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Wednesday, December 22, 2021
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OUT IN FORCE LEADING Senior Constable Rachelle Maher and Acting Senior Sergeant Sarrah O’Keefe will lead a strong police presence on local arterials over the holiday period. Story page 2. PHOTO: Ryan Malcolm
VLocity trains “imminent” Hope H p VL VLocity ity ttrains i tto run passenger p g services i on the th Albury Alb y line li before b f end d off the th yyear SIX new VLocity trains will commence passenger services on Albury line “imminently” but the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) could not guarantee a rollout before the end of the year. The delay is despite completion of testing of the multi-million train fleet by the end of November, with the Victorian State Government waiting on the ARTC to sign off on the rolling stock for several weeks.
BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll told the Wangaratta Chronicle that the standard-gauge North East VLocity trains successfully completed a thorough testing program - including extensive track testing - and has been ready for service since late last month.
“Since its testing was successfully completed, we have been awaiting approval from North East Line operator, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), for it to operate on the line,” Mr Carroll said. “We hope the ARTC can get on with the job of bringing VLocity trains to the North East Line.” It was indicated by the State Government back in October that the trains would be operational in time for Christmas, but this
now appears more unlikely given Saturday is three days away. The ARTC yesterday refused to lock in a date on which the trains would begin taking passengers. “ARTC is working with the Department of Transport and V/Line to facilitate the commencement of new VLocity Train services on the North East Rail Line, from Southern Cross to Albury,” an ARTC spokesperson said. “Based on the current
status of the processes to ensure the new fleet can operate on the network, we expect the new trains to commence operations imminently.” The long-haul VLocity trains were designed in partnership with North East Line passengers and will be unique to the line with builtin USB chargers, shared tables, dedicated spaces for luggage and bikes and accessible spaces for people with mobility aids. Track upgrades delivered
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as part of the North East Line Upgrade have improved comfort for passenger services and made services more reliable. The six standard-gauge VLocity trains for the North East line are part of an 18 train, $340 million order funded in the 2019/20 Victorian Budget. Work to accommodate the trains at Albury Station was also recently completed under a $10 million North East Rail Line Supporting Infrastructure project.
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