V/LOCITY trains are now running on all rail services between Bairnsdale and Melbourne.
The remaining two locomotive-hauled classic fleet services on the Bairnsdale line have now been retired, making way for new modern and efficient VLocity trains.
Bairnsdale line services stop at Rosedale, Sale and Stratford stations.
The state government invested $31 million to expand the stabling facility at Bairnsdale to house two three-carriage VLocity trains overnight, which has enabled this change.
A new timetable has also been introduced, with the first and last services now stopping in Trafalgar, Yarragon, Longwarry, Bunyip, Tynong and Nar Nar Goon.
Work is underway on the latest order to build 23 VLocity trains, with the first two new trains already hitting the tracks since August.
With the regional fare cap, passengers can now travel between Bairnsdale and Melbourne for $10.60 – a significant saving for travellers who previously paid up to $39.40 for a one-way full fare journey.
Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the government was investing in more modern and reliable VLocity trains to improve regional journeys and now passengers along the Bairnsdale Line can enjoy them on every service.
“Communities along this corridor will also benefit from more travel options, with more services stopping at stations including Longwarry, Yarragon and Trafalgar,” she said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh said the government was delivering a better train service for Gippsland, with modern and reliable VLocity trains running on all services, and cheaper fares so that passengers can get to where they needed to go.
The Rail Futures Institute, which advocates for sustainable rail solutions for public transport and freight industries, claimed the government was progressively downgrading the quality of Victorian longer distance train services.
“What are claimed as improvements to these services are in reality reductions in the quality of service being offered,” the institute stated in a media release.
“The more recent VLocity trains have hard seats which are most uncomfortable for other than short distance trips.”
While Albury line trains are an exception, being especially modified VLocity trains with comfortable seats and other facilities for longer distance travel, the last loco hauled inter city train with first class reclining seats and on-board catering has been withdrawn from the evening service to, and morning service from Bairnsdale.
“Pity the poor passengers arriving into Bairnsdale on V/Line long distance coaches from Canberra and the Sapphire Coast who are transferring to Melbourne bound trains at Bairnsdale. Nothing to eat or drink for another four hours,” the institute stated.
“VLocity trains have limited space for luggage, the previous luggage check-in service has been abandoned and bicycles are now only allowed on board at the conductor’s discretion. Additionally, instead of taking advantage of higher allowable train speeds for VLocity trains west of Traralgon (160 kilometres per hour instead of 115km/h) which would have shaved around 12 minutes off all trips for travellers beyond Traralgon, six extra stops are being added at smaller intermediate stations so that all Bairnsdale trains will now stop at all stations between Pakenham and Bairnsdale.
“Longer distance V/Line Inter City services are thus being progressively downgraded, not improved as the Government claims.”
“Longer distance intercity travellers to Warrnambool, Swan Hill, Albury and Bairnsdale have a limited number of daily train services to select from and deserve much better.”
