From Apathy to Resigned Frustration in 1 Easy Step
Greetings & Salutations from the apathetic whinger!
I've just clocked up my first month in my new job, and have seen a number of V/line incidents (including the unfortunate death of a foolish young girl which then resulted in the inconvenience a week later of train drivers deciding that bunches of flowers caused them stress, so they called a one day strike without warning).
However, I've been able to bear the usual 2 or 3 times a week of typical inconveniences until tonight.
Not only was the 4.40pm late (track upgrade/signal upgrade of $millions & we still go slow?), but the train stops about 150m out from Geelong station for several minutes whilst apparently we wait for a Melb bound train to depart.
3 platforms to choose from at Geelong Station & an express train (already running late) is sitting idle for around 7 minutes in the middle of nowhere.
Well done V/Line!
$100's millionsin upgrades later and the "5 or so minutes" saved for a peak/express service is eaten up by sitting in the middle of nowhere!
Keep the comments rolling in ... we're almost up to 2+ years of disruptions & bad service ... roll on the Commonwealth Games in March next year, I'm sure it will all be fixed before then! (HAHAHA, yeah right!)
p.s. we'll never know the true cost of the upgrades/new trains, as V/Line & State Government have incorporated a subsidiary body called V/Line Passenger Pty Ltd, which holds all documents etc relating to the project, thus making it not subject to FOI legislation. Nice transperancy & accountability there!
I've just clocked up my first month in my new job, and have seen a number of V/line incidents (including the unfortunate death of a foolish young girl which then resulted in the inconvenience a week later of train drivers deciding that bunches of flowers caused them stress, so they called a one day strike without warning).
However, I've been able to bear the usual 2 or 3 times a week of typical inconveniences until tonight.
Not only was the 4.40pm late (track upgrade/signal upgrade of $millions & we still go slow?), but the train stops about 150m out from Geelong station for several minutes whilst apparently we wait for a Melb bound train to depart.
3 platforms to choose from at Geelong Station & an express train (already running late) is sitting idle for around 7 minutes in the middle of nowhere.
Well done V/Line!
$100's millionsin upgrades later and the "5 or so minutes" saved for a peak/express service is eaten up by sitting in the middle of nowhere!
Keep the comments rolling in ... we're almost up to 2+ years of disruptions & bad service ... roll on the Commonwealth Games in March next year, I'm sure it will all be fixed before then! (HAHAHA, yeah right!)
p.s. we'll never know the true cost of the upgrades/new trains, as V/Line & State Government have incorporated a subsidiary body called V/Line Passenger Pty Ltd, which holds all documents etc relating to the project, thus making it not subject to FOI legislation. Nice transperancy & accountability there!
posted by vlinewhinger at 6:28 pm
7 Comments:
I'm on leave at the moment so don't have to worry about Vline travel but I heard from a friend yesterday evening (3/11/05) that the 5.29pm arrived 15mins late into Geelong. No explanation or apology for lateness.
17/11/05: 6.20am train on time to Spencer St.
5.29pm arrived at 6.41pm (approx. 15mins late!) in Geelong. Ambled slowly to Werribee. Never received apology or explanation. Typical VLine
21/11/05: Caught 5.29pm from Flinders St. Arrived at Geelong at 6.46pm (approx. 20mins late). Again no explanation or apology for the slow running of the train. ?#@!
To add insult to injury the train terminated at Platform 3. Others times I don't really care which platform the train stops but when you are running late for a guest, not good.
22/11/05: 5.25pm from Flinders St
(actually 5.29 from Spencer St) arrives at Geelong approx. 10mins late. No apology or explanation given for lateness.
23/11/05: 5.25pm arrives at Geelong 20mins late. Again no explanation or apology.
Annoyed by this lack of service, went to the information desk to get an explanation. Was told on this occasion that the 5.13 was running slow hence the delay. For the other nights it occurred, the explanation was 'signals' between Flinders and Spencer and the upgrade of Spencer?! This was no help at all since on Monday and Tuesday the train was constantly slow from Spencer to Geelong, I didn't think Spencer signals had such an effect all the way to Geelong!:)
Anyway I asked if there was any possibility of an improvement in their efficiency and was told to keep expecting delays due to Spencer St. Vline does seem to like to pass the buck, it's everyone elses fault but theirs.
24/11/05: I was not on the 5.25pm but I heard from a friend that it left Flinders St at 6.00pm, no explanation was given for lateness. Arrived at Geelong at 7.15pm! @#! Also the conductor had the gall to check tickets. The 5.47pm must have been packed when the Geelong commuters at Nth Melbourne got on.
It can't get any worse can it? I'll be interested to see if the train runs on time. Who knows I might be surprised.
i have heard from staff at connex that the week of 21-11 the signal failiures were accually at caufield where the vline trains have been comming from for the 5.29.
have you heard about the shutdown?
Hey VLW, how's things? I rang V/Line today to book my Christmas travel but gave up. Can you believe that they don't have their Christmas timetable yet? This close to Christmas and they can't tell me whether there'll be any trains to get me back to Melbourne!
Ha HA your 1640 isn't running!!!!
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