“The IOC RAT Program began in October 2021 with supervised testing before moving to selfadministered tests in April of this year,” Scott said.
V/Line twice recognised
V/Line’s Integrated Operations Centre Rapid Antigen Test Program is a finalist in the Passenger Operations Excellence category, while Occupation Manager Cristin Williams is a finalist for Young Rail Professional of the Year. Head of Network Services Delivery Scott Wheeler and General Manager People, Safety, Health & Wellbeing Fiona McHugh led the rollout of the IOC RAT Program.
“Throughout the pandemic, there were no outbreaks of the virus recorded in the IOC and as such, there was no impact to train operations.”
• Recognising excellence • Biodiversity in action • Celebrating our rail history • Wear it Purple Day • Bendigo track monitoring facility Continued on Page 2 Scott Wheeler
V/Line has received two nominations for the 2022 Australasian Rail Industry Awards, recognised by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) in two categories.
A recent development of the program is self-administered portable PCR testing, which is currently being piloted in critical high-risk areas. Albury timetable is live North Geelong improvements complete and Fiona McHugh
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Issue 222 / 7 September 2022 In this issue • New
“A key highlight of the nomination was the demonstrated leadership of the program, which was used as the basis for similar programs for other rail operators and the nation’s major aviation operators.
V/Line twice recognised Continued from Page 1
Albury line passengers are realising the benefits of much-anticipated journey savings.
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The Project Readiness Wall, which is available both digitally and in-person on level 7 of 452 Flinders Street, enables occupations to be tracked across the network and contributed to the timely hand-back of 50 out of 53 occupations in the past financial year. Acting Director Project Readiness Paul Fair said he was thrilled to see Cristin recognised for her efforts. “She’s made a vital contribution to V/Line,” Paul said.
Following the completion of the North East Line Upgrade and the introduction of standard gauge VLocity trains, a new timetable started on the Albury line on 28 August. train stabling at Albury Station were also completed ahead of the new timetable rollout. Early morning passengers are seeing savings of almost 20 minutes on their journey, and those travelling Southern Cross arrive home to Albury close to half-an-hour earlier than Thebefore.VLocity trains are operating as a combination of three and six carriage trains, with café facilities available on each service. To celebrate the commencement of the new timetable, passengers travelling on the first day of services were offered a complimentary hot beverage in a limited-edition Albury line VLocity reusable cup.
Occupation Manager Cristin Williams has been recognised for the development of processes and procedures for all line closures and extended occupations across the V/Line network, including the creation of the Project Readiness Wall.
New Albury timetable gets underway
Australasian Rail Industry Award winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 14 September. To hear more about V/Line’s finalists and other nominations, watch Recognising Excellence August here
V/Line’s rail reserve represents some of the last concentrated biodiversity strongholds in Victoria, Australia and around the world.
The rail reserve is home to a variety of animal, insect and plant life, including threatened species like the growling grass frog and striped legless lizard. To learn more about biodiversity and how to protect it, please visit the Engine Room
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Executive Director Jonathan McKeown and Project Manager
“Recording a train in live running provides more information about the condition of the train than the current 21-day visual inspection schedule,” Don “Thissaid.exciting new facility will provide more frequent train-condition data to help maintenance staff tailor train maintenance programs to be as efficient as possible, and help reduce the risk of train faults.”
Bendigo track monitoring facility
The new automated facility uses state-of-the-art technology to measure train wheel and brake wear as trains travel through, providing early warning of deterioration that will help reduce the risk of disruptions and improve reliability for passengers.
The facility is part of a $14 million program to construct automatic unstaffed monitoring facilities near two of our busiest train maintenance facilities, and follows the opening of a similar facility in Ballarat in late 2021.
Fleet Don Flint visited Bendigo last month to mark the opening of a new train monitoring facility in Bendigo.
Fleet Don Flint alongside Alstom Transport executives
Biodiversity in action
The facility has been built by V/Line to assist train maintenance provider Alstom Transport, and allows for email warnings to be issued to maintenance teams where critical wear items with wheels or breaks are Locateddetected.on the tracks enroute to the Bendigo train stabling yard near the Myrtle Street overpass, passing trains will be monitored twice per day as they head out for timetabled passenger journeys and return at the end of the day.
Executive Director Network Development, Assets & Maintenance Jonathan McKeown and Project Manager
September is National Biodiversity Month, celebrating the variety of all life forms on earth. This includes the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems that are their homes.
4 COVID-19 is still here (and the flu’s around too) Victorian Government health officials have advised the newer strains of COVID-19 are even more infectious than before. There’s also much more flu in the community than in 2020 or 2021. What hasn’t changed is how we care for ourselves and each other. Masks as needed Masks andpublicmandatoryremainontransport,arenowrequiredonallV/Linepremises.They’realsostronglyrecommendedindoorsandincrowds. Keepdistanceyour Stay at least 1.5m apart in: • Meal rooms • Office spaces • Crowded places Clean hands, clean surfaces Regularly clean your hands and yourthroughoutworkspacestheday. Vaccinate COVID-19 booster shots and flu vaccinations are free for everyone Communicate Keep andwithservice,favouritethroughup-to-dateyournewsandspeakyourmanagerteammates,andregularlychecktheEngineRoomforCOVID-19updates.
A rolling four-year works program, including detailed cost estimates by corridor, has been initiated and will continue to mature across the next 12 to 18 months.
“Our results this year highlight what can be achieved through good governance and proactive management,” Michael said.
Two platform shelters and platform seating have been upgraded to improve comfort for passengers before they catch the train. The addition of four accessible car parks with kerb ramps and shared areas is also improving access to the station. The works were completed a part of the Victorian Government’s stimulus funding and Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll visited the station this month to inspect the works.
General Manager Network Maintenance Bart Matthews said he wanted to acknowledge the efforts of frontline crews. “This was the first year MPM delivery has been undertaken by our team and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts,” Bart said.
NorthcompletedImprovementsatGeelong Improvement works at North Geelong Station are giving comfortablepassengerstrainamorejourney.
Manager Asset Management and Performance Michael Mowat said hard work and collaboration was leading to positive outcomes.
As part of the Annual Works Plan, crews completed works across all corridors including extensive sleeper replacement, rail milling and ballast replenishment, as well as upgrades to 41 level crossings. Other works included bridge and culvert renewals and upgrades, tunnel refurbishments, turnout improvements, uplifts to station customer amenities and car park V/Lineupgrades.transitioned
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Teams from across the Network Development, Assets & Maintenance group (NDAM) came together to deliver $108 million in Major Periodic Maintenance (MPM) across the passenger and freight network in the 2021-22 financial year.
to a new fouryear funding model during the past financial year, allowing for improved strategic planning and initiatives to optimise resources and support cost MPMsavings.delivery also transitioned from the Projects group to NDAM, enabling more holistic oversight of planning, delivery and governance.
The move to four-year funding has created opportunities for greater collaboration, leading to better understanding of longer-term condition and investments, and enabling cost efficiencies through strategic works packaging.
The long-term visibility of material requirements has allowed for more strategic procurement activities that both guarantee supply and secure significant cost savings. Savings realised through procurement opportunities have exceeded targets by $500,000 thus Generalfar.
More than $100 million in works delivered
The event also celebrated Wear It Purple Day, with discussion from Rochelle Reynolds, Director Integrity Melinda Edwards, and a video message from Daylesford Secondary College student and rainbow youth Sasha Taylor-Holmes. you missed the session, you can catch up on Engine Room Crouch Thiele Egan Lachlan Grant Steven Wilson Brett Arnett Daniel Moody Ahmed Rafihi Henry Singh Tim TerryRabbettePring Desmond Yang Cameron Binetti
Greg Fox Nikki Boodram Shane Cooper Ilda DavidHolmesNewbery Jacinta Addamo Allan NarelleBrettJamesDarrenLeverLapthorneUpfillHuthnanceHinchcliffe Matt DarrenRobertGlennShannonDominicTrevaskisRussoJohnsonO’NeilPurdieDuffy David Ropeti Ron
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Recognising Excellence August
If
The nominees for August are:
V/Line was proud to be a nominee at the Victorian Public Sector LGBTIQ+ Pride Awards on 26 August, recognised as a finalist in the regional and community categories for the PRIDE train.
While V/Line didn’t take home a win in either category, the nomination alone was recognition of the hard work and efforts from staff across the organisation to deliver the PRIDE train.
Rowan
Greg
V/Line’s Recognising Excellence event took place on 25 August and acknowledged the efforts of 31 staff, along with award nominations for the Australasian Rail Industry Awards and VPS PRIDE Awards.
L-R: Sam Parsons, Les Lovell, Pina Scicluna, Matthew Grindrod and Allan Lever
Theyteam.were joined by Senior Graphic Designer Les Lovell, who created the PRIDE train’s design.
V/Line at the PRIDE Awards
Staff involved in the PRIDE train’s design and execution attended on the night, including Sam Parsons, Matthew Grindrod, Allan Lever and Pina Scicluna from V/Line’s LGBTIQ+ Diversity Council
CEO Matt Carrick, Executive Director Operations Rochelle Reynolds and Executive Director Corporate Services Lisa Williams presented the awards and congratulated nominees for their contribution to V/Line.
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Steven Toth, Paul Young, Warren Azemothe, Atem George
The Victorian state election is set for 26 November, with a caretaker period to come into play in the month leading up to the election.
V/Line celebrates Wear It Purple Day Staff from across V/Line wore purple to show their support of Wear It Purple Day on 26 August. Beginning in 2010 in response to global stories of real teenagers and real heartache, Wear It Purple Day is an annual celebration to encourage rainbow young people to be proud of who they are.
Troy Levett
Caretaker conventions
Rochelle Reynolds and Matthew Grindrod
BertramCassandraHeaneyTayler-Zak
Guidelines for the caretaker period state that major processes, such as large contracts and senior recruitment, should not occur during this time to avoid any future government being committed to a decision they may not choose to Allsupport.public sector employees, which includes V/Line staff, are also reminded to remain apolitical in communications throughout the caretaker period. The caretaker period will commence at 6pm on 1 November and continue until the election. The commencement and conclusion of the caretaker period will be published widely across V/Line communications channels, alongside broader guidance for the election Toperiod.learn more about the caretaker period, visit the dedicated information page on Engine Room.
Tarneit Station was officially opened on 14 June 2015 by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the then Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Development Warren Truss. Forming part of the Regional Rail Link, services at Tarneit commenced on 21 June 2015, with the station quickly becoming V/Line’s secondbusiest after Southern Cross.
Our adventures along the Geelong line continue with newer stations at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Like Tarneit, Wyndham Vale Station was built as part of the Regional Rail Link project and opened on 14 June 2015, with services commencing a week later. A turnback siding is located between the two running lines, just to the south of the station for peak-hour terminating services from Melbourne. On 30 May 2022, V/Line commenced running nine-carriage VLocity services between Wyndham Vale and Southern Cross.
Wyndham Vale
Celebrating Victoria’s RAIL HISTORY
Tarneit
In the next Celebrating Rail History edition, we visit the historic Little River Station. Daniel Andrews and Warren Truss at Tarneit in 2015
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V/Line staff have offered mentoring advice to young people as part of a careers program for the Beacon Foundation.
Bentley is a two-year-old Groodle who belongs to Conductor Services Manager South West Wendy Yates. Bentley recently celebrated his second birthday with a chicken schnitzel ‘cake’ alongside Wendy’s other Groodle Billi, her poodle Betsy and his mother. Wendy said she adored her puppies and Bentley in particular loved “Wheneverwater.I start the bubbles up in my spa, Bentley races in and sits in it all day resting. “He just loves it and doesn’t care if I don’t get in, he just loves the bubbles.”
9 V/News / Issue 222 Have some news to share? Want to show off your pet?
“The film shoot was a great success! We were able to capture everything we needed. Everyone we encountered through V/Line was so lovely, helpful and accommodating. It made our job so much easier and it was a pleasure.”
Mentoring young people with the Beacon Foundation
Voice of Customer
V/Line has a long-standing partnership with the Beacon Foundation, which supports young people to successfully transition from education to meaningful Beaconemployment.Polish sessions were held in the week beginning 22 August, with six V/Line representatives providing career mentorship to regional students. Regional Manager North East Coral Irvine, HSE Business Partner Rodney Jacobs, Occupation Manager Cristin Williams, and Customer Services Managers Amanda Edsall and Dallas Anderson joined students at the North East Flexible Learning ServicesNetwork.Manager Shepparton Greg Batty and Community Engagement Advisor Jacinta Addamo were on hand at Euroa Secondary College to speak with students.
This compliment comes from a film crew, who spent a day shooting at Ballarat Station and onboard the 10:30am train from Ballarat to Maryborough.
Compliment of the week
Send your stories to comms@vline.com.au