Since this video was made, the Victorian Government has introduced a regional fare cap. meaning the maximum daily fare to anywhere in Victoria (including Ararat) is $10.60 full fare, or $5.30 for concession. Find out more here: www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/fares/regional-fares/
Thank you for doing this video. These are great railfanning videos. It is cleverly put together to give a feeling for the viewer of being there in the train with you. Your videos encourage people to take these journeys and support the maintenance of old and new rail network, which is a very good thing. Cheers.
I commute on this line and the conductor once said that they had to slow the train down as to not wake the cows before the sun comes up.. Is that true?
19:41 I do agree that USB ports would be beneficial for long distance services like this one. So far they are only fitted on the Standard Gauge Vlocities which goes to Albury :)
The issue with public USB changing is a fake socket can be installed over the top of the real socket. This fake socket is used to place malware on the connected device. See "juice jacking".
Years ago on an BRN, I was seated next to the power point. I pulgged in a laptop and completed a university assignment while travelling. I haven't been game to try V/Locity power.
Great video. I take the Vline from Wendouree or Ballan twice a week to Melbourne for work. Noise cancelling headphones are quite useful to block some of the engine noise, but since it's a fairly constant hum, it's quite hypnotic. I often sleep in the morning on the way to Melbourne. And the most enjoyable part of the trip is the high speed section passing sheep paddocks and wind turbines. In the middle of winter, just as the sun is rising, it's quite spectacular.
Great to see the VLO getting more in depth attention in this video. As mentioned around 15:15, my take is that all the road crossings should be fitted with off-grid boomgates and lights that operate on solar energy so that trains can finally hit their top speed. Also, may I know where the filming spot at 18:22 for the North Melb flyover is located it. See if I can visit it when I come to Aus
Thank you! Yes, solar powered level crossings would be great! I saw a media story a while ago about someone working on a lower cost solution for regional crossings. There’s a special viewing platform near the flyover where you can get great shots. Here’s the location: Rail Viewing Platform goo.gl/maps/rRTgDSnThGVV4rd29
the hill between ballarat and bachas march is a pretty steep grade velocity's don't struggle but the steam engines that run on the mainline oh boy that is a treat going up that hill
Great video. I must say it's good to see Victoria are making efforts to help the once regional stations to put them into suburban networks. Love watching your videos, have a great day. 👍
Another gr8 vid Adam... Thank you for all your time and effort you put into making these.. Always looking out for the notification bell from you!! And looking forward to your next journey on the Overland... Happy Travels and catch you soon.. 🙂 💚 🚟
I travel V line every day & they have a lot to answer to. They're unpredictable & unreliable at the best of times. They announce train cancelled due to what ever. Yes it's something wrong & never accept responsibility. I don't mind paying the fare BUT I begrudge paying the fare. Why pay for a service that cannot deliver? And here it says that V line will have electrical trains to Melton then diesel onwards?? Come on this has been on the board for years & we're still waiting. At Melton station there is NO protection against the elements of rain or icy winds. No waiting room, only on platform 2 outbound line. The inbound link is platform 1 no waiting room. They're saying only 35mins to Melton? More like 45 to 50mins. Leaves Sthn. Cross at snail's pace then causally travels on it's journey.
Hi. Thanks for explaining some of the issues. I guess it’s a very different experience when you rely on them for daily commuting compared to one off trips like mine. Hopefully they are able to improve the service. Sounds frustrating.
If a Govt made policy on the basis of one whinger, the rest of us would be pretty unimpressed. I catch this line every week, and there are very few delays between SthnX and Melton, but moreover, it’s a public sector operated service. We had privatised VLine under Kennett. It was 90% replacement buses running hideously behind schedule, and with more passengers that could fit on. Maybe if you endured that, you’d appreciate what you’ve got.
Hi do you know if these are fully100 percent diesel or what percent electric? Do they have lesser emissions? Will they be running them on the stony point peninsula line from frankston?
HI ADAM!! Great video as usual... Sometime ago I found one related to the service Australind (Perth-Bumbury) and since then always find interesting things about Australia and your railways. All the best from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rodolfo
If no one is using services, why should we run them? At the end of the day taxpayers subsidise the current services, imagine how much we will spend to increase them
I have travelled by train to Ballarat a couple of times, while visiting Melbourne. I love the architecture at Ballarat station. It's quite a comfy train, but what I noticed, it's best not to catch a train back to the CBD, during the AFL season......it can get quite busy and roudy with footy fans on board !😂
For the technically minded the metal body and heavily tinted windows in testing presented a 20dB loss to any radio signal trying to get in or out of the carriages hence a Commscope Node AM Repeater was fitted to all the in service VLocity sets and to each new set as they're built at Alstom (Bombardier) in Dandenong. The repeater in simple terms basically rebroadcasts the outside signal inside the carriages and vice versa and is set up to handle all three Mobile network providers that being Telstra (lead carrier on the project), Optus & Vodafone (TPG).
@@FromtheWindowSeat I’m finding them quite a bit firmer which is noticeable for me as I have a back problem, but I do like the handles on the top of all of the aisle seats. Cheers 🙂
As a train fan I really enjoy these videos. Also, you have a very nice speaking voice. I am Australian but did not know about this train. I happen to be living in Japan at the moment which is a train lover's paradise. Having said that there are some lovely and interesting Australian train rides. Thanks for posting.
15:55 Vlos are not allowed to run faster than 80kph through unprotected LX. Also 130kph is still very good for a line like that, Echuca vlos can only go 80 and one of the tracks on the Bendigo and Traralgon lines are only 115. The Ararat service is far faster than driving thanks to the high speeds the trains can go and it's awesome :)
Great quality video production there Adam. Just one point early on - the Conductor only controls doors on N and H sets, while the Driver controls doors on VLocity and Sprinter consists - so the "Conductor releases the doors 5 minutes prior..." is not quite accurate 🙂
Another illuminating and informative ride :-) Now I understand why Horsham was dropped off the rural rail network in Victoria. It is on the standard gauge line serviced by the Overland - not the broad gauge line (which stops at Ararat). At some point in past time I took a bus to Horsham from Adelaide and picked up the VICline network from there. That has obviously been clipped. Doesn't help Horsham residents much with only two services a week to Melbourne.
Thank you! Yes, the standardisation has in some ways disadvantaged communities in western NSW. Perhaps they could introduce a standard gauge Vlocity between Ararat and Horsham, connecting with the broad gauge Vlocity to Melbourne. 🤔
Should run a SG vlocity to Horsham/Dimboola. If a SG vlocity ran as a shuttle from Ararat-Dimboola, it will emulate “The Peanut” that ran from Ararat about half a century ago. Up to 1978 “The Peanut” was a Walker railcar that ran from Horsham to Serviceton. I rode on the last Peanut.
As someone who travels this regularly I can say the mobile phone repeaters are useless, wish they'd fix that. Otherwise it is a pleasant journey (maybe more pleasant without internet!). One question I do have though is why do you think the trip up from Southern Cross to Ballan (my stop) 4 minutes shorter than the trip down the hill? Regardless the time of day, for the same stops uphill is faster?
Great Video. The" Quiet Carriages" is not referring to the noise of the diesel engine. Its your menr to have mobile phones on silent an not talk or talk VERY softly if travelling with someone an not have long in depth conversations with your travel companion.
Thank you! Yes, I appreciate I didn’t really explain quiet carriages. Of course it’s not enforced so people still make noise even in the quiet carriage.
I’d call those tables a disemboweler in case of a serious crash. These velocity trains are becoming a blight on the railways. I hanker for the days of the loco hauled trains where you had a corridor carriage. These trains don’t have the adventurous feeling of times past when you could wander the whole train as little tacker. Not to mention seeing through the toilet to the sleeper’s rushing past below and the beautiful sounds of a B class up front. Oh the things we lost in the name of so called progress. Great videos, keep them up.🇦🇺
Totally agree. I made the comment above that if you are anything other than skinny (large, solid, pregnant) those tables stick into the seat area that much they are unusable as your wedged in or can’t even get them flat. And this is because they cram too many seats in and they are too close together. I’ve traveled the world and taken rail extensively specially in Europe and Britain and without a doubt the Vlocitys are the worse designed uncomfortable long distance trains I’ve come across. They have basically tried to shoe horn a high capacity short distance suburban commuter train interior into a long distance one. And they have removed toilets to put in more seats as well. Apart from speed these units are a huge step backwards: don’t let the funky modern streamlined front fool you.
Thank you! Appreciate the issues you raise but I’d love any type of regional train service where I live. Sadly there are no regional passenger trains in South Australian. At least Victoria is continuing to invest in regional railways.
I Would love the Prices to be updated as the adult fare is now $10.60 each way, total of $21.20, NOT $62.00 as advised in this video. this making travel a lot more accessible.
I have to go from Melb to Horsham now and then, so I’ll try this option if I’m heading up alone. It would have been nice if there’d been a cafe onboard too. For those with strong enough constitutions, it’s possible to do a morning coach>train commute from Horsham to Southern cross between 4:32am to 8:46am. Doable if one’s employer is in Melbourne and ends up mandating two days a week at the office.
The issue with public USB changing is a fake socket can be installed over the top of the real socket. This fake socket is used to place malware on the connected device. See "juice jacking".
Hi. No, the seats on the VLocity don't recline. The seats aren't as plush as on locomotive hauled trains, although at least in economy the VLocity is 2x2 seating, whereas there's 3x2 seating in economy on loco-hauled sets. The general consensus is that the loco-hauled sets are a bit more comfortable and quieter (because there's no underfloor engines) but personally I find VLocities fine for 2-3 hours.
Because Australia’s states each started as separate colonies and until federation in 1901, each did their own thing. So unfortunately they each ended up adopting different rail gauges. We’re still dealing with the legacy of that today. 🤔
When the first railways were being planned in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, they agreed to use the same gauge. New South Wales had hired an Irish engineer, and he recommended the Irish gauge (5'3"). But then he was replaced with a Scottish engineer, who persuaded NSW to adopt standard gauge instead. NSW notified Victoria and South Australia of the change, but they said sorry, they've already committed to broad gauge. Queensland and Western Australia, with huge distances to cover and small populations, decided that 3'6" would be cheaper, so chose that gauge instead. Tasmania I think initially went with broad gauge, but then swapped to 3'6". But then that's an island with no connection to the other states, so it doesn't matter so much. Since then, things have gotten more complicated. South Australia decided to economise also, and started building lines to 3'6". I think they even converted some from broad to narrow, although later converted some back! (Or converted some built narrow to broad? SA's gauge conversion history is complex.) Western Australia agreed to join the Commonwealth as long as they got a railway connection with the rest of the country. So that was built by the commonwealth, not the states, and that was built as standard gauge, connecting to the narrow gauge in Western Australia, and to the broad (or both broad and narrow?) in South Australia. NSW extended one of its SG lines to Brisbane in Queensland, but that's a minor thing. In 1962 Victoria build a standard gauge line between Melbourne and the NSW border, to create a through SG line between Melbourne and Sydney (and Brisbane). To go from Sydney to Perth by train involved one of two or three routes: 1) Standard gauge from Sydney to Broken Hill (near the SA border), then private narrow gauge into SA, then narrow or broad(?) to Port Augusta, then standard to Kalgoorlie, then narrow to Perth. 2) Standard gauge from Sydney to Albury (Vic./NSW border) then broad gauge to Melbourne and then to Adelaide, then broad again (I think) to Port Augusta, then as above. 3) From 1962, Standard gauge from Sydney to Melbourne, then as above. However, in the 1970s, standard gauge was extended from Broken Hill to Port Augusta and from Kalgoorlie to Perth, giving a through journey, and a new through Sydney-Perth service named the Indian Pacific (after the oceans it connected). Around the same time, SA's railways, apart from the Adelaide suburban network, were handed over to the Commonwealth, which either closed or regauged to standard gauge the entire state. As a result of this, one of the broad gauge routes between Melbourne and Adelaide was converted to standard gauge (or made dual gauge in parts), and some Victorian branches off that line were also changed to standard gauge. So now, all mainland state capitals are connected by standard gauge. But Tasmania, WA, and Qld are still otherwise narrow gauge, and much of Victoria, and Adelaide's suburban network, are still broad gauge. Not included above are the isolated standard gauge iron ore lines in Western Australia. And some other details that could be mentioned!
A 21st century booking system for Vline wouldn't go astray, either. I'd even settle for a 20th century one at the moment. I guess they are still getting over their corruption scandals rather than focusing on customer needs, though.
A lot more to do with the hellish impact of the Kennett years than one isolated misconduct instance. Kennett and his band of ideologues robbed much of rural Vic of its train service. All systems basically had to start from scratch. The volume of trains to and from Ararat is not great - five per day presently and it just isn’t viable to systematise such low volumes. You can use your myki to Wendouree.
@@lizziebkennedy7505 realistically it would only need a handful of Myki units at the stations to expand the card system to the whole of the network as the whole network is already set up into the required Zones anyway.
I find the worst aspect of the booking system, that the ticket covers metro travel to reach the V/Line service, but there are few Metro station which sell paper tickets. So you needed to buy a myki, and then pay again for V/Line's use of the Metro tracks. I don't know why we couldn't use myki, at least for payment.
I rode these trains a couple of times on the Bendigo line. They seemed fine. I wondered why NSW couldn't buy some more of these (the standard gauge version) to replace its regional fleet of XPTs and Xplorers. But no, they had to go to a new design. Again.
Yeah, they seem quite decent. I presume NSW went through a full tender process. I understand Bombardier (which makes the VLocities) was initially involved but withdrew from the tender process at some point.
@@FromtheWindowSeat Lowest bid probably won. The contract went to Momentum Trains, which is a consortium including CAF - the manufacturer of the newish Sydney trams that are out of action due to cracking. I expect the travelling public will get what the government deserves.
Thank you! Music is always difficult because it’s so subjective - I don’t think it’s possible to find something that everyone will like but I’ll try my best. 🤔
V Line first class has always been a popular and quality product. I can't understand why these rail motors have no first class, and the seats are at best inter-urban - not suitable for country services. Add the lack of buffet on many services and railcar sets that you can't walk through - an inferior product to loco hauled carriages.
Because the section from Ballarat to Ararat has relatively low patronage so there’s no point running an additional DMU that’s not needed. That way, those three cars are available to boost capacity on a return journey to Melbourne.
as already mentioned the line from Ballarat to Ararat is quiet enough to not need a 6 car set, same goes with Ballarat to Maryborough in fact some 6 car sets split at Ballarat and go to both Ararat & Maryborough and reforming a 6 car set on the return trip. Also means a Ballarat based driver and conductor can be used for the shorter run and return meaning effectively one crew can run two trains from Melbourne to Ballarat.
Great options although probably the swap trains in Ararat would be the easiest, you could use the ex Albury locomotive hauled train pretty much straight away all the way to Horsham as that line is already structured for those kind of trains. The only issue there is that line is already very busy with freight trains. The other thing also is the overland could then run direct to Horsham without stopping...
My theory is use freed up Sprinters converted to Standard Gauge and run Horsham or Dimboola and Hamilton shuttles that meet up with Melbourne BG VLocity services.
@@FromtheWindowSeat ride was good, comfort was good for an hour and a half, acceleration and speed was good but the noise - 30 years working in industry (9inch angle grinders and such) - it was like spending that time in a busy workshop
Nice, I’ve went on V/Line and sometimes by car to Ararat to stay at a family member of mine’s house many times. 14:30 | Indeed, because no matter where you’re standing, you’re never too far from a running engine 2:06 | Oh not those seats, they’re the most uncomfortable seats ever on one of V/Line’s rollingstock which would stretch from VLocity set VR76 to 79VR (VR means short distance) and continues until 3VL92 from 3VL80. 16:25 | There has been talk of using gauge variable bogies from Talgo or other manufacturers to fix the break-of-gauge problem, but I don’t think it would be happening anytime soon. 19:05 | They’ve recently raised the prices of Myki and tickets since 1st of January this year by the tax-loving Andrews state government… But anyways, nice video and information!
Great video as always. Your explanations are A1. I think the Vlocity units are absolutely horrible and poorly designed. Just look at @ 2:37. The seats are that close together behind one another that pretty much other than if your skinny those tray tables are impossible to fold down if your large or pregnant they dig into your stomach. And no catering on a 2+ hour journey is a backward step. And the removal of toilets to fit more seats in is not acceptable. This is a bus on tracks: not an intercity long distance train. And what country in the 21st century does not put at least 1 power source at a seat of a long distance train. Geez I don’t know what public servant nuff is thinking these are great trains and signing off on them.
Cheers! Will be interesting to check out the new standard gauge VLocities which have USB ports and are meant to have cafe bars fitted (although I don’t think any cafes are operating yet). My understanding is that the second toilet was removed in only four sets that are meant to be restricted to shorter runs and that all the newer ones have a second toilet. 🤔
I think the point you might be missing is that these are mostly commuter trains and not leisure services! So any people have moved much further out from the city and suburbs and so regional rail in Victoria has become much more commuter-centric than discretionary travel.
Yeah, most of the VLocitys feel like just another commuter train. But that's because that's mostly what they are. Victoria isn't that big 🙂 plus it has a piss poor level of electrification, if we're being honest. Even in Australia, trains like the XPT have a much higher level of amenity... but there's also not 100+ of them in service!
Great Video!! I really like your videos, and am learning a lot that I didn’t know before! Looking forward to seeing your trip on the overland. Keep up the great work!
Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future, adult trains will be available in Australia. They'll have wi-fi, usb and power charging points as well as fixed tables that let people do work, study, play games, eat their lunch, etc. Pull down window blinds, coat hooks and storage nets on the back of seats would also be welcome. It's not that hard, just do it.
Actually velocity seating isn't the same as old N sets. So he got that wrong. Vlocity seating are similar to airlines seating. And melton always been a melb suburb so I don't know what he ment by that.
I didn’t mean the seating was the same … just that Vlocity seating is in a two by two arrangement … same as first class on N sets. Whereas economy on N sets is three by two.
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
Since this video was made, the Victorian Government has introduced a regional fare cap. meaning the maximum daily fare to anywhere in Victoria (including Ararat) is $10.60 full fare, or $5.30 for concession. Find out more here: www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/fares/regional-fares/
with the regional fair cap, full fare tickets to Ararat are now just $6.70 each way making it a cheap day trip or viable commute
Wow - what a bargain!
Commute to where? Melbourne? That's a long commute!😯
Thank you for doing this video. These are great railfanning videos. It is cleverly put together to give a feeling for the viewer of being there in the train with you. Your videos encourage people to take these journeys and support the maintenance of old and new rail network, which is a very good thing. Cheers.
Thank you so much for the feedback. That’s great to hear! 😊
I commute on this line and the conductor once said that they had to slow the train down as to not wake the cows before the sun comes up.. Is that true?
Sounds like a joke to me. 🤔🤣
19:41 I do agree that USB ports would be beneficial for long distance services like this one. So far they are only fitted on the Standard Gauge Vlocities which goes to Albury :)
Yes, let’s hope such features become standard. 🤞
at the start of this year I was on a v line train to Bendigo and it had usb ports
The issue with public USB changing is a fake socket can be installed over the top of the real socket. This fake socket is used to place malware on the connected device. See "juice jacking".
Years ago on an BRN, I was seated next to the power point. I pulgged in a laptop and completed a university assignment while travelling. I haven't been game to try V/Locity power.
I’m sorry, but 160 kph isn’t high speed for a train. We need to literally double the speed of these trains for it to be high speed.
Absolutely. Sadly that’s as good as it gets in Australia for the foreseeable future.
250 km/h or faster is considered to be high speed.
Great video. I take the Vline from Wendouree or Ballan twice a week to Melbourne for work. Noise cancelling headphones are quite useful to block some of the engine noise, but since it's a fairly constant hum, it's quite hypnotic. I often sleep in the morning on the way to Melbourne. And the most enjoyable part of the trip is the high speed section passing sheep paddocks and wind turbines. In the middle of winter, just as the sun is rising, it's quite spectacular.
That sounds wonderful. Yes, agree re noise cancelling headphones.
Wow, regional fare cap must be doing you wonders.
Great to see the VLO getting more in depth attention in this video. As mentioned around 15:15, my take is that all the road crossings should be fitted with off-grid boomgates and lights that operate on solar energy so that trains can finally hit their top speed. Also, may I know where the filming spot at 18:22 for the North Melb flyover is located it. See if I can visit it when I come to Aus
Thank you!
Yes, solar powered level crossings would be great! I saw a media story a while ago about someone working on a lower cost solution for regional crossings.
There’s a special viewing platform near the flyover where you can get great shots. Here’s the location: Rail Viewing Platform
goo.gl/maps/rRTgDSnThGVV4rd29
the hill between ballarat and bachas march is a pretty steep grade velocity's don't struggle but the steam engines that run on the mainline oh boy that is a treat going up that hill
Yes, I can imagine. Cheers!
I have traveled with Vline in 2018 and I was surprised at how clean they kept the cabin.
Glad to hear that.
Great video. I must say it's good to see Victoria are making efforts to help the once regional stations to put them into suburban networks. Love watching your videos, have a great day. 👍
Thank you! Really appreciate the feedback. Hope you have a great one too. 😁
Another gr8 vid Adam...
Thank you for all your time and effort you put into making these..
Always looking out for the notification bell from you!!
And looking forward to your next journey on the Overland...
Happy Travels and catch you soon..
🙂 💚 🚟
Thank you Corinne. Great to hear! 😊
Very nice Adam! keep them coming. Cheers✌️🍻🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
Thank you! Glad you liked it! 😃
I travel V line every day & they have a lot to answer to. They're unpredictable & unreliable at the best of times. They announce train cancelled due to what ever. Yes it's something wrong & never accept responsibility. I don't mind paying the fare BUT I begrudge paying the fare. Why pay for a service that cannot deliver? And here it says that V line will have electrical trains to Melton then diesel onwards?? Come on this has been on the board for years & we're still waiting. At Melton station there is NO protection against the elements of rain or icy winds. No waiting room, only on platform 2 outbound line. The inbound link is platform 1 no waiting room. They're saying only 35mins to Melton? More like 45 to 50mins.
Leaves Sthn. Cross at snail's pace then causally travels on it's journey.
Hi. Thanks for explaining some of the issues. I guess it’s a very different experience when you rely on them for daily commuting compared to one off trips like mine. Hopefully they are able to improve the service. Sounds frustrating.
If a Govt made policy on the basis of one whinger, the rest of us would be pretty unimpressed. I catch this line every week, and there are very few delays between SthnX and Melton, but moreover, it’s a public sector operated service. We had privatised VLine under Kennett. It was 90% replacement buses running hideously behind schedule, and with more passengers that could fit on. Maybe if you endured that, you’d appreciate what you’ve got.
Your videos are so informative. They are way better than most videos and I love them. Great job.
Awesome to hear. Thank you!
Hi do you know if these are fully100 percent diesel or what percent electric? Do they have lesser emissions? Will they be running them on the stony point peninsula line from frankston?
They are pure diesel. The Sprinters are used on the Stony Point line and not aware of any plans to change that.
HI ADAM!! Great video as usual... Sometime ago I found one related to the service Australind (Perth-Bumbury) and since then always find interesting things about Australia and your railways. All the best from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rodolfo
Hola Rodolfo. Muchas gracias!
I live in rural Victoria, it’s a joke, they have no intention of keeping these towns alive.
Okay. Thanks for watching.
If no one is using services, why should we run them? At the end of the day taxpayers subsidise the current services, imagine how much we will spend to increase them
the services are packed, and the taxpayer subsidizes drivers, most of all drivers in suburban melbourne to a far greater degree.
Great video, lots of extra info
Thank you!
Adam, I love the production quality of your videos with all the added information graphics too! Great channel.
That’s so good to hear. Thank you!
I have travelled by train to Ballarat a couple of times, while visiting Melbourne.
I love the architecture at Ballarat station.
It's quite a comfy train, but what I noticed, it's best not to catch a train back to the CBD, during the AFL season......it can get quite busy and roudy with footy fans on board !😂
Yes, the station at Ballarat is great. Ha - I can only imagine travelling on such a train packed with footy fans. 😂
Hi Adam really good video love the colour of the trains. They seats look very comfortable. Enjoyed it thank you
Hi Maureen - thank you. Take care!
There are now 106 VL sets in existence
Wow. That’s a lot. Cheers!
Phew! I feared you'd left Sunshine behind just after leaving Melbourne.
Ha! Very funny! 🤣
Excellent video. You have great narration. Like that you included conversion to miles. Beautiful countryside.
Thank you - glad you liked it. 😊
For the technically minded the metal body and heavily tinted windows in testing presented a 20dB loss to any radio signal trying to get in or out of the carriages hence a Commscope Node AM Repeater was fitted to all the in service VLocity sets and to each new set as they're built at Alstom (Bombardier) in Dandenong.
The repeater in simple terms basically rebroadcasts the outside signal inside the carriages and vice versa and is set up to handle all three Mobile network providers that being Telstra (lead carrier on the project), Optus & Vodafone (TPG).
Thank you for sharing - interesting detail. Cheers!
Thank you, very informative videos. Is it just me, or are the seats in the Velocity carriages not as comfortable as the Sprinters?
Thank you! I’ve heard that but haven’t been on enough Sprinters to say.
@@FromtheWindowSeat I’m finding them quite a bit firmer which is noticeable for me as I have a back problem, but I do like the handles on the top of all of the aisle seats. Cheers 🙂
As a train fan I really enjoy these videos. Also, you have a very nice speaking voice. I am Australian but did not know about this train. I happen to be living in Japan at the moment which is a train lover's paradise. Having said that there are some lovely and interesting Australian train rides. Thanks for posting.
That’s lovely to hear. I’m very keen to visit Japan. The trains (and scenery) looks incredible. Hopefully 2023. 🤞
Great footage and great explaining, next you should ride the SG vlocity to Albury.
Thank you! Yes, definitely thinking about Albury although I’d like to do it when the cafe bars open.
@@FromtheWindowSeat it has on 3VS96
@@Lachtrain oh great - I didn’t know that.
15:55 Vlos are not allowed to run faster than 80kph through unprotected LX. Also 130kph is still very good for a line like that, Echuca vlos can only go 80 and one of the tracks on the Bendigo and Traralgon lines are only 115. The Ararat service is far faster than driving thanks to the high speeds the trains can go and it's awesome :)
Ah, interesting. Yes, overall it’s a great way of travelling to Ararat and very good speeds. 🙌
Hi Adam, thank you for this very educational and entertaining presentation and I certainly look forward to your journey on the Overland.
Hi John. Glad you liked it. The Overland will be a bit of a mammoth editing task. 😉
Great quality video production there Adam. Just one point early on - the Conductor only controls doors on N and H sets, while the Driver controls doors on VLocity and Sprinter consists - so the "Conductor releases the doors 5 minutes prior..." is not quite accurate 🙂
Thank you! Oh right … I’ve learnt something. 🤔 Cheers!
Another illuminating and informative ride :-) Now I understand why Horsham was dropped off the rural rail network in Victoria. It is on the standard gauge line serviced by the Overland - not the broad gauge line (which stops at Ararat). At some point in past time I took a bus to Horsham from Adelaide and picked up the VICline network from there. That has obviously been clipped. Doesn't help Horsham residents much with only two services a week to Melbourne.
Thank you! Yes, the standardisation has in some ways disadvantaged communities in western NSW. Perhaps they could introduce a standard gauge Vlocity between Ararat and Horsham, connecting with the broad gauge Vlocity to Melbourne. 🤔
Should run a SG vlocity to Horsham/Dimboola.
If a SG vlocity ran as a shuttle from Ararat-Dimboola, it will emulate “The Peanut” that ran from Ararat about half a century ago.
Up to 1978 “The Peanut” was a Walker railcar that ran from Horsham to Serviceton. I rode on the last Peanut.
Yeah, that would be cool.
As someone who travels this regularly I can say the mobile phone repeaters are useless, wish they'd fix that. Otherwise it is a pleasant journey (maybe more pleasant without internet!). One question I do have though is why do you think the trip up from Southern Cross to Ballan (my stop) 4 minutes shorter than the trip down the hill? Regardless the time of day, for the same stops uphill is faster?
Hmmm. That an interesting one. I don’t know the answer I’m afraid.
Great Video. The" Quiet Carriages" is not referring to the noise of the diesel engine.
Its your menr to have mobile phones on silent an not talk or talk VERY softly if travelling with someone an not have long in depth conversations with your travel companion.
Thank you! Yes, I appreciate I didn’t really explain quiet carriages. Of course it’s not enforced so people still make noise even in the quiet carriage.
I’d call those tables a disemboweler in case of a serious crash. These velocity trains are becoming a blight on the railways. I hanker for the days of the loco hauled trains where you had a corridor carriage. These trains don’t have the adventurous feeling of times past when you could wander the whole train as little tacker. Not to mention seeing through the toilet to the sleeper’s rushing past below and the beautiful sounds of a B class up front. Oh the things we lost in the name of so called progress. Great videos, keep them up.🇦🇺
Totally agree. I made the comment above that if you are anything other than skinny (large, solid, pregnant) those tables stick into the seat area that much they are unusable as your wedged in or can’t even get them flat. And this is because they cram too many seats in and they are too close together. I’ve traveled the world and taken rail extensively specially in Europe and Britain and without a doubt the Vlocitys are the worse designed uncomfortable long distance trains I’ve come across. They have basically tried to shoe horn a high capacity short distance suburban commuter train interior into a long distance one. And they have removed toilets to put in more seats as well. Apart from speed these units are a huge step backwards: don’t let the funky modern streamlined front fool you.
Thank you! Appreciate the issues you raise but I’d love any type of regional train service where I live. Sadly there are no regional passenger trains in South Australian. At least Victoria is continuing to invest in regional railways.
Thank you for this interesting video on an under-appreciated part of victoria. THE WEST SIDE IS THE BEST SIDE!
No worries. Thanks for watching!
They need USB ports.
Agreed. I think they’re installing them on newer VLocities.
I Would love the Prices to be updated as the adult fare is now $10.60 each way, total of $21.20, NOT $62.00 as advised in this video. this making travel a lot more accessible.
Ah yes, this video was made before the new fares were introduced.
I have to go from Melb to Horsham now and then, so I’ll try this option if I’m heading up alone. It would have been nice if there’d been a cafe onboard too.
For those with strong enough constitutions, it’s possible to do a morning coach>train commute from Horsham to Southern cross between 4:32am to 8:46am. Doable if one’s employer is in Melbourne and ends up mandating two days a week at the office.
Oh cool. Yes, I guess there are a few ways to put together a Horsham itinerary.
The issue with public USB changing is a fake socket can be installed over the top of the real socket. This fake socket is used to place malware on the connected device. See "juice jacking".
That’s a worry. Thanks for your comment.
I had an irreverent thought, imagine if it was the VR still running wooden cars, how would that rate on a RUclips review?
Hard to say. 🤔 Although I do have a review of a trip on the Victorian Goldfields Railway, if that counts. ruclips.net/video/2Ex2hNU2jh4/видео.html
Do the seats recline on the V/Locity carriages? How does the comfort compare to the locomotive eg, Melb - Warrnambool?
Hi. No, the seats on the VLocity don't recline. The seats aren't as plush as on locomotive hauled trains, although at least in economy the VLocity is 2x2 seating, whereas there's 3x2 seating in economy on loco-hauled sets. The general consensus is that the loco-hauled sets are a bit more comfortable and quieter (because there's no underfloor engines) but personally I find VLocities fine for 2-3 hours.
I am perplexed at the mix of narrow, standard and broad gauge in Australia. Why ?
Because Australia’s states each started as separate colonies and until federation in 1901, each did their own thing. So unfortunately they each ended up adopting different rail gauges. We’re still dealing with the legacy of that today. 🤔
When the first railways were being planned in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, they agreed to use the same gauge. New South Wales had hired an Irish engineer, and he recommended the Irish gauge (5'3").
But then he was replaced with a Scottish engineer, who persuaded NSW to adopt standard gauge instead. NSW notified Victoria and South Australia of the change, but they said sorry, they've already committed to broad gauge.
Queensland and Western Australia, with huge distances to cover and small populations, decided that 3'6" would be cheaper, so chose that gauge instead.
Tasmania I think initially went with broad gauge, but then swapped to 3'6". But then that's an island with no connection to the other states, so it doesn't matter so much.
Since then, things have gotten more complicated. South Australia decided to economise also, and started building lines to 3'6". I think they even converted some from broad to narrow, although later converted some back! (Or converted some built narrow to broad? SA's gauge conversion history is complex.)
Western Australia agreed to join the Commonwealth as long as they got a railway connection with the rest of the country. So that was built by the commonwealth, not the states, and that was built as standard gauge, connecting to the narrow gauge in Western Australia, and to the broad (or both broad and narrow?) in South Australia.
NSW extended one of its SG lines to Brisbane in Queensland, but that's a minor thing. In 1962 Victoria build a standard gauge line between Melbourne and the NSW border, to create a through SG line between Melbourne and Sydney (and Brisbane).
To go from Sydney to Perth by train involved one of two or three routes:
1) Standard gauge from Sydney to Broken Hill (near the SA border), then private narrow gauge into SA, then narrow or broad(?) to Port Augusta, then standard to Kalgoorlie, then narrow to Perth.
2) Standard gauge from Sydney to Albury (Vic./NSW border) then broad gauge to Melbourne and then to Adelaide, then broad again (I think) to Port Augusta, then as above.
3) From 1962, Standard gauge from Sydney to Melbourne, then as above.
However, in the 1970s, standard gauge was extended from Broken Hill to Port Augusta and from Kalgoorlie to Perth, giving a through journey, and a new through Sydney-Perth service named the Indian Pacific (after the oceans it connected).
Around the same time, SA's railways, apart from the Adelaide suburban network, were handed over to the Commonwealth, which either closed or regauged to standard gauge the entire state. As a result of this, one of the broad gauge routes between Melbourne and Adelaide was converted to standard gauge (or made dual gauge in parts), and some Victorian branches off that line were also changed to standard gauge.
So now, all mainland state capitals are connected by standard gauge. But Tasmania, WA, and Qld are still otherwise narrow gauge, and much of Victoria, and Adelaide's suburban network, are still broad gauge.
Not included above are the isolated standard gauge iron ore lines in Western Australia. And some other details that could be mentioned!
@@PJRayment So, we can blame an Irishman for much of the muddle. Good thing that metre gauge wasn't used too !
@@grahamstevenson1740
"So, we can blame an Irishman for much of the muddle."
The Irishman wasn't the one who changed the original decision!
Thank you for this video. I will be arriving to Ararat in March. But I have no idea how to get into the train station from Melbourne airport?
You can catch the SkyBus from the airport to Southern Cross station, and then catch the train from there to Ararat.
Nice video with good information buddy 👍🏻
Glad you liked it - thanks!
A 21st century booking system for Vline wouldn't go astray, either. I'd even settle for a 20th century one at the moment. I guess they are still getting over their corruption scandals rather than focusing on customer needs, though.
I found their online booking system easy to use … buy yes, odd they still require paper tickets.
Just as bad as their PTV app. So bad. Not sure who they employ in IT.
A lot more to do with the hellish impact of the Kennett years than one isolated misconduct instance. Kennett and his band of ideologues robbed much of rural Vic of its train service. All systems basically had to start from scratch. The volume of trains to and from Ararat is not great - five per day presently and it just isn’t viable to systematise such low volumes. You can use your myki to Wendouree.
@@lizziebkennedy7505 realistically it would only need a handful of Myki units at the stations to expand the card system to the whole of the network as the whole network is already set up into the required Zones anyway.
I find the worst aspect of the booking system, that the ticket covers metro travel to reach the V/Line service, but there are few Metro station which sell paper tickets. So you needed to buy a myki, and then pay again for V/Line's use of the Metro tracks. I don't know why we couldn't use myki, at least for payment.
New look...your mustache...😀
Awww - thanks!
I rode these trains a couple of times on the Bendigo line. They seemed fine. I wondered why NSW couldn't buy some more of these (the standard gauge version) to replace its regional fleet of XPTs and Xplorers. But no, they had to go to a new design. Again.
Yeah, they seem quite decent. I presume NSW went through a full tender process. I understand Bombardier (which makes the VLocities) was initially involved but withdrew from the tender process at some point.
@@FromtheWindowSeat Lowest bid probably won. The contract went to Momentum Trains, which is a consortium including CAF - the manufacturer of the newish Sydney trams that are out of action due to cracking. I expect the travelling public will get what the government deserves.
The Queensland 160 Series, Perth B Series & Adelaide 4000 Series are all close cousins to the VLocity.
Great video Adam! I do find the music not really adding to the overall great video.
Thank you! Music is always difficult because it’s so subjective - I don’t think it’s possible to find something that everyone will like but I’ll try my best. 🤔
@@FromtheWindowSeat Adam, it's not the type of music I think but more the contribution the music make to the overall piece and maybe the volume?!
Avoided No 2 Ankalaev and went to fight No. 8😅😂
Huh?
I used to take this line daily but the older trains have more comfortable seats
Fair enough. 🤔
Interestingly, the new standard gauge VLs on the Albury line have gone back to the old style more padded seats in the earlier VLs, so that’s a win 👍😀
12:22 never knew Mmetro owned the Ballarat line
Sorry - what makes you say that? 🤔
好棒好喜欢好漂亮快乐幸福好开心好好🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍💯💯💯🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️🎧🏆💐💐💐👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉
Many thanks! 🙏
This video kills it nice job
Thank you!
I’m curious, what camera(s) do you use. More specifically for you window shots?
Hi Vincent. Mostly it’s a GoPro Hero 8 on a suction cup mount. But any shots with zoom are taken with a iPhone 12 Pro Max.
@@FromtheWindowSeat thanks. Do you record continuously or just on and off?
@@vincentweatherly9991 On and off. Otherwise I’d have many hours of footage and need more memory cards and batteries. 😉
@@FromtheWindowSeat thanks
V Line first class has always been a popular and quality product. I can't understand why these rail motors have no first class, and the seats are at best inter-urban - not suitable for country services. Add the lack of buffet on many services and railcar sets that you can't walk through - an inferior product to loco hauled carriages.
Yes, first class will be missed.
Hey Adam. Great video. I loved the editing and music choice and narration. Very suiting to the video.
Hey Dom. Wonderful to hear. Thank you!
What are the dmu trains in Australia
There are many different DMUs. The DMU in this video is the Vlocity built by Bombardier. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/V/Line_VLocity
“Seeing just 5,000 passengers in 202021” 😂😂 17:10
That’s what it says in the data. 😳
As I’m planning to take the train to Ballarat when I’m in Melbourne later this year this was enormously helpful. Thanks!
Wonderful to hear that. Hope you enjoy it!
they are slow and noisy
Fair enough.
im going to miss the relative quiet of the loco hauled trains when vlocity comes to the warrnambool line.
Yes, fair enough.
Excellent video, very much enjoyed. Cheers from Wagga!
Hi Jim. Thank you - appreciate that!
Why do they detach the back carriages?
Because the section from Ballarat to Ararat has relatively low patronage so there’s no point running an additional DMU that’s not needed. That way, those three cars are available to boost capacity on a return journey to Melbourne.
6 car set is too long for the broad guage platform at Ararat.
@@ghead58 That too. 😉
as already mentioned the line from Ballarat to Ararat is quiet enough to not need a 6 car set, same goes with Ballarat to Maryborough in fact some 6 car sets split at Ballarat and go to both Ararat & Maryborough and reforming a 6 car set on the return trip. Also means a Ballarat based driver and conductor can be used for the shorter run and return meaning effectively one crew can run two trains from Melbourne to Ballarat.
Commuter belt outside of Melbourne 🤮
Yep. Haha
Sprawl, sprawl, and insane house prices drive that.
Great video. It would be cool if Vline added a recreational station at Warabee State Park. Patrons could go car free!
Thank you! Yes, that would be awesome.
Can you please do the Sydney to Melbourne XPT train
I’ll try to. Cheers.
I went to that station to get to Ararat but didn’t go to the Ararat station
So where did you go? 🤔
It would have been nice to have a buffet for a two and half hour ride.
Definitely
Great options although probably the swap trains in Ararat would be the easiest, you could use the ex Albury locomotive hauled train pretty much straight away all the way to Horsham as that line is already structured for those kind of trains. The only issue there is that line is already very busy with freight trains. The other thing also is the overland could then run direct to Horsham without stopping...
Good points. Let’s hope they improve the service.
My theory is use freed up Sprinters converted to Standard Gauge and run Horsham or Dimboola and Hamilton shuttles that meet up with Melbourne BG VLocity services.
What do you edit your videos with , I am trying different software for my rail videos?
I use Final Cut Pro X. If you’ve used iMovie, it’s a similar system but much more advanced. 🤔
Ok thanks
Good review. Thanks.
Thank you!
You left out few minor defail
Oh. Which details? 🤔
Those things are loud they should issue ear plugs
Ha! Fair call.
@@FromtheWindowSeat ride was good, comfort was good for an hour and a half, acceleration and speed was good but the noise - 30 years working in industry (9inch angle grinders and such) - it was like spending that time in a busy workshop
Another great video Adam!
Thanks Nathan!
Well done , thanks
Thank you!
Nice, I’ve went on V/Line and sometimes by car to Ararat to stay at a family member of mine’s house many times.
14:30 | Indeed, because no matter where you’re standing, you’re never too far from a running engine
2:06 | Oh not those seats, they’re the most uncomfortable seats ever on one of V/Line’s rollingstock which would stretch from VLocity set VR76 to 79VR (VR means short distance) and continues until 3VL92 from 3VL80.
16:25 | There has been talk of using gauge variable bogies from Talgo or other manufacturers to fix the break-of-gauge problem, but I don’t think it would be happening anytime soon.
19:05 | They’ve recently raised the prices of Myki and tickets since 1st of January this year by the tax-loving Andrews state government…
But anyways, nice video and information!
Thank you. Useful to know. 🤔
Another masterpiece! Love the info, graphics and music!
Thanks Adam! Lovely to hear that.
Great video as always. Your explanations are A1.
I think the Vlocity units are absolutely horrible and poorly designed. Just look at @ 2:37. The seats are that close together behind one another that pretty much other than if your skinny those tray tables are impossible to fold down if your large or pregnant they dig into your stomach. And no catering on a 2+ hour journey is a backward step. And the removal of toilets to fit more seats in is not acceptable. This is a bus on tracks: not an intercity long distance train. And what country in the 21st century does not put at least 1 power source at a seat of a long distance train. Geez I don’t know what public servant nuff is thinking these are great trains and signing off on them.
Cheers! Will be interesting to check out the new standard gauge VLocities which have USB ports and are meant to have cafe bars fitted (although I don’t think any cafes are operating yet). My understanding is that the second toilet was removed in only four sets that are meant to be restricted to shorter runs and that all the newer ones have a second toilet. 🤔
@@FromtheWindowSeat yes. They sound a much better version. I still think they could take out a row of seats and spread the balance out.
I think the point you might be missing is that these are mostly commuter trains and not leisure services! So any people have moved much further out from the city and suburbs and so regional rail in Victoria has become much more commuter-centric than discretionary travel.
Yeah, most of the VLocitys feel like just another commuter train. But that's because that's mostly what they are.
Victoria isn't that big 🙂 plus it has a piss poor level of electrification, if we're being honest.
Even in Australia, trains like the XPT have a much higher level of amenity... but there's also not 100+ of them in service!
Great Video!! I really like your videos, and am learning a lot that I didn’t know before! Looking forward to seeing your trip on the overland. Keep up the great work!
That’s awesome to hear. Thanks for watching!
Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future, adult trains will be available in Australia. They'll have wi-fi, usb and power charging points as well as fixed tables that let people do work, study, play games, eat their lunch, etc. Pull down window blinds, coat hooks and storage nets on the back of seats would also be welcome. It's not that hard, just do it.
Will be interesting to see what the new CAF Civity trains are like in NSW when they replace XPTs and Xplorers. 🤔
I hope that those trains is running on renewable diesel HVO and not pretroleum, and possibly also e diesel on the future. 🙏🏻♻️
Hi. I’m not sure but yes, I’d hope they are exploring more environmentally friendly fuels.
@@FromtheWindowSeat Possibly in the future, renewable diesel HVO (biofuel) and e diesel (e fuel) are the indicated for those trains. 🙌🏻♻️
Boring
Sorry to hear you didn’t like it.
Actually velocity seating isn't the same as old N sets. So he got that wrong. Vlocity seating are similar to airlines seating. And melton always been a melb suburb so I don't know what he ment by that.
I didn’t mean the seating was the same … just that Vlocity seating is in a two by two arrangement … same as first class on N sets. Whereas economy on N sets is three by two.