V/Line Fleet News

[von02]

Heads up, SN16 due to run 1817 SWH tonight, whilst SN15 is due to run 1500 MAS then 1828 WMB tonight, both with their relevent PCJ's.

Also fixed up the SN1 consist which sees the final break-up of N2.

[Mr. V/Line]

Heads up, SN16 due to run 1817 SWH tonight, whilst SN15 is due to run 1500 MAS then 1828 WMB tonight, both with their relevent PCJ's.

Also fixed up the SN1 consist which sees the final break-up of N2.

If the Albury line project is very close to being finished I think they should convert the N sets to SG now. Yes it means they will be idle in a yard but they won't be in BG service for very long.

von02 I'm curious to find out how VSH26 and Sprinter 7021 are progressing. Hve they finished their refurbishments or are we still waiting for testing?

Give us any other news that you come across regarding the fleet.

[Mr. V/Line]

Heads up, SN16 due to run 1817 SWH tonight, whilst SN15 is due to run 1500 MAS then 1828 WMB tonight, both with their relevent PCJ's.

Also fixed up the SN1 consist which sees the final break-up of N2.

If the Albury line project is very close to being finished I think they should convert the N sets to SG now. Yes it means they will be idle in a yard but they won't be in BG service for very long.

von02 I'm curious to find out how VSH26 and Sprinter 7021 are progressing. Hve they finished their refurbishments or are we still waiting for testing?

Also I saw a repainted N class locomotive in the Newport Workshops. Is this N452 and how far away is it from re-entering service?

[R 707]

As soon as the SG conversion of Platform 1 at Seymour and the SG platform at Broady are complete, a couple of SG sets could be converted to run the Albury services (still connecting with coaches until the rest of the system is ready), the third set could await the opening and run on BG. No doubt they will avoid all revenue SG running until the big launch day though, just to make it hard for themselves.

[CARS_Office]

Also I saw a repainted N class locomotive in the Newport Workshops. Is this N452 and how far away is it from re-entering service?

Indeed it was N452; and if all went to plan, it should have entered service again this evening on the 1813 down Albury.

[Mr. V/Line]

Indeed it was N452; and if all went to plan, it should have entered service again this evening on the 1813 down Albury.

Indeed it did. N452 entered service January 29, 2010.

As soon as the SG conversion of Platform 1 at Seymour and the SG platform at Broady are complete, a couple of SG sets could be converted to run the Albury services (still connecting with coaches until the rest of the system is ready).
The third set could await the opening and run on BG. No doubt they will avoid all revenue SG running until the big launch day though, just to make it hard for themselves.

Will there be any Standard Gauge testing? I think it would a good idea to conduct tests on the new gauge (seeing as N cars have never run on any other gauge) before they enter service avoid faults and other issues on the first day.

[von02]

7021 returned to service on Mon 1 Feb, on the 1736 SOG. However it is ironically out of service again with a broken drive shaft.

7016 sent to Seymour the same day as part of the 1930 service for repaint. 7005 is due to follow upon 7016's return.

VSH26 still around 2 weeks away, plus tests. Obviously the SN1 probably getting priority at the moment.

FN9 at NWS for F exams and possibly refurb, after that it is due to be FN5's turn.

P11 and N475 also are due for repaint soon.

[gd]

Noticed over the last few days, that FN11 has had BTN253 removed and BZN271 added.
Also FN8 has had BTN251 removed and BTN253 put in its place.
and have noticed BTN251 had replaced the BTN on VN17
Finally al N sets are now DDA compliant

[von02]

3VL19 in service Saturday 20 Feb, it's first revenue run being 1425 Traralgon.
VSH26 should be returned by the beginning of next week ex refurb.

[Mr. V/Line]

3VL19 in service Saturday 20 Feb, it's first revenue run being 1425 Traralgon.

So there we have it. All VLocity units (19 to 41) have been converted to 3 cars units. My guess is that work will get underway now for units 42 to 50.

VSH26 should be returned by the beginning of next week ex refurb.

Could you explain why this has taken so long? Sprinter refurbishments are slightly more efficient than carriage sets and I'm stunned that this has taken quite some time.

FN9 at NWS for F exams and possibly refurb, after that it is due to be FN5's turn. P11 and N475 also are due for repaint soon.

After the altering and modifing is completed on the N sets (running Albury services), we'll should see FN9, FN5 and more sets be refurbished over autumn. A66 looked odd after the repaint so I'll be waiting to see what P11 looks like.

Noticed over the last few days, that FN11 has had BTN253 removed and BZN271 added. FN8 has had BTN251 removed and BTN253 put in its place and have noticed BTN251 had replaced the BTN on VN17.

With some N carriages being trasfered to Standard Gauge network (I think they've finalised them) there will be some chop and change with N sets.

Eventually when the remaining N sets are refurbished, things should go back to normal and if not, there will be very slight changes.

[gd]

Interesting no one has yet mentioned that trailer 1318 has gone missing.

There was an order for 14 trailers, for VL units (27-28,30-41) extended by another 8 for a total of 22, for VL units (19-26)
Then another order for 9 new 3 car sets i.e. VL units (42-50) and 1 additional trailer for a total of 23 for VL unit (18)
Giving us

• 17 2 car sets (1-17)
• 32 3 car sets (18-28,30-50)
• Grand total of 130 carriages

Instead we'll have

• 18 2 car sets (1-18)
• 31 3 car sets (19-28,30-50)
• Grand total of 129 carriages

That last extension seems to have been silently forgotten.
Even vicsig have now removed car 1318 from the under construction list that it had been in for some time.
So 1318 has either

• (Likely) Silently cancelled
• (Unlikely) Changed to be a mysterious 4th car in 4 car set VL50 (1450) with trial buffet.
• (Highly Likely) Be reused by the government before the election, to announce yet another carriage for V/Line.
• (Highly Likely) Cost replacement for car 1129. if insurance has yet to be settled.

[von02]

I have taken 1318 off the list because it's not under construction, and as far as I am aware, will not be contructed. That's not to say that it won't be constructed in another carnation, though.

[Mr. V/Line]

So 1318 has either

• (Likely) Silently cancelled
• (Unlikely) Changed to be a mysterious 4th car in 4 car set VL50 (1450) with trial buffet.
• (Highly Likely) Be reused by the government before the election, to announce yet another carriage for V/Line.
• (Highly Likely) Cost replacement for car 1129. if insurance has yet to be settled.

I'm not sure about the cost replacement. VLocity 1141-1341-1241 is the replacement set for VLocity 1129-1229 which was involved in a very serious accident almost 4 years ago.

1141 replaces 1129 and 1241 was originally 1229. Because the accident was some time ago, I wouldn't be surprised if the issue (or court case) has been put to bed by now.

Regarding the refusal from the Government, the debacle with Myki puts the Government in very uncomforable sitution to win the election. By refusing to built it they aren't doing themselves any favor at all.

I have taken 1318 off the list because it's not under construction, and as far as I am aware, will not be contructed. That's not to say that it won't be constructed in another carnation, though.

I wouldn't be surprised if an order was made to make all exsisting 2 cars sets 3 car sets. This has probably been mentioned a number of times but the chance of this happening has possibly gotten bigger.

Basically, the real mystery is what will happen after VLocity 1150-1350-1250 is built and in all honesty it is a mystery. We'll have to wait until 1142-1342-1242 has entered service before we get a better idea of what's happening next.

[Mike M]

I wouldn't be surprised if an order was made to make all exsisting 2 cars sets 3 car sets. This has probably been mentioned a number of times but the chance of this happening has possibly gotten bigger.

I couldn't imagine that happening. The current mix of 2 & 3 car sets provides a great deal of operational flexibility enabling V/Line to operate trains with anything from 2 to 7 cars. This would be lost if all sets are 3 cars, it would then be 3 or 6 only.

[Mr. V/Line]

I couldn't imagine that happening. The current mix of 2 & 3 car sets provides a great deal of operational flexibility enabling V/Line to operate trains with anything from 2 to 7 cars.
This would be lost if all sets are 3 cars, it would then be 3 or 6 only.

The surburban fleet doesn't have a mix of 2 and 3 car sets. Things are kept straightforward and the same should be done for the VLocity fleet.

Are there any other update with VLP fleet? VSH26 had a gangway installed and it looks as though other sets will follow the same path. N475 was supposed to be repainted. I'm not sure if it's in Newport now.