I was going to have a last ride on the Warrnambool before the 31 March and from ground zero aka Southern Station it all went downhill.
I arrived to Southern Cross late afternoon to observe train movements before getting a 19:15 Warrnambool loco haul for the night and returning the next day….
Events at the time:
- 16:31 was FN9 at platform 2 A which was oddly hooked to two locomotives and left with N461 and N453[?]
- 17:06 left with VN19 which left heavily loaded in 5 cars train with 4 reservation cars and 1 non reservation car
- VN14 left for Swan Hill Evening train service
- ex Swan Hill came in 18:11 N13 on platform 2 B to make up the 19:15 Warrnambool for the night.
As I was watching the train unload the passengers I observed some seems a bit odd.
I saw the driver and conductor converse with each other and it seem something was going happen and it did as the Shunter did not do their usual routine of uncoupling the loco and I noted the Y class approaching the train found out shortly unquote from shunter.
The Train has being cancelled and due to lack of rolling stock the 19:15 is not running tonight
Not good as the train had some sort of fault, unknown what it was but the locomotive was taken away shortly after N452 and N13 was away shunted to the yard near the workshop.
I was observing a cancellation of a service due to the fact the top level of Management of V/line had retired too many long distance coach fleets and given away too many locomotives and now have no carriage sets or locomotives on standby to take it place in such a event!
It was near the end of peak hour this took place and the notification flashed for all to see on their X account.
I was not happy due I had accomodation arranged for the this trip but accepted that these thing happen and passenger safety and crew member is paramount.
But what irked me I intended to have last ride before 31st March 2025 when the line shuts down for track works and installing those yard for stabling those VLocity DMU to stabled at Warrnambool yard like Bairnsdale on the Gippsland Line did before losing their loco haul passengers service!
I will say I have fond times doing few good runs of the remaining loco hauls to Warrnambool and back beforehand at the end of the day and early mornings since the timetable was amended on 1st Dec 2024!
After that bedlam, not only this event happened but a track fault impacted the Geelong line too!
- The passengers for what was the Warrnambool service stood there looking bewildered and custom staff were flat out on other platforms as the track fault impacted other lines to it seemed to me, no train going in or out for while.
- Advice came to go Platform 5A for Warrnambool get on 19:33 Waurn Ponds Service.
- It was. stopping all stations and Coaches from Waurn Ponds to Warrnambool.
- The 3×2 VLocity left packed all seat taken, seats taken people standing in aisle ways and doorways!
I ditched my trip due to the fact I had to compromise my safety and comfort on board on a overcrowded service and subjecting myself to a stress of coach transfer when I know in my case I need to tend to certain travelling requirements on board.
Once could guess that the complaints to V/line from those travellers impacted by this would be substantial as I noticed a few good number of mobility access requirements passengers trying to board too!
This is taste of what could happen on regular basis if these problems of shortage of rolling stock and other issue is not rectified before amending the timetable for those newer VLocity that are still having mechanical issues on the longer distance lines that is reducing them from 6-3 cars on regular basis.
V/Line is in free fall.
The previous CEO did a crap job just waiting for the shift back to the ministry he came from. No vision and no class he has taken the organisation down a road that means poor service and poor culture.