V/LINE has established a ‘lateness squad’ to address rampant delays as patronage on the Geelong line reaches critical mass.
New V/Line chairman Jeroen Weimar told the Geelong Advertiser the team was created after more than one million extra trips were taken on the Geelong line last financial year Mr Weimer, who is also Public Transport Victoria CEO, said the move, combined with a new timetable to be released later this month, meant hope was on the horizon for Geelong’s rail commuters.
Mr Weimer said the recently-established team addressing “poor” punctuality would deliver real results to long-suffering commuters.
“We’ve established a performance team to drive day-to-day performance. It is ready to hit the ground and drive performance of every single one of our 300 train services a day (on the entire network) and look at all the obstructions and issues we get that impact our performance,” Mr Weimar said.
He said the team was established about six weeks ago in light of 1,052,520 additional trips on the Geelong line in 2017-18 when compared to the year before.
“We’ve started to see some improvement from a pretty poor point in May,” he said.
“My absolute focus is on getting the Geelong corridor working as reliably as we possibly can.” He said a communications team was now embedded in V/Line’s control centre to get prompt messages about disruption to commuters.
Since June 2015, V/Line has failed its punctuality target of 92 per cent in all but two months, which means recently about 300 trains a month are running more than six minutes late.
Mr Weimar said “stop-start investment” in V/Line in past decades meant it struggled to maintain consistent performance.
Meanwhile, a new Geelong timetable to be released on August 26 will include three more weekday peak trains running to or from Waurn Ponds station.
It follows 289 services that have been added to the Geelong line in the past four years, Mr Weimar said.
V/Line data shows trips on the Geelong line have exploded from 3.38 million in 2008/2009 to 8,773,618 million in 2017/18. “We’re sitting on top of the fastest growing regional railway anywhere in Australia — probably the fastest growing railway anywhere in Australia,” Mr Weimar said.
“We’ve not seen that rate of growth on our railway in Australia ever before — certainly not in modern times.” Trips on the Geelong line accounted for almost 45 per cent of the trips taken on the entire V/Line network in 2016-17.
To meet surging demand, V/Line has doubled train services on the Geelong corridor in four years with services operating between Geelong and Melbourne every 10 minutes in peak times and 20 minutes off-peak.
Opposition transport spokesman David Davis said the Liberal/Nationals would spend $633 million to replace V/Line’s “long-haul rattlers” that make up 40 per cent of the fleet if they win the November election.
“Obviously we need rail work and other things to occur. Huge growth in population is a challenge to manage but it’s no excuse for not maintaining the trains properly,” Mr Davis said.
Mr Weimar said the State Government’s $50 million study into fast rail on the Geelong line will consider electrifying the Southern Cross to Wyndham Vale section to improve performance.
PATRONAGE GROWTH GEELONG LINE TRIPS FY 2017/2018: 8.77 million passenger trips FY 2016/2017: 7.72 million FY 2015/2016: 6.74 million FY 2014/2015: 4.24 million FY 2013/2014: 4.02 million FY 2012/2013: 3.89 million FY 2011/2012: 3.90 million FY 2010/2011: 3.77 million FY 2009/2010: 3.47 millionFY 2008/2009: 3.38 million
Why is there a shortage of N sets?Organisation - lack of.
The updated WTTs have been uploaded to the V/Line website for today's timetable changes, for those interested.Still shows Ararat > MBY as under occo and Ouyen > Pinnaroo Grain Flow site as Dandersdan717 gauge?
https://corporate.vline.com.au/Network-Access/Network-service-plan
I always think it's only a matter of time before this stuff gets put behind a login citing "national security" or some such nonsense, but we may as well enjoy it for now.
Note that the former is a 23 August version and the latter is from 2017. Both have been modified by various notices and circulars in the meantime. They seem to eventually get around to updating the public versions.The updated WTTs have been uploaded to the V/Line website for today's timetable changes, for those interested.Still shows Ararat > MBY as under occo and Ouyen > Pinnaroo Grain Flow site as Dandersdan717 gauge?
https://corporate.vline.com.au/Network-Access/Network-service-plan
I always think it's only a matter of time before this stuff gets put behind a login citing "national security" or some such nonsense, but we may as well enjoy it for now.
BG
V/LINE has established a ‘lateness squad’ to address rampant delays as patronage on the Geelong line reaches critical mass.
New V/Line chairman Jeroen Weimar told the Geelong Advertiser the team was created after more than one million extra trips were taken on the Geelong line last financial year Mr Weimer, who is also Public Transport Victoria CEO, said the move, combined with a new timetable to be released later this month, meant hope was on the horizon for Geelong’s rail commuters.
Mr Weimer said the recently-established team addressing “poor” punctuality would deliver real results to long-suffering commuters.
“We’ve established a performance team to drive day-to-day performance. It is ready to hit the ground and drive performance of every single one of our 300 train services a day (on the entire network) and look at all the obstructions and issues we get that impact our performance,” Mr Weimar said.
He said the team was established about six weeks ago in light of 1,052,520 additional trips on the Geelong line in 2017-18 when compared to the year before.
“We’ve started to see some improvement from a pretty poor point in May,” he said.
“My absolute focus is on getting the Geelong corridor working as reliably as we possibly can.” He said a communications team was now embedded in V/Line’s control centre to get prompt messages about disruption to commuters.
Since June 2015, V/Line has failed its punctuality target of 92 per cent in all but two months, which means recently about 300 trains a month are running more than six minutes late.
Mr Weimar said “stop-start investment” in V/Line in past decades meant it struggled to maintain consistent performance.
Meanwhile, a new Geelong timetable to be released on August 26 will include three more weekday peak trains running to or from Waurn Ponds station.
It follows 289 services that have been added to the Geelong line in the past four years, Mr Weimar said.
V/Line data shows trips on the Geelong line have exploded from 3.38 million in 2008/2009 to 8,773,618 million in 2017/18. “We’re sitting on top of the fastest growing regional railway anywhere in Australia — probably the fastest growing railway anywhere in Australia,” Mr Weimar said.
“We’ve not seen that rate of growth on our railway in Australia ever before — certainly not in modern times.” Trips on the Geelong line accounted for almost 45 per cent of the trips taken on the entire V/Line network in 2016-17.
To meet surging demand, V/Line has doubled train services on the Geelong corridor in four years with services operating between Geelong and Melbourne every 10 minutes in peak times and 20 minutes off-peak.
Opposition transport spokesman David Davis said the Liberal/Nationals would spend $633 million to replace V/Line’s “long-haul rattlers” that make up 40 per cent of the fleet if they win the November election.
“Obviously we need rail work and other things to occur. Huge growth in population is a challenge to manage but it’s no excuse for not maintaining the trains properly,” Mr Davis said.
Mr Weimar said the State Government’s $50 million study into fast rail on the Geelong line will consider electrifying the Southern Cross to Wyndham Vale section to improve performance.
PATRONAGE GROWTH GEELONG LINE TRIPS FY 2017/2018: 8.77 million passenger trips FY 2016/2017: 7.72 million FY 2015/2016: 6.74 million FY 2014/2015: 4.24 million FY 2013/2014: 4.02 million FY 2012/2013: 3.89 million FY 2011/2012: 3.90 million FY 2010/2011: 3.77 million FY 2009/2010: 3.47 millionFY 2008/2009: 3.38 million
What worries me as a regular passenger on this route who goes Geelong - Waurn Ponds is in the evening it seems like if the train is anymore than 10 mins late coming from Melbourne they terminate it early at either Geelong, South or Marshall so that they can be "on time" for the trip back. Leaving Waurn Ponds passengers stranded and having to wait 40 mins for the next one. I would prefer 15mins late than not at all.
No doubt pathing constraints through the single track sections are a big contributor to that.V/LINE has established a ‘lateness squad’ to address rampant delays as patronage on the Geelong line reaches critical mass.
New V/Line chairman Jeroen Weimar told the Geelong Advertiser the team was created after more than one million extra trips were taken on the Geelong line last financial year Mr Weimer, who is also Public Transport Victoria CEO, said the move, combined with a new timetable to be released later this month, meant hope was on the horizon for Geelong’s rail commuters.
Mr Weimer said the recently-established team addressing “poor” punctuality would deliver real results to long-suffering commuters.
“We’ve established a performance team to drive day-to-day performance. It is ready to hit the ground and drive performance of every single one of our 300 train services a day (on the entire network) and look at all the obstructions and issues we get that impact our performance,” Mr Weimar said.
He said the team was established about six weeks ago in light of 1,052,520 additional trips on the Geelong line in 2017-18 when compared to the year before.
“We’ve started to see some improvement from a pretty poor point in May,” he said.
“My absolute focus is on getting the Geelong corridor working as reliably as we possibly can.” He said a communications team was now embedded in V/Line’s control centre to get prompt messages about disruption to commuters.
Since June 2015, V/Line has failed its punctuality target of 92 per cent in all but two months, which means recently about 300 trains a month are running more than six minutes late.
Mr Weimar said “stop-start investment” in V/Line in past decades meant it struggled to maintain consistent performance.
Meanwhile, a new Geelong timetable to be released on August 26 will include three more weekday peak trains running to or from Waurn Ponds station.
It follows 289 services that have been added to the Geelong line in the past four years, Mr Weimar said.
V/Line data shows trips on the Geelong line have exploded from 3.38 million in 2008/2009 to 8,773,618 million in 2017/18. “We’re sitting on top of the fastest growing regional railway anywhere in Australia — probably the fastest growing railway anywhere in Australia,” Mr Weimar said.
“We’ve not seen that rate of growth on our railway in Australia ever before — certainly not in modern times.” Trips on the Geelong line accounted for almost 45 per cent of the trips taken on the entire V/Line network in 2016-17.
To meet surging demand, V/Line has doubled train services on the Geelong corridor in four years with services operating between Geelong and Melbourne every 10 minutes in peak times and 20 minutes off-peak.
Opposition transport spokesman David Davis said the Liberal/Nationals would spend $633 million to replace V/Line’s “long-haul rattlers” that make up 40 per cent of the fleet if they win the November election.
“Obviously we need rail work and other things to occur. Huge growth in population is a challenge to manage but it’s no excuse for not maintaining the trains properly,” Mr Davis said.
Mr Weimar said the State Government’s $50 million study into fast rail on the Geelong line will consider electrifying the Southern Cross to Wyndham Vale section to improve performance.
PATRONAGE GROWTH GEELONG LINE TRIPS FY 2017/2018: 8.77 million passenger trips FY 2016/2017: 7.72 million FY 2015/2016: 6.74 million FY 2014/2015: 4.24 million FY 2013/2014: 4.02 million FY 2012/2013: 3.89 million FY 2011/2012: 3.90 million FY 2010/2011: 3.77 million FY 2009/2010: 3.47 millionFY 2008/2009: 3.38 million
What worries me as a regular passenger on this route who goes Geelong - Waurn Ponds is in the evening it seems like if the train is anymore than 10 mins late coming from Melbourne they terminate it early at either Geelong, South or Marshall so that they can be "on time" for the trip back. Leaving Waurn Ponds passengers stranded and having to wait 40 mins for the next one. I would prefer 15mins late than not at all.
On a very late running 07.13 Down Epsom service this morning. Late leaving SC, lost a mob of time to Sunbury and now trying to make up 20 minutes of time but failing dismally.having a bad day BG? both Metro and V/Line must have it in for you.
...
BG
On a very late running 07.13 Down Epsom service this morning. Late leaving SC, lost a mob of time to Sunbury and now trying to make up 20 minutes of time but failing dismally.You tempted fate the other day by saying that things were going well. Obviously Vline/Metro/PTV heard about it and has taken positive action to correct the position.
This is another one of those contra peak services that attracts many more passengers that I think anyone would have reckoned on when they did the RFR changes in the 2000s
Leaves SC maybe a third full but picks up pax all the way, many of then school kids who get on and off at various locations along the line. Now well over 2/3 full as we head towards Malmsbury and I expect a mob more will get on at CME where I will depart the train.
BG
having a bad day BG? both Metro and V/Line must have it in for you.I thought that was a good news story, sorry, the first part was purely anecdotal! Arrived at CME 18 minutes behind the timetable, didn't bother me too much as there is no connecting bus to that service so it was the choice of a walk or cab to Maldon Junction for me. I normally get the 09.14 which has a bus connection but this week I have been playing around with different options as the GF is moving to North Melbourne next month which is going to make a world of difference to my trip.
Should have stayed in bed. Did you ever arrive?
cheers
John
BG oh dear, so sad.Are you driving the T? Because I don't have a licence!
Do they Uber, it might be cost competitive. Alternately I could suggest a slightly used T model ford to get there on time.
cheer up
John
T are so old, didn't need a licence.BG oh dear, so sad.Are you driving the T? Because I don't have a licence!
Do they Uber, it might be cost competitive. Alternately I could suggest a slightly used T model ford to get there on time.
cheer up
John
BG
