$5.6 million for an extra bus service to Hamilton and Horsham?

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.

Other government departments have been largely or wholly moved out of the CBD (TAC to Gee-troit, State Trustees to Footscray) and there was a heap of whinging and moaning at the start but it soon settles down. Indeed some TAC employees have since moved to Geelong and surrounds and love it.

Commercial real estate in the CBD is very expensive on a per square metre basis compared to regional areas and governments should not be paying excessive rents / building costs if they don't need to.

Add to that the obvious benefits to the regional area and the reduction in pressure on city based infrastructure and a good case can be made for such a move.

As an aside I would love to know how often the V/Line CEO and others at the top (including board members) actually get out and about on the V/Line network. 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

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.

I quite like this; a modern-day version of the Commissioners’ trains.

Prexactly.

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.

Up until 4 or 5 years ago we used to get regular 'on-board' meet the people by V/Line suits, in fact I've seen none since the RRL opened and the new timetable was failing badly due to the extra services. I even spoke to Minister Allan on-board one service soon after the Andrews government was elected in 2014.

Another time I offered my comments to a 'suit' that the timetable was too ambitious, the paths too tight, as little as 2 or 3 mins and the timetable didn't take the human element into account...that is not all drivers drive the same way and the dwell times also affect timetables. There WAS some tinkering later on...but no personal customer feedback for a few years now.

Mike.

One of the biggest delays in running would be the passenger factor when they all think getting out the rear door at tarneit is saving them time dwell times can be up to 5 mins at these locations even riddles creek all trying to get out the front door problem is they cant leave the platform till the train departs which is delayed as they refuse to use more than the front door.

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

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.

(The HR woman said 'working a week end was not a problem as she had worked last Sunday'.)

Imagine the Board going down to Spencer Street to be told that they had been bustituted.

Anybody remember the episode of 'Yes Minister' when the Minister went walkabout in the Department without Humphrey Appleby.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

As for Kyneton - I despair.  People need to harden up, get a grip, and learn to change.  Seriously.

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.

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?

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.

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...

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.

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?

While I was trying for a minute to find some scientific justification for the above guess I stumbled on this

https://www.mech.kth.se/courses/5C1211/Orellano_2010.pdf

WARNING, Science Content. A real mind bender!

BG

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.

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.

Yes, this is true, but if the whole thing was revinyled at the same time would you not expect dirt accumulation to be similar?

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!

One theory which has occurred to me (combining a few ideas suggested above) is that the centre cars on the sets originally built as 2 might have improved emission control and thus a reduction in diesel fumes. Unfortunately I’m not dedicated enough to log set numbers so that’s unverifiable too!

The cars which have been ‘repainted’ look different from the new builds especially the purple around the front windscreen. Also brand new stainless steel vs cleaned stainless steel.

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.

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...

The wash at Geelong broke down sometime before last Christmas.  A few hundred thousand dollars was spent by V/Line to get it going again.  It returned to service a fortnight ago. Then it was handed to Bombardier to maintain from then on.

It broke down a few days later.

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.

Funnily enough I got a local bus to Castlemaine Station this evening (headed for the Railway Hotel) and got chatting to the driver. He said the trip (Maldon > CME station) was his second last for the day, the last being CME station > Taradale scheduled to meet the 16.03 Down semi express which timetabled to arrive CME at 17.25. Bus departure is scheduled for 17.45 but the instruction is to wait for the train and quite often he has to wait despite the 20 minute gap between scheduled arrival of the train and departure of the bus.

BG

Another day, another evening Bendigo line Flagship Express bustituted:


Also, Ballarat to Ararat line suspended due to a pedestrian fatality at Wendouree.

The bus couldn’t possibly beat the 17.30 to Bendigo by much, could it?

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

Tree blown down over the tracks between Ballan and The Marsh due to the current gales.... Buses are operating on the DOWN from Bacchus Marsh and the UP's are entirely buses at this stage.

Has been the case for three hours so far.. Will take a lumberjack and a good chainsaw...

Mike.

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.

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...

Mike.

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.

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...

All for medicinal purposes, of course!