Was there a late running vline service (DOWN) this morning to Albury?? or is this a special?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/Railpage/8691181260/

Regards
Brian

ABC Radio confirmed earlier this morning (2/5/2013) passenger trains on the Bendigo line were cancelled due to a freight train failing near elphinstone.  I can only think it may have been the QUBE rice train on the down??

Qube went through Bunbury Street in the down at 04:45am today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/Railpage/8698803781/in/photostream

Any ideas?

Regards
Brian

ABC Radio confirmed earlier this morning (2/5/2013) passenger trains on the Bendigo line were cancelled due to a freight train failing near elphinstone.  I can only think it may have been the QUBE rice train on the down??

Qube went through Bunbury Street in the down at 04:45am today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/Railpage/8698803781/in/photostream

Any ideas?

Regards
Brian

Looks like it may have been a failed PN grainy on the Up:
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1474887/vline-delays-cause-headaches/?cs=80

Imagine if they'd kept the double track, and spent the money on bi-directional signalling instead.

                                  The day the copper signal wire was stolen from between Tottenham and West Footscray.


This morning 23 May, I left Ballan to travel to Mildura by V/Line, here is my convoluted story. (written from Mildura)

I caught the 6:32 ex Ballan to travel to SCS where there's a 15 min connection with the down Swan Hill. I've done this several times in the past with no problems.


On arrival at Sunshine, already thinking that one day my 15 minute connection window might just slam in my face and today was it

Fortunately I always sit in the front car of the VLocity when headed to the city and this morning a few minutes after arriving at Sunshine at 7:07am an announcement came over the PA there was a signal fault at Tottenham. The doors of the VLocity were already closed by this time so I walked to the front of the car and knocked loudly on the drivers door.

I explained to the driver that I was booked on the 7:42am down Swan Hill as I was travelling to Mildura and the driver was only too happy to unlock the doors to let me bail out, so I could travel by spark and board the Swan Hill at SUNBURY


I let one train go by on platform 2 at Sunshine, then a Bendigo went through, EXPRESS, then a Bacchus Marsh, then a Sunbury which I caught.

I almost alighted at Watergardens because I thought... 'since I last went to Swan Hill by train, the sparks have started running to Sunbury, I best stay on the train because the Swan Hill will stop at Sunbury, not Watergardens'....  BAD MOVE.


On the way to Sunbury, I got the laptop out and logged on the V/Line's website and sure enough, the Swan Hill stops at Watergardens NOT Sunbury, the only down on the Bendigo line to do so ALL DAY.

Upon arriving at Sunbury after realising my fatal mistake, all I could do was to wait for the crew to change ends and hope the Swan Hill would be late enough (it's often late on the down due to following a spark), for me to get off the up at Watergardens and run across to platform 2. The down Swan Hill was late, but not late enough for me to catch it as we crossed on the Melton Highway crossing...


Dammit I thought, or slightly more colourful words that might have the mods slightly upset if I were to write them, so I stayed on the up spark with the intention of picking up the 10:15am down Bendigo from SCS which would connect with the 12:20 Bendigo to Mildura bus.

Soon after arriving at Ginifer and waiting in the platform about 30 mins or so due to the before mentioned signal failure at Tottenham which by now had trains backed up to St Albans, I thought, rather than explain my situation to the booking office at SCS I'll call V/Line reservations and explain my case.

Sure enough, the very polite operator understood my predicament and she was happy to re-book me on to the 12:20 Mildura bus from Bendigo, however the news wasn't good...the bus was booked out ....However there were seats available on the 3:15pm Bendigo to Mildura bus.



Dammit I thought, and again, slightly more colourful words that might have the mods slightly upset if I were to write them, so I thought...I may as well get off this spark that's going nowhere and walk around to the downside at Ginifer, through the pedestrian bells and closed gates after discussing with the driver of the waiting spark and head back towards Sunbury where I’ll hopefully pick up a down Bendigo. My thinking being that even though the bus was booked out, there may be a cancellation or a no show so I might still get on.


The down Bendigo was late because there was a shortage of VLocity’s due to the signal failure, but after waiting about 40 mins, the 9:11 ex SCS down Bendigo arrived running about 25’ late. Oh well I thought imagine having two trips to Sunbury on the one day...from Ballan, and all before 9:30


Before the down Bendigo arrived, an announcement crackled over the loud-speaker at Sunbury the up Bendigo was cancelled..that’s unusual I thought, however I was happy to get on the down Bendigo and it was an uneventful trip as far as Castlemaine, save for explaining to the delightful conductress why I was on that train with a booking for the earlier Swan Hill train on my ticket. The conductress explained that even though I was told by V/Line reservations the 12:15 Mildura bus was booked out; I should approach the driver of the bus at Bendigo and see if there may be room.

Before arriving at Bendigo though, we were delayed over 20 mins at Castlemaine because the up Bendigo which was announced at Sunbury as being cancelled was actually disabled on the main line in Ravenswood Loop due to hitting a kangaroo earlier that morning and it was knocked out of service. This had the effect of making Kangaroo Flat to Castlemaine a single track


Sure enough, due to the two wheelchair places on the bus which aren't always allocated, and the availability of two seats that aren't accounted for on the V/Line reservation system, the driver has those two seats he can use in cases such as mine this morning, or other 'walk-ups'. Consequently with my ticket endorsed and allocated the spare seat and after cancelling my booking on the 3:15pm bus, we were finally on our way.

I hope the return journey on Saturday is less eventful ...BTW, I picked up a current copy of the Bendigo/Swan Hill/Mildura timetable at Sunbury.

Mike.

^ You do realise of course that Ballan to Mildura can be driven in just 6 hrs including a break...

^ You do realise of course that Ballan to Mildura can be driven in just 6 hrs including a break...

Of course... as you might imagine, living in Ballan for over 25 years and having family in Mildura for even longer than that, I've seen the Sunraysia Highway, the Calder Highway and the Murray Valley Highway a few times over the years, however, these days, I cbf driving and the V/Line fare is cheaper AND how could I have had this much fun by driving

Before that, living in Melbourne's western suburbs, I usually travelled on the Vinelander...I'm not the Vinelander for nothing..

Sure, Thursdays trip was a bit nerve wracking at the time, however it all worked out, I was only 3 hours later than had I travelled on my scheduled service, and on reflection it ended up being a very fun and memorable journey.

A notice at the booking desk at Mildura station on arrival on Friday afternoon said the Friday night and Saturday morning buses from Mildura were all booked out. That was very pleasing to read.

About 18 pax alighted my bus at Robinvale, all Asian appearance. Apparently Robinvale has a large Asian community these days, which probably accounts for the fully booked buses on the up, that Robinvale has a large percentage of the pax on the bus.

I'll be travelling to Ballan today(Saturday) and I'll write another report should that be appropriate.

Mike

I can lend u a pushbike or a wheel chair, just one problem they need new tyres......................

I can lend u a pushbike or a wheel chair, just one problem they need new tyres......................

Get back on your bicycle, as I do when riding around town...you'll find you'll live a longer healthier life if you do..

Southern Cross should be a ghost town tomorrow seeing as the Gippsland line will be the only line with a train service due to RRL works.

Southern Cross should be a ghost town tomorrow seeing as the Gippsland line will be the only line with a train service due to RRL works.

Geelong / Marshall bound trains are operating as per normal Sunday timetable tomorrow.

The only trains affected are:
0710 and 1725hrs trains from Warrnambool
0900 and 1900hrs trains to Warrnambool
Trains to / from Geelong, and coaches inbetween Geelong and Warrnambool.

Link: Warrnambool Coach Replacement

Geelong / Marshall bound trains are operating as per normal Sunday timetable tomorrow.

The only trains affected are:
0710 and 1725hrs trains from Warrnambool
0900 and 1900hrs trains to Warrnambool
Trains to / from Geelong, and coaches inbetween Geelong and Warrnambool.

Link: Warrnambool Coach Replacement

Last weekend i think it was they where doing crossing renewal in geelong between sth geelong and marshal. guess they are doing another. There is road overpass works associated with the duplication of the princess highway going on as well. May be putting the bridge beams in place.

Last weekend i think it was they where doing crossing renewal in geelong between sth geelong and marshal. guess they are doing another. There is road overpass works associated with the duplication of the princess highway going on as well. May be putting the bridge beams in place.

Thanks for the information.
I was wondering why Geelong  Warrnambool trains were affected, but Southern Cross  Marhall trains were not.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/five-people-taken-to-hospital-after-truck-collides-with-train-in-geelong/story-fni0fee2-1226713968084

Anyone know why V/Line are sending 3 seperate empty car N class and H sets to Bacchus Marsh and back on weekdays during the off-peak? At first I thought it was for driver training, but they seem to be driven by single drivers. I also thought that it was due to limited stabling in Melbourne but they all arrive in Melbourne between midday and 14:00.

Anyone know why V/Line are sending 3 seperate empty car N class and H sets to Bacchus Marsh and back on weekdays during the off-peak? At first I thought it was for driver training, but they seem to be driven by single drivers. I also thought that it was due to limited stabling in Melbourne but they all arrive in Melbourne between midday and 14:00.

Some of the Southern Cross Bank sidings have been taken over for RRL works, so they are being sent out to Bacchus Marsh as they are short of room at Southern Cross.

There are currently delays of approx. 30 mins on the Geelong line due to signal faults in the Metro area #vline

— V/Line Geelong Line (@vline_geelong) October 2, 2013

Albury V/Line trains are delayed up to 90 minutes now in both directions due to signal faults at Somerton. Coaches are on standby at Seymour for the down service and Springhurst and Wangaratta for the up service.

Source: @vline_seymour

Albury V/Line trains are delayed up to 90 minutes now in both directions due to signal faults at Somerton. Coaches are on standby at Seymour for the down service and Springhurst and Wangaratta for the up service.

Source: @vline_seymour

Not quite Vline but the Sydney to Melbourne XPT has just be seen through Sims Street Junction at 22:30.  Now that is quite a number of hours late. Thanks for your contribution Contrillion.

Also add I have not seen a VLine down or up service this evening unless buncam missed it?

Regards
Brian

Also add I have not seen a VLine down or up service this evening unless buncam missed it?

The midday up service ran empty through Benalla at about 4:30 yesterday, a little more than two hours late. My guess is that the evening services did not run.

The midday up service ran empty through Benalla at about 4:30 yesterday, a little more than two hours late. My guess is that the evening services did not run.

Heard the XPT had hit a car near Wangaratta and this was causing the delays to the network.

Various freight services have also been affected.

Regards
Brian

Heard the XPT had hit a car near Wangaratta and this was causing the delays to the network.

Various freight services have also been affected.

Regards
Brian

From local sources at Chiltern  I believe that a couple of the local "cognoscenti" (translated= smart....s) tried to drive a fourwheel drive across the track in the early hours of Sunday morning, about 500mtrs on the Wodonga side of the station and failed.  They then cleverly left the vehicle to the mercy of the XPT heading toward Melbourne.

Cheers
Russell.

Train crashes into car on Chiltern rail linePosted 7 hours 59 minutes ago
[color=#310099][b][color=#000000][size=1]MAP: [/color][/b]Chiltern 3683[/color]
[/size]
Four crew members were lucky to escape injury when a passenger train crashed into a car on the rail line at Chiltern early yesterday morning.
There were no passengers on board the Melbourne to Sydney XPT when it hit the unoccupied four-wheel drive about 2:30am (AEDT).
The locomotive was damaged and the car was destroyed in the crash.
There was no sign of the four-wheel drive's owner when police arrived.
It is believed the car had become stuck on the tracks.
Wodonga police are investigating and they are calling for information from the public.

Further to what has already been posted regarding the XPT and a car at Chiltern, the following was in the Albury Paper today.

http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1959822/police-slam-driver-after-car-crushed-by-xpt-near-chiltern/

Cheers
Russell.

Today is the first day of V/Line's hot weather speed restrictions, today on Swan Hill and Echuca services only.

The full heat timetables and days of operation are on their website: http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/carousel/1085771660/Article.aspx