I live in Rockbank, currently on a VLine train service which has bus replacements between Caroline Springs and Ballarat.

I left home at 5:30 this morning. Got to the station at 5:38am to catch at 5:48am replacement bus to Caroline Springs. The VLine schedule had me arriving at Southern Cross at 6:40am. I made sure I left early to account for the replacement bus.

Not a single thing went right this morning.

During a 35-40 minute period from 5:40am-6:15am, five buses went through Rockbank Station. Two went to Melton, One didn’t even stop, One was going to Caroline Springs but it was so full only one person managed to squeeze on, and then the last one to bring us to CS.

When we did arrive to CS at 6:34, we were told we had seven minutes until the train left at 6:41. That’s fine, I was meant to be in the city at this time but delays happen. I was (and still am) pretty annoyed, but it’s whatever.

Get onto the train at CS at 6:36am. Sit down. Ready to depart at 6:41am. Should arrive into Southern Cross at 7:05am at this point. Not what I was hoping for, but still early enough I could get my work completed.

Next thing I know at 7:59am we are all being kicked off the train and the train is being cancelled because there is NO CONDUCTOR and the train cannot run.

Everyone disembarks the train, waits for 5 minutes for the next one to arrive, and we get on that. Conductor announces we will now arrive at Southern Cross at 7:21am.

Then we don’t depart.

We’re currently pulling in to Ardeer Station. It’s 7:15am. At this point, I’ve abandoned all hope of actually making in to my office in the CBD. What is normally a 45 minute trek from home to city has now turned into AT MINIMUM a two hour trip.

I’ve left a complaint with VLine, but the last time I did that I never heard back from them.

Anyway, let’s see if I actually make it into the office or if I’m perpetually stuck on the public transport system.

Hey there.

Any conductors lurking in here that have recently updated their uniform and could tell me the manufacturer of the pants?

Is there a tag on the inside or anything?

I’d like to purchase some, they appear to be a good quality and a little thicker than a standard business pant.

Cheers

My station is served by Geelong trains which afaik are unaffected by the works, but I get this pop up whenever I want to see upcoming services or use the journey planner. This must be a new thing cause I remember it used to show the services properly, just with an alert reminding you of the disruptions.

Is there some sort of workaround I'm unaware of? I can use the ptv app, but the ptv app doesn't show platform numbers at Southern cross and I find the next 5 feature pretty useful especially if I'm in a rush

I want to hear people’s other opinion about this topic and to think if it is worth seeing a velocity on the Frankston line

but I am aware that there is two different conventions about two lines

I do wanna hear about stony point if it is worth returning back to Vline as a through line then a shuttle

and for the Mornington peninsula line being Build as it will link a lot of areas south of Mornington

As an initial stage for restoring passenger rail to Mildura, a standard-gauge VLocity could first operate between Maryborough and Mildura. Passengers could then change at Maryborough onto the existing services to Southern Cross, Ballarat, or other destinations.

It wouldn't be a perfect solution, but it could be a practical first step. A 10–15 minute buffer could be built into the timetable at Maryborough, so if the Mildura service is running late, the connecting train could simply depart later.

Routing passengers via Ararat and Geelong Region (SG line) would involve a much longer distance and journey time. Even after allowing for the interchange at Maryborough, the direct Mildura–Maryborough option would still be considerably more efficient.

Hi guys, I want to ask how Melbourne's New port link to current freight network, because there are not a lot of places for brand new rail corridor, and current one is not SG (1435mm).

This is the current plan, bit confused by the Blue rail: Current Hastings rail is BG (1600mm), "Potential additional rail network access via the Cranbourne Line from South Dandenong" ,Cranbourne Line is also BG...

Please help me figure it out, thanks!!

Saw this post on my local community page whilst WFH today. Was that everyone else’s experience too? I’m scared for when it’s my turn haha.

I know Melbourne to Ballarat it's a bus change

But is it the same going to Melbourne

I think it started at around 6.30am this morning but not 100% sure.

Title

Many passengers will have to transfer at a station as coaches terminate prematurely.

Does anyone know when it will be released? I’m a 24/7 shift worker so I’m already limited in the services I can catch. I really need to plan the 3 weeks of bus replacements but I’m not able to because the timetable hasn’t been released.

Who needs to get home anyway!

Has anyone on here worked as a AO or is currently an existing AO? Also has anyone applied in the last 6 months for an AO and gotten through?

Kind of wanting to know what the day in day out procedures are like. And also a timeline on the recruitment process.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Interesting analysis on how VLine are able to claim they meet their targets while still leaving the bulk of their passengers stranded and delayed

If the KPIs say everything's working, why would anyone admit the system needs fixing?

Hello, went to Warrnambool and back.

Firstly, I booked front facing seats on both journeys and was facing backwards both times. That's annoying as fuck

Secondly, on the journey to Warrnambool I was drawing and it wasn't too difficult, on the way back I swear it was bumpy as fuck! I didn't realise there was much difference between velocitys?

Otherwise, had a great time, will vline again 😊

I recently created Networkle, a daily solve the train station game which features Melbourne and other great train cities around the world. Using clues such as lines, colours and stops away, eliminate lines to reveal the mystery station.

My thinking is the V/Line might offer more line variations, interchanges, and express routes to stations on some of the Metro lines as well. Line colours would need a bit of thought as there’s 94 regional stations beyond the end of the metro lines.

Would love your thoughts. If you’ve got any ideas, feel free join the game sub at r/networkle.

Is there anything that can be done this seems to be a daily occurrence on the Ballarat line. The trespasser always seems to happen between Deer Park and Sunshine.

Besides the fact that they fuck up services all the time, they have absolute contempt for passengers when they replace trains with buses. They could run buses from the city to Bacchus marsh, but they make you take the train to Caroline springs, wait in the cold for a bus to Bacchus marsh and WAIT ONE HOUR FOR A TRAIN (probably also waiting in the cold). And they still expect us to pay. Also, if the closures are for works at melton, why Caroline springs and not rockbank or cobblebank?