While the two VL's that form this service come from ballarat and bendigo. I'm presuming there is a bit of swpaping around as there are services trapped on the wrong side of lara.
V/Line Incidents/Disruptions
tazzer96
Deputy Commissioner
Tony M.
Locomotive Fireman
22.05 to South Geelong is going via Werribee as the 21.25 seems to have struck what we were told is “an object” outside Tarniet. I’m guessing it’s not that serious as the train staff told Tarniet / Wyndham Vale passengers to disembark but that the next train would be back going that way.
Tony M.
Locomotive Fireman
Seems they decided to send the 22.05 the regular way after we left Southern Cross - bad news for those Tarniet & Wyndham Vale passengers we left behind who could have gotten home 40 minutes earlier.
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Pretty serious illness going around at V/Line! (archive link because PTV won't want this on their website any longer than they can help it)
21 services cancelled in one day.
21 services cancelled in one day.
Carnot
Chief Commissioner
Pretty serious illness going around at V/Line! (archive link because PTV won't want this on their website any longer than they can help it)What the heck is going on?
21 services cancelled in one day.
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5452101/at-least-six-train-services-on-ballarat-line-cancelled-in-one-day/
bevans
Site Admin
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Pretty serious illness going around at V/Line! (archive link because PTV won't want this on their website any longer than they can help it)
21 services cancelled in one day.
Good pickup.
https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/-staff-sickness-disrupts-v-line-rail-services-including-bendigo
and
Valvegear
Dr Beeching
Location: Norda Fittazroy
And we're going to host a conference because we are "global leaders in public transport." The mind boggles. "Staff illness"; have we gone back 350 years to the Great Plague?
DalyWaters
Chief Commissioner
A Melbourne driver recently was asked to move a train from Geelong to Marshall earlier than normal to save the morning peak when late running was going to cause hassles with paths through the tunnel. That driver did it and got a written warning from a manager with the threat of being dismissed if he did it again due to being out of position at the time.
The main driver manager at Southern Cross Driver's Depot has gone on two weeks leave. The other manager who gave out the written warning has been put in charge of drivers at Southern Cross for these two weeks. During this time, it appears that no one wants to work any overtime as every day at work is a risk to be warned or dismissed for trivial matters. With the dramatic shortage of drivers, no one working overtime is a disaster.
It is noticeable that the Herald Sun is now trying to paint an "industrial action" picture.
The problem is not the number of drivers calling in sick. The problem is that V/Line no longer has any standby drivers to cover the shifts that normal illness hits. It has been entirely dependent on the number of drivers who will work on their days off as to how they cope.
The main driver manager at Southern Cross Driver's Depot has gone on two weeks leave. The other manager who gave out the written warning has been put in charge of drivers at Southern Cross for these two weeks. During this time, it appears that no one wants to work any overtime as every day at work is a risk to be warned or dismissed for trivial matters. With the dramatic shortage of drivers, no one working overtime is a disaster.
It is noticeable that the Herald Sun is now trying to paint an "industrial action" picture.
The problem is not the number of drivers calling in sick. The problem is that V/Line no longer has any standby drivers to cover the shifts that normal illness hits. It has been entirely dependent on the number of drivers who will work on their days off as to how they cope.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
The main driver manager at Southern Cross Driver's Depot has gone on two weeks leave. The other manager who gave out the written warning has been put in charge of drivers at Southern Cross for these two weeks. During this time, it appears that no one wants to work any overtime as every day at work is a risk to be warned or dismissed for trivial matters. With the dramatic shortage of drivers, no one working overtime is a disaster.Wow. Is this Day 1 of his leave? Because if it is I need to reschedule my life for the next 2 weeks. I dodged a bullet today but I don't fancy rolling the dice for a fortnight!
BG
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Who in their right mind decides that the best response to a structural staff shortage is to go to war with the remaining overstretched employees? It beggars belief.
Worse still, this has all the hallmarks of an election year debacle in the making. If the Herald Sun (and the Geelong Addy by extension) run unsympathetic stories toward the drivers and their union, it will create a prime opportunity for the Liberals to promise some kind of drastic “solution”. See also: fire services and ambulances. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of issue best resolved by a public slanging match between politicians, which is what would result.
On the other hand, the fact that it could become an election concern suggests that the crisis is at a scale to warrant ministerial intervention - not in six months time, but now. So, my question is this: what, if anything, could a committed and competent minister and CEO implement in a short-term (say 4-6 week) timeframe to lessen the impact of the staff shortage? Obviously the long-term problem will have to solved in the long term by recruiting more drivers, but is there anything that could be achieved in the interim?
Worse still, this has all the hallmarks of an election year debacle in the making. If the Herald Sun (and the Geelong Addy by extension) run unsympathetic stories toward the drivers and their union, it will create a prime opportunity for the Liberals to promise some kind of drastic “solution”. See also: fire services and ambulances. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of issue best resolved by a public slanging match between politicians, which is what would result.
On the other hand, the fact that it could become an election concern suggests that the crisis is at a scale to warrant ministerial intervention - not in six months time, but now. So, my question is this: what, if anything, could a committed and competent minister and CEO implement in a short-term (say 4-6 week) timeframe to lessen the impact of the staff shortage? Obviously the long-term problem will have to solved in the long term by recruiting more drivers, but is there anything that could be achieved in the interim?
YM-Mundrabilla
Minister for Railways
Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
' competent minister and CEO '
More 457 visas perhaps.
More 457 visas perhaps.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
Apparently it's meant to be the flagship express. Not tonight though:Well at least it ran that night - the flagship was cancelled tonight due to maintenance requirements and pax told to catch the 17.30 or 17.53. Which are normally packed.
BG
The Vinelander
Minister for Railways
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
It is noticeable that the Herald Sun is now trying to paint an "industrial action" picture.
The problem is not the number of drivers calling in sick. The problem is that V/Line no longer has any standby drivers to cover the shifts that normal illness hits. It has been entirely dependent on the number of drivers who will work on their days off as to how they cope.
Fortunately since the advent of social media the power the Herald-Sun once wielded has been well and truly stifled...most younger people IE under age 30, do NOT read the Herald-Sun.
As reported above this is a vain and feeble attempt to put V/Line and consequently the Andrews government in the worst possible light.
Herald-Sun...like your feeble attempts in 2014 to create and foster anger over the East-West white elephant and support the re-election of the Napthine government...your days of political influence are now well and truly OVER
Mike.
Radioman
Chief Train Controller
Hello All,
DalyWaters has hit the nail on the head. The new Manager is , so I am told , very abusive to people with the result that those on the receiving end only have the phone on during work time .
From DalyWater's description clearly speaking to Centrol is outside this persons competence , despite the fact that discussion with Centrol due to late running or disruption is actually part of their job .
Clearly the person in question is either unable , or unwilling , to listen and understand what they are being told .
I wonder if they have an MBA ?
Regards, Radioman
DalyWaters has hit the nail on the head. The new Manager is , so I am told , very abusive to people with the result that those on the receiving end only have the phone on during work time .
From DalyWater's description clearly speaking to Centrol is outside this persons competence , despite the fact that discussion with Centrol due to late running or disruption is actually part of their job .
Clearly the person in question is either unable , or unwilling , to listen and understand what they are being told .
I wonder if they have an MBA ?
Regards, Radioman
Valvegear
Dr Beeching
Location: Norda Fittazroy
I wonder if they have an MBA ?Maybe he should POQ to avoid a K in the A.
Jack Le Lievre
Chief Train Controller
Location: Moolap Station, Vic
The other half told me that the Geelong/Warrnambool Lines are suspended for 10 days due to Station Improvement Works, but what are they actually doing?
BigShunter
Chief Commissioner
Location: St Clair. S.A.
The other half told me that the Geelong/Warrnambool Lines are suspended for 10 days due to Station Improvement Works, but what are they actually doing?Well, by what you have written, they're ' improving ' them.
BigShunter.
YM-Mundrabilla
Minister for Railways
Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
The other half told me that the Geelong/Warrnambool Lines are suspended for 10 days due to Station Improvement Works, but what are they actually doing?Saving crews ?????????
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
Currently stationary on an Up Bendigo service which has SPADded on the Down side of Albion due to an apparent signal failure.
Sounds like the stick threw back from Top Orange to Stop just as we were about to pass it causing the TPWS to intervene.
Apptly there is a Metro service having to set back in front of us so it sounds like something has gone wrong there.
I wonder if the spark ahead of us got wrong-roaded onto the RRL between Albion and Sunshine?
BG
Sounds like the stick threw back from Top Orange to Stop just as we were about to pass it causing the TPWS to intervene.
Apptly there is a Metro service having to set back in front of us so it sounds like something has gone wrong there.
I wonder if the spark ahead of us got wrong-roaded onto the RRL between Albion and Sunshine?
BG
Jack Le Lievre
Chief Train Controller
Location: Moolap Station, Vic
Apptly there is a Metro service having to set back in front of us so it sounds like something has gone wrong there.That could be a little embarrassing if that is the case.
I wonder if the spark ahead of us got wrong-roaded onto the RRL between Albion and Sunshine?
BG
Spark Driver: Ah, Metrol I think you may have wrong-roaded us?
Metrol: What makes you say that?
Spark Driver: Ah, well Metrol there currently aren't see any wires on the road you have just set for me, and therefore I don't have any power to the leading car.
Metrol: Ah, well, just let me look at my board.........
Spark Driver: Right-t-o.
Metrol: Yeah funny thing about that, it seems that you are correct in your observation there. Good job on picking that up, you have won this weeks awareness award.
Spark Driver: Yeah, right-t-o. What are you going to do about it?
Metrol: Well, I'll get you to back up so I can set the road correctly for you and you can swing past later and pick up your award.
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
You forgot Standing By. There was a heck of a lot of Stand By Driver and Standing By going on.
BG
BG
BrentonGolding
Chief Commissioner
Location: Maldon Junction
And sorry, I should have said towards the rrl because Up V/Line services are first switched onto the Down track before again switching over to the Up RRL track so he probably figured it out before he ran out of wires.
Maybe the fact that he was looking into the headlights of the oncoming Down Sunbury might have been a giveaway.
This is all of course conjecture on my part. However when I checked the Metro website the line was a sea of Red due to an "operational incident" and nothing went past us on the Down track the whole time we were sat there.
Pity, we were having such a good run in too.
BG
Maybe the fact that he was looking into the headlights of the oncoming Down Sunbury might have been a giveaway.
This is all of course conjecture on my part. However when I checked the Metro website the line was a sea of Red due to an "operational incident" and nothing went past us on the Down track the whole time we were sat there.
Pity, we were having such a good run in too.
BG
potatoinmymouth
Chief Commissioner
Thanks all, was wondering what the “operational incident” was! Usually code for a main line SPAD but in this case even more exciting. Good to hear the upgrade works over the weekend haven’t solved everything...
Carnot
Chief Commissioner
I thought the month of May was pretty bad for us, especially since it's usually one of the better months. Can't use hot weather as an excuse:
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5457692/vline-bendigo-line-train-service-punctuality-plummets/
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/5457692/vline-bendigo-line-train-service-punctuality-plummets/
YM-Mundrabilla
Minister for Railways
Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
And sorry, I should have said towards the rrl because Up V/Line services are first switched onto the Down track before again switching over to the Up RRL track so he probably figured it out before he ran out of wires.Does rail Transport Safety (whatever they are called today) investigate these sort of incidents and, if so, do they publish their reports?
Maybe the fact that he was looking into the headlights of the oncoming Down Sunbury might have been a giveaway.
This is all of course conjecture on my part. However when I checked the Metro website the line was a sea of Red due to an "operational incident" and nothing went past us on the Down track the whole time we were sat there.
Pity, we were having such a good run in too.
BG
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