas for 4 hours……
As the link from Alstom is a a different design trains layout which is similar to the aging XPT and the Modern QR tilt train in QLD which maybe more ideal for the Longer distance routes to Warrnambool and Swan Hill etc. unlike these “Glorified Rail-motor” pushed out all one size fit all concept at the expense of passenger comfort on board!
A sad regression from was the Acceptable Standard for Victorian Rail transport beyond 2.5 hrs in long distance lines the older Loco N haul and N set rail coaches of their era.
But when v/line management,DPT and are so bull headed and refuse to listen to feedback via petitions supported via MPs who understand it and users who experience it what next?
People with medical issue and motion sickness and dietary restrictions will be impacted
People with walkers and mobility requirements and big luggage will be impacted
No buffet means diabetic other travellers are at risk of going with food and drinks for long periods all the takes the vending machines to malfunction and those people who take medical treatments on route mean missed dosage
When all travellers takes their luggage plus food and drinks on route it going to cause a overcrowding on the Velocities train which is 3×1 set up due to the limited space a headache for train crew involved unlike the older loco hauls the Benchmark work horse for the longer distance routes…..
The time has come for a Investigative journalist ask questions of all people in all responsible roles and what is going on?
And from sadly from what is seen on on route on these trips but some people’s experiences on route on the system recently and observations and I experienced the some of these stuff up on the system with them if mass sacking of top level has to occur so be it!
Not everyone can have plan B and catch another service, as most have medical appointments, jobs etc. and need to go their destination regardless so they are pushed for time…..
The Conclusion is follows:
When some people in the leading roles of a public service for rail operator treats their passengers so poorly with little regard is because these people who make critical decisions on their behalf don’t travel all the way and experience their situation on route beyond the Myki tap on and off Zones and go all the way and back in one day…..
How can these people in leading roles make informed decisions on the travellers behalf when they won’t even go all the way and back again in uncontrolled settings on normal service without the aid of their company funded cab or car?
