Plenty of lobsters for the owners of those bus companies. Getting in early with the pledge so those company owners know that a political donation might pay off big time?
Of course it’s absolute numbskullery but I expect nothing less than that from this Opposition. The reality is the Victorian rail network is centred on Melbourne and Spencer St will, consequently, always be an operations hub of sorts for V/Line.It is and it isn't. I would be really interested to know how many of the mandarins working at Docklands commute into town from a regional area. I suspect that the number would be fairly low and this may be one of the reasons that V/Line seems from time to time to fail to understand the needs of their customers and the effect that some of their decision making has on their customer base.
Maybe they should schedule board meetings in Swan Hill, Warnambool, Bairnsdale, Shepp and Wodonga and make it compulsory to travel to them by train - meet at SC for a morning Down train, have the meeting at a local V/Line facility (catered of course) and then catch an afternoon / evening Up service back to civilisation.
Maybe they should schedule board meetings in Swan Hill, Warnambool, Bairnsdale, Shepp and Wodonga and make it compulsory to travel to them by train - meet at SC for a morning Down train, have the meeting at a local V/Line facility (catered of course) and then catch an afternoon / evening Up service back to civilisation.
I quite like this; a modern-day version of the Commissioners’ trains. I guess my beef is that there’s enormous expense involved in moving office staff for what I reckon is pretty negligible benefit. The coal-face workers at V/Line are by and large not the problem; middle and upper management is. If the board and executive team got to know their network better from the commuter and employee perspective I think we’d see more tangible benefits than everyone moving their desks a hundred ks West.
This should be done on a regular basis but unfortunately in this day and age junkets of this nature often take on all the preparations and unreality of a Royal Tour and achieve nothing but engender a false sense of how wonderful everything is.Of course it’s absolute numbskullery but I expect nothing less than that from this Opposition. The reality is the Victorian rail network is centred on Melbourne and Spencer St will, consequently, always be an operations hub of sorts for V/Line........ Maybe they should schedule board meetings in Swan Hill, Warnambool, Bairnsdale, Shepp and Wodonga and make it compulsory to travel to them by train - meet at SC for a morning Down train, have the meeting at a local V/Line facility (catered of course) and then catch an afternoon / evening Up service back to civilisation. Might open a few eyes to some of the problems experienced by their "customers" each and every day.......
BG
On the 09.14 Down Bendigo this morning, once again running into P1 at Kyneton because some nimbys can't be bothered turning up on time to catch a train from P2.The morning Up Swan Hill pass often has good numbers on it. When it's less than 5 carriages it can be a sardine can by Gisborne.
Stopped short of the crossover on the Up side of Kyneton, seems someone forgot to set the road for us after the Up Swan Hill pass went through. Now over 5 minutes late against the very generous timetable and hoping we make it to CME for the next cross and don't get held in the loop at Elphinstone.
Incidentally I got a good look at the Up SH pass as we crossed it at Woodend, a very healthy number of pax on board this morning's service.
BG
Alright, I’ve got a railway mystery and it kind of relates to a previous discussion in this thread’s predecessor so instead of starting another one here goes.Fewer bugs and road kill hit the middle carriage. And perhaps placement and flow of diesel exhaust? V/Lo DMUs aren't exactly fitted with the latest and greatest in Diesel emissions and smoke reducing tech...
Can anyone offer a plausible explanation for why the trailer cars of VLocity sets are cleaner than the driving cars?
It’s usually obvious when the sun catches a set at Southern Cross, say, that the stainless steel sections of the middle cars are far shinier than the end cars. For this reason I initially put it down to the driving cars “catching” dirt as they lead the train. But after noticing it a few more times the distinction is so stark this doesn’t make any sense - wouldn’t you expect a gradient if this was the case?
And just now a set (didn’t catch the number sorry) has flown past in the red, purple and yellow livery - meaning its paint hasn’t been touched recently - with a substantial layer of filth on the white sections of both doors on the front and back cars but absolutely pristine glistening white on the middle. The whole train was like this but the door colour made it particularly obvious.
I know this is minutiae but am I going crazy? Has anyone else noticed this? What the hell is going on?
Fewer bugs and road kill hit the middle carriage. And perhaps placement and flow of diesel exhaust? V/Lo DMUs aren't exactly fitted with the latest and greatest in Diesel emissions and smoke reducing tech...And possibly Aero effect as well?
You will also find the earlier numbered units in the PTV scheme have a new build center car and refurbished end cars and it’s quiet noticeable on these sets.
I believe that the wash for them was broken, and they haven't been done properly for a few weeks/months. Now it's repaired they should be back to usual schedule and looking much cleaner...
One thing I noticed recently though - someone's been giving the old N-set carriages a good wash of late. There must be an election soon.
BG, I wondered about aerodynamics as well but after this morning’s sighting I’m convinced that’s not the case - the difference was just to stark for this to be plausible. Of course you won’t be able to verify this unless the set runs your beloved Castlemaine Flyer this afternoon!I gave up on The Flyer a year or so ago PIMM. Always late.
The bus couldn’t possibly beat the 17.30 to Bendigo by much, could it?Maybe not but back when I was catching "The Flyer" it was a packed 6 car train, standing room only as was the 17.30 (or the 17.31 as it was back then) so I assume V/Line wouldn't want to encourage pax to head over to Network for a Pint or two and wait for the next service.
The bus couldn’t possibly beat the 17.30 to Bendigo by much, could it?Maybe not but back when I was catching "The Flyer" it was a packed 6 car train, standing room only as was the 17.30 (or the 17.31 as it was back then) so I assume V/Line wouldn't want to encourage pax to head over to Network for a Pint or two and wait for the next service.
That would certainly be my preferred option (and I believe @TheVinelander may had advocated it in a post far, far away)
BG
I always have a quick one at the Swan Hill RSL, particularly in Summer as it's directly across the road from the station and its almost a 30 min connexion from the Mildura bus.All for medicinal purposes, of course!
Occasionally the 17:50 DOWN Wendouree can be cancelled so to while away the time to the 18:23 DOWN Ararat...a pint at the network bar can be an advantage...