Any indication of what will happen with existing Werribee suburban services after RRL opens? More frequent trains or no changes in the immediate future?

For the umpteenth  time .    New RRL tt  20/04/15 and total new Northern Group Metro tt .

VLP extras    Geelong, Ballarat & Bendigo each get an extra am Up Peak and  PM Down Peak service.  Also rumoured some Wyndamvale short shuttles at peak times. Geelong goes 20 minute Weekday Off Peak between peaks .  Alternate trains  terminating at South Geelong and Waurn Ponds .  WP services stop Fts, Sun, Tnt, Wyn, Lra, Ngl, Gel, Sgr, Mshl, WnPnds.  SGR services stop Fts Sun, Tnt then SAS to Sth Geelong .

Metro  new tt all Northern Group ,  Werribee  peaks extra trips on released former VLP paths .  Also believed to be extra Craigieburns at peak time direct to/from Flinders St .

Specifically I'm asking whether the structure of that group of services will change as a result. An example might be extension of Altona loop services through-running to Werribee, that sort of thing.

I'm not expecting anyone will necessarily know the answer to that yet.

Specifically I'm asking whether the structure of that group of services will change as a result. An example might be extension of Altona loop services through-running to Werribee, that sort of thing.

I'm not expecting anyone will necessarily know the answer to that yet.

There have been some whispers that the Off Peak  Laverton  will be direct and the Williamstowns Off peak will go back to shuttle between Newport and Williamstown with Willy pax changing trains at Newport .

There have been some whispers that the Off Peak  Laverton  will be direct and the Williamstowns Off peak will go back to shuttle between Newport and Williamstown with Willy pax changing trains at Newport .

Altona loop direct to Werribee instead of terminating at Laverton makes sense off-peak provided they have enough trains; the paths should be there once V/line has gone. Years ago when I used that train regularly there was only 2 return Laverton-Newport express a day (unless there was a disruption on the Altona loop) - it's come a long way since then.

Any indication of what will happen with existing Werribee suburban services after RRL opens? More frequent trains or no changes in the immediate future?

From memory there will be more trains to cope with demand.

Late last week I drove past the some of the new RRL infrastructure in the greenfield  section.  The Wyndham Vale station looks complete apart from some minor carpark sealing.  There is a security guard, presumably to ensure the station doesn't get tagged.  The Tarneit station still has carpark sealing works, and its progress behind that of Wyndham Vale.  There won't be much walk-up trade initially, because  to the north and south of the station there are wheat fields.

There's some impressive road infrastructure including a long bridge for Armstrong Road across Lollypop Creek, just south of Wyndham Vale station.  There are plenty of new road-over-rail grade separations (20 according to the website), some complete with traffic lights.  Some of the smooth asphalt hotmix roads on the grade separation join to badly corrugated gravel roads just beyond the project boundary (eg Boundary Road Truganina).  In nearly all the road over rail crossings, the road rises over a hump.  This is no doubt the cheapest way of grade separation, but only acceptable in greenfield sites.   While the project is acknowledged as a rail project at the Federal level and treated differently from road projects for GST distribution purposes, and I understand has caused Victoria to miss out on about a billion dollars of GST income.  My guess is that about a quarter of the project budget for this section has gone on the road components, with further road commitments to the Anderson Road grade separations and Main Road St Albans.

I also tried out the Werribee line during the evening peak. There was barely standing room from Southern Cross to Laverton, after which about half the passengers alighted.  The next most popular station was Hoppers Crossing, and relatively few passengers were left by Werribee. The new Point Cook station was relatively lightly used relative to Laverton and Hoppers Crossing.  Aircraft station appears to be becoming more popular as a park-and-ride station now that Zone 2 doesn't cost any more, with a lot of cars parked on the grass. The peak hour Werribee semi-express services are now offered every 10-12 minutes, and this was in the quiet month of January.  Even when RRL opens and takes the Geelong trains, there won't be much spare capacity.

The peak hour Werribee semi-express services are now offered every 10-12 minutes, and this was in the quiet month of January.  Even when RRL opens and takes the Geelong trains, there won't be much spare capacity.

I don't believe, service wise there are 'quiet months' in January any more, nor have there been for a number of years.

Mike.

Altona loop direct to Werribee instead of terminating at Laverton makes sense off-peak provided they have enough trains; the paths should be there once V/line has gone. Years ago when I used that train regularly there was only 2 return Laverton-Newport express a day (unless there was a disruption on the Altona loop) - it's come a long way since then.

No the service pattern Off Peak Weekdays will be three sets of trains as now  :

Existing :  1.  Werribee direct via Galvin .  2.  Newport - Laverton shuttle  3.  Flinders St - Williamstown directs .

Expected with  new  timetable :

1.  Werribee direct via Galvin  2.  Flinders St - Newport - Altona - Laverton.  3.  Newport - Williamstown shuttle.

Peak periods  Williamstowns  through to Flinders Street as now.

Werribee  via  Westona evenings, Weekends &  Newport - Williamstown shuttles as now .

When do timetables usually get published? One month out from opening, I'm wondering how much is actually going to change re existing timetables. The timetables for April onwards are all the current timetables

When do timetables usually get published? One month out from opening, I'm wondering how much is actually going to change re existing timetables. The timetables for April onwards are all the current timetables

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that they are published a few weeks before the change.

Opening of the RRL has been put back by three months............

Opening of the RRL has been put back by three months............

Strange that you don't hear the bad news...

Is it due to rolling stock shortages? I believe all the rails are in place, and with testing going on, I would think that was the only reason.

Is there a reason why Warnambool services cannot use those tracks now?

Strange that you don't hear the bad news...

Is it due to rolling stock shortages? I believe all the rails are in place, and with testing going on, I would think that was the only reason.

The government has said that they are waiting for a few more Vlocities to be delivered so they have a few spare sets in case of a breakdown.

Opening of the RRL has been put back by three months............

Wrong. Both the Minister and  VLP  have announced that the  opening has been deferred two (2) months from late April to  Sunday  21/06/15 .

The reasons are two fold  the availability of extra VL cars to VLP will be sufficient to run the promised extra am and PM Peak period services, one extra both Peaks on the  Geelong, Ballarat and bendigo corridors .  Result of Mulder sitting on his hands for 12 months in 2011-2012  not ordering extra  VL cars promptly.

There are also big alterations to Metro services and the Grapevine has it that the new  owner of the Metro train set  wanted some timetabling issues re-visited  .

Is there a reason why Warnambool services cannot use those tracks now?

It would make sense as track is now up to 160kmh for VL and 115kmh for loco hauled .  No apparent reason why  Up and Down Warrnambools that run express  Lara - Footscray could not be running  via the new route .  Would proably take  5  minutes longer for a loco hauled via Tarneit so  in an Emergency yes, but  would require re scheduling to do it all the time.  In any case remember one is dealing with VLP  and if there was a problem with running a Warrnambool via Werribee they would automatically go for bustitution .

Union are pushing to have RRL ticked off for 160k running and driver only but Vline aren't in a hurry.
9 car vlocity static testing to be done this week at Bombardier Dandenong.

Union are pushing to have RRL ticked off for 160kmh running and driver only but Vline aren't in a hurry.
9 car Vlocity static testing to be done this week at Bombardier Dandenong.

As previously posted  RRL  right through  Deer Park Junction  to Manor  Junction has been 160kmh for  V/Locity for some weeks .

Weekly Nuisance  08/15    Permmissible Speeds  Deer Park  Junction to  Manor  Junction  :

Loco Hauled  Pass   hauled by  G, XR, BL  90kmh,  by  A, B, GM, N, S, X  115kmh,  DMU   V/Locity 160 kmh,  Sprinter  130 kmh

NB:  Temporary SR  130 kmh over  lx at  Manor Junction to and from RRL (Straight Road)  130kmh, account lx track circuits only designed for 130kmh  !!!! (unbelievable ).     To be corrected to 160kmh by RRL opening  late June, 2015 .  (80 kmh to/from Werribee account 80 kmh turnouts  , this speed indicated by  Medium Speed aspects with illuminated 80 kmh indicators.)

Temporary SR  130 kmh over  lx at  Manor Junction to and from RRL (Straight Road)  130kmh, account lx track circuits only designed for 130kmh  !!!! (unbelievable ).     To be corrected to 160kmh by RRL opening  late June, 2015 .  (80 kmh to/from Werribee account 80 kmh turnouts  , this speed indicated by  Medium Speed aspects with illuminated 80 kmh indicators.)

Oh for heavens sake! Can't anyone design anything properly. Who messed this up? There has to be some accountability here!

Victrack might say it is 160k but until the union tick it off driver only at 160k it is not.
I have been thinking that with only Wyndamvale, Tarniet, Footscray and Spencer St the only 9 car platforms, it will be the stoppers in the peaks that will have 9 cars and not the flagships.
What will happen at shorter platforms is a extra conductor will be positioned for safety until the platforms are lengthened.
Also no extra services now for Seymour and Bendigo but a late service at night for Ballarat from 21/6/15.
Geelongs  will be 20 min and Bacchus Marsh 30min between peaks with no alterations on the weekends.

Bacchus Marsh 30min between peaks

There's something I hadn't heard before.  So presume there will be 'Marsh locals once per hour to augment the hourly Ballarat/Wendouree.  Will the Ballarats run express Sunshine to Melton?

Oh for heavens sake! Can't anyone design anything properly. Who messed this up? There has to be some accountability here!

Probably done on purpose, to extend the length of employment ! (as like what was done on the Desel Project)

Get paid to do things wrong.

Get paid to find out It Is wrong.

Get paid to undo/dismantle the job.

Get paid to do the job again hopefully right.  

Accountability ! the blame game would just go around and around In circles.

There's something I hadn't heard before.  So presume there will be 'Marsh locals once per hour to augment the hourly Ballarat/Wendouree.  Will the Ballarats run express Sunshine to Melton?

That is correct but as far as stopping patterns go I don't know.
I would assume the Bacchus Marsh locals would stop all stations but I think the Ballarat's should also stop Deer Park as it is becoming very popular.
9  car Vlocity testing happening today between Dandenong and Bunyip.
Also of note Vlocity 5 (Paisley smash) will be the first of this batch to be extended to three car.

That is correct but as far as stopping patterns go I don't know.
I would assume the Bacchus Marsh locals would stop all stations but I think the Ballarat's should also stop Deer Park as it is becoming very popular.
9  car Vlocity testing happening today between Dandenong and Bunyip.
Also of note Vlocity 5 (Paisley smash) will be the first of this batch to be extended to three car.

Whether they do or not the service upgrade will be good for those stations. The current frequency is hopeless.

Whether they do or not the service upgrade will be good for those stations. The current frequency is hopeless.

Goodness me  a SAS Off Peak service to Ballarat is  still only  9 stops, so would think that the Ballarats will be hourly  Footscray, Sunshine then SAS to Wendouree.  The  hourly shorts to Bacchus Marsh would naturally be  Footscray, Sunshine then SAS to Bacchus Marsh .