I passed the new line yesterday and it was interesting to see shine on the rail heads, the Tarneit line must be seeing lots of regular use with empty runnings now.

Its not  specifically  empty running rather  Driver training for the new section .   Albeit  with sufficient  drivers trained VLP could be running existing Warrnambools that are express  Footscray to  Geelong via RRL NOW to help bed the track in .

I note that the opening has been delayed by two months due the lack of rolling stock, something many have pointed out here before. The plan back in 2010 was for six or seven three car sets to be in service for the opening the minimum number required. Perhaps Bombardier will meet that target by the end of June.

Is there further detail ?

Was it a delay in ordering therolling stock  or a delay in its production ?

Was the project delivered early ?

This is disgraceful!

Services on the Geelong line as early as 6:08 are already standing room only from North Geelong. Four extra 3-car V/Locities in 4 months isn't going to help this.

The former State Coalition Government has a lot to answer for.....

Is there further detail ?

Was it a delay in ordering therolling stock  or a delay in its production ?

Was the project delivered early ?

Media Release embargoed by the Transport Minister until 6am this morning. Decision made last night.

The delay was in the ordering of the rolling stock by the former Government.

How many are currently in service?

I note that the opening has been delayed by two months due the lack of rolling stock, something many have pointed out here before. The plan back in 2010 was for six or seven three car sets to be in service for the opening the minimum number required. Perhaps Bombardier will meet that target by the end of June.

PTV says the opening will be on June 21st.

ABC Central Vic interviewed both Jacinta Allan and Damien Drum this morning.  

Jacinta accused the LNP of delaying the RRL project by conducting a review in 2011 and for being 2 years late in ordering rolling stock.

Damien accused the ALP of designing a half-baked RRL that didn't include grade separations around Sunshine.  He also said that during their time in Govt the project was completed 9 months ahead of schedule and $800 million under budget - something the ALP have never done.  He did somewhat admit there may have been a stuff-up ordering the rolling stock...

ABC Central Vic interviewed both Jacinta Allan and Damien Drum this morning.  

Jacinta accused the LNP of delaying the RRL project by conducting a review in 2011 and for being 2 years late in ordering rolling stock.

Damien accused the ALP of designing a half-baked RRL that didn't include grade separations around Sunshine.  He also said that during their time in Govt the project was completed 9 months ahead of schedule and $800 million under budget - something the ALP have never done.  He did somewhat admit there may have been a stuff-up ordering the rolling stock...

AFAIK that's wrong....the previous administration deleted the Sunshine flyover to make the bottom line look good.

As member for Northern Victoria, I doubt Damian Drum has ever travelled on a train.

Mike.

AFAIK that's wrong....the previous administration deleted the Sunshine flyover to make the bottom line look good.

As member for Northern Victoria, I doubt Damian Drum has ever travelled on a train.

Mike.

Damien was referring only to the Anderson Rd grade separations.  The funny thing is that the ABC presenter seemed to think none of the RRL had opened yet.  Which is of course untrue given that the Sunshine - Southern Cross section opened in July 2014.  Fortunately a listener texted in to correct her.

AFAIK that's wrong....the previous administration deleted the Sunshine flyover to make the bottom line look good.

As member for Northern Victoria, I doubt Damian Drum has ever travelled on a train.

Mike.

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/cutbacks-compromise-5b-regional-rail-link

The above article from The Age suggests the changes were made in the dying days of the last Labour Gov't

Just read an article on The weekly Time that the new Regional Rail Link opening has been put back until June due to insufficient Rolling Stock available to meet demand. The labor government has blamed the previous Coilition Guv for not ordering enough new trains. New Metro timetable also delayed for same period of times.

It even made the 6pm news, same reasoning no timetable change till more rollingstock is available.

AFAIK that's wrong....the previous administration deleted the Sunshine flyover to make the bottom line look good.

What type of railway flyover was planed for Sunshine ?

The amount room North of Sunshine Station Is all very tight !

Would It to be to remove the conflict between the Bendigo leg of RRL and the future Melton local tracks ?

What type of railway flyover was planed for Sunshine ?

The amount room North of Sunshine Station Is all very tight !

Would It to be to remove the conflict between the Bendigo leg of RRL and the future Melton local tracks ?

If I remember correctly it was to remove a conflict between Up Bendigos and down sparks.

The  previous trimmings by the Brumby Government were marginal to the effect overall of  RRL and it is arguable whether they are part of RRL or the eventual plan to duplicate and electrify Melton .

The at grade junction at the Down end of Sunshine is adequate as long as it is only the junction between V/Line trains.
Grade separations at  various stations between Sunshine and Robinsons Road really only become an issue with the future quadruplication .

Rollingstock wise  both parties are to blame .  VLP advised  Government to buy 67 additional VL cars .  When Labour Government fell in November 2010 they had ordered NIL .  Liberals arrived and Mulder went troppo on all the uncosted bits of  RRL which in reality was not large except that Labour had not ordered any trains .  So Mulder sat on his hands then for over 12 months before finally ordering 40 extra VL cars .  But by that time Adelaide were in front of us with their EMU order at Bombardier . Therefore late delivery of extra VL cars, not helped by RRL being completed a year early .  In dying days Mulder increased 40 to 43 cars.  New Government has promised a further 20 VL cars which brings it all pretty close to VLP originally requested 67 extra VL cars .

Note the tone of the PTV release  "they have been directed "  .  Interpretaion perhaps they felt it was ready to go for an April opening .

Yes delayed delivery of rollingstock may be an issue as 3 x 6 car extra VL sets are required to meet the new  VLP timetable .  Prangs with VL at Galvin and  13 Z cars still out of traffic after 2 years don't help either .

If I remember correctly it was to remove a conflict between Up Bendigos and down sparks.

That would be an ugly flyover to built at that location

If a flyover was to be built It should be at least North of the Western Ring Road, better still North of Sydenham (with extended RRL tracks)

Therefore late delivery of extra VL cars, not helped by RRL being completed a year early.  

In a way people just have to wait for everything to be ready, as the line was completed early.

The opening was always quoted as 2016

Would It be sensible to run the limited express services via the new line, like the Warrnambool and Geelong flagship services to bed down and test the new line In real time conditions ?

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/cutbacks-compromise-5b-regional-rail-link

The above article from The Age suggests the changes were made in the dying days of the last Labour Gov't

No they weren't, but they probably would have been made by the Brumby government had it been elected. Towards the end of 2010, both the Brumby government and the Gillard government were advised by the RRLA that costs would exceed the original estimates. The RRLA was asked to look for possible savings in order to reduce extra costs as far as possible. These were the savings as identified in The Age report. However, it was the Baillieu government which finally made the decision along with the Gillard government (who weren't prepared to put in more money). They also pushed the finishing date out to 2016 from the initial guesstimate of end of 2014. The corollary of reducing the scope of the project meant that it finished sooner anyway.