I boarded VN17 in former ACZ which now BZN 262 with N453 leading the 19:15 Warrnambool service.
I had dinner on board as the service was fairly crowded in the evening toward Geelong and Waurn Ponds on Tuesday night and most the bulk of people were in 3 reservation cars.
I noticed a few VLocity train movements and empty car movements past my window, a very uneventful night… After Winchlesea beyond thing got more quieter on the train since it mid week
After Colac the non reservation cars were quieter mid week that later in the week
Later on had the carriage to myself that which was very special to me whist there was handful of people in the front car behind the locomotive.
- few people still boarded along the way in the reservation cars
- buffet service was operating on board which was great good as I shuffled to get some refreshments during the 3-4hr trip to Warrnambool.
- After a very relaxing ride on board as we had speed restrictions in some sections
- we were a bit late arriving at Warrnambool our arrival time was meant 22:23 but arrived at 22:44.
Observation of Warrnambool Stabling Yard
- As we pulled in I notice the piles of ballast,concrete sleepers and fenced off areas of what I presume it the site for the stabling yards at Warrnambool for those VLocity DMUs
- The Yard looked like there not much activity at the moment as I understand those yard need to bought up to standard like ie: Waurn Ponds with a refuel point and other features to stable and service those newer VLocity rail cars.
- This reflects the same similar scenario took place with the Bairnsdale line with the remaining loco haul services before it was replaced completely with the VLocity rail cars late Sept 2024
- The Warrnambool trains will be all VLocity 3×1 and the early morning and evening loco hauls services both directions will be replaced in the amended timetable.
from what I understand aiming at Apr 11th 2025 from the frontline I quoted from link below:
Warrnambool Line passengers will benefit from four extra weekend services, with new return services on Saturdays and Sundays adding to the extra services rolled out in December last year.
This means Warrnambool Line passengers will have five daily weekend return services and all will run as VLocity trains aka 3×1 DMUs
https://www.facebook.com/VlineVictoria
Will they get the yard stabling facilities set up within that time frame?
After staying overnight I got the same set and train back on 06:10 Warrnambool on up back to Melbourne as VN19 the one without Z series cars was tabled on the last loco haul for that period until that evening.
Riding conditions on board on this time slot which I nicknamed ” The Red Eye Special“
- I notice a good amount people including people from coach came direct from coaches transfers to board from Portland and beyond and boarded
- the crew did their usual PA announcements observed 4x reservation cars and 1x Non reservation car on this service like the later 09:24 service from Warrnambool which I have taken beforehand.
- As we pulled out I eyed Warrnambool yard from my window, most of it was undisturbed for now as that stuff being sitting there for few months now only new stuff I saw was the fencing set up to protect the area.
- People were snoozing and eating on board the train in other cars as strolled through to grab a meal as well as the buffet service was operating.
- More people boarded along the route as we made our way back from Warrnambool
- Being a normal workday for most people and peak hr I expect a good crowd on board.
- Saw the ex 10:12 VLocity 3×1 looked rather empty at Waurn Ponds
- Noticed a VLocity service at Deer Park whist passing by noticed people were standing on the platform…
- it seemed like to me unusual like some sort emerging issue which later I found out later it suspended the line, I figured v/line out was in for hard day later on.
- The train pulled in 09:33 at Southern Cross platform 3 B when I found out it meant go to Platform 1 earlier.
- Noticed VN14 middle rd and N13 3A standing waiting to be prepped for their time slots to run on later services for that day.
this was a ride as I am making the most of the limited time these loco services have on this line before the working timetable is amended at Apr this year for Warrnambool for now TBA.
If V/line management believes they are doing the right thing by the people who ride their trains for the longer distance routes with coach transfers included why did they shutdown their v/line feedback page?
for the travellers with concerns in their during travel the only avenue of doing feed back it go direct to PTV via mail,phone or online not via V/line
As a observer it seems it seems the feedback website got so overwhelmed by the people contacting them about the it shut down temporarily as a safety feature to stop the damage to their website?
It back in working order for now but does seems to look like they are ignoring the problems currently happening and hoping it will go away ?
Well it seems they hitting critical mass!
