V/News 232 - 22 March 2023

V/Line prepares for upgrade blitz

V/Line is gearing up for a period of major upgrade and improvement works across its three busiest corridors.

The Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong lines will be disrupted in April with Geelong line works continuing into early May.

Acting Head of Communications

Sylvia Vincenc said crews would remove the Mt Derrimut Road, Deer Park level crossing, build the new Deer Park Station and carry out important annual maintenance as part of the disruption on the Ballarat and Geelong lines.

“A significant amount of work is going into planning these disruptions to ensure passengers can still get to where they need to go, including an extensive communications campaign so passengers are aware

of the service changes,” she said. “Geelong and Ballarat line works will start on Tuesday 11 April until Sunday 23 April, with Geelong line works continuing until Wednesday 3 May. During the first two weeks of the Geelong line disruption, the service plan will be very different to what passengers are used to with all Geelong trains terminating at Wyndham Vale and shuttle buses connecting passengers to metropolitan services on the Werribee line.

“The Bendigo line will also be disrupted from 12 April until Friday 21 April to allow works to extend the V/Line platforms at Sunshine Station.

“These platform extensions will enable nine-car VLocity services to stop at Sunshine in the future,” Sylvia said. Bendigo and Echuca line trains will terminate at Sunbury, with passengers to complete their journey between Sunbury and Southern Cross on metropolitan Sunbury line services.

“While the works being completed on the V/Line network during April will bring vital improvements, commuters on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines are being advised to consider working from home during this period if they can,” Sylvia said.

More details on April disruptions on the network are available on page 2.

DOWN THE LINE | YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTH AHEAD

Until 6 April

V/Line major maintenance works: Coaches replace trains between Southern Cross and Seymour/Shepparton lines until 1 April, then between Seymour and Shepparton until 6 April.

20-24 March

A Taste of Harmony Week

21 March

Harmony Day

31 March

Implementation of the fare cap for V/Line services.

2 April

Daylight savings end – clocks go back one hour

6 April

Last day of school term 1

7-10 April Easter

11 April to 23 April

V/Line major maintenance works: Coaches replace Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough trains between Southern Cross and Melton until 21 April, then coaches replace Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough trains for the entire journey until 23 April.

11 April – 3 May

V/Line major maintenance works: From 11-21 April, Geelong line trains will terminate at Wyndham Vale, with a shuttle bus transporting passengers to Werribee Station to complete their journey on metropolitan network. Tarneit passengers will travel by coach to Laverton to complete their journey into the

city. Warrnambool trains will be replaced by coaches between Southern Cross and Geelong. On 22 and 23 April, coaches will replace trains between Southern Cross and Geelong and Warrnambool. From 24 April to 3 May, coaches replace trains between Wyndham Vale and Geelong and Warrnambool. Trains will run between Wyndham Vale and Southern Cross.

12 April – 21 April

Sunshine Station platform extension works: Bendigo and Echuca trains will terminate at Sunbury, with passengers changing to metropolitan services to continue their journey. Coaches will replace Swan Hill trains between Southern Cross and Bendigo.

Beacon mentoring opportunities back in 2023

V/Line is a proud supporter of the Beacon Foundation’s POLISH mentoring program.

The program inspires young people to think about their future careers, teaching real-life skills and preparing them for the workplace.

Community Engagement Advisor

Jacinta Addamo said V/Line sponsored 10 sessions annually across regional Victoria, mentoring an average of 800 Year 9 and 10 students each year.

“After many successful mentoring sessions in 2022, we’re calling for volunteers for the 2023 program.

“Volunteering is a great opportunity to share your career journey as an inspiration to the next generation.

“No prior experience is required, though volunteers will need a current Working with Children Check,” Jacinta said.

To volunteer, or learn more about the Beacon Foundation POLISH program, contact Jacinta Addamo

V/Line staff volunteering at a mentoring session in 2022

Looking ahead to Victoria 2026

V/News caught up with Project Director Commonwealth Games

Scott Wheeler for an update as preparations continue for the Victoria 2026 Games.

Is it true you’re an Australian Army soldier who served overseas?

“You can’t hide anything today, can you? I was in various operational roles. The military teaches you how to plan, how to run complicated things and how to utilise space effectively. It’s come in super handy coordinating the many moving parts in planning for the Games.”

How is planning going with the Games only 36 months away?

“We’ve got the best people for the best chance of success. We’ve bolted out of the blocks – pun intended – working with various Games stakeholders, from Victoria Police to the Department of Transport and Planning, and others. We’re forging a masterplan, covering operations to network resilience to station enhancements.

“The Commonwealth Games Transport team is considering the details of how to move fans across five regional venues. The Network Strategy, Commonwealth Games and Timetable team directed by Lisa Stolt is helping work through those logistical and operational requirements.”

Does five host cities mean five times the challenge?

“It’s five times more exciting! There’s enormous interest in Victoria’s multicity model, which will change the face of the Games.

“Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton will host 20 sports and nine para-sports. It’s like organising five separate Games.

“When working for PTV, I visited the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and we’re also studying last year’s Birmingham Games.

“V/Line is seen by everyone I speak to as critical to the Games’ success.

We’ve got the best relationship with regional Victoria and in-house expertise, to help showcase Victoria to the world and deliver an epic Games experience.”

How will fans get home when events finish late?

“We’re integrating the transport plan into the Games schedule, so train and coach services will align with event times.

“Victoria is the events capital of the world. We know how to stage blockbuster events and transport services. Victorians love major events, and the industry is well placed to put on a Games we can all be proud of.”

What will success look like?

“Knowing we did everything we could to stage the best Games possible, fans get the best experience, and Victoria showing the world once again how it’s done.”

Back in 2023: Women in Transport Mentoring Program

The Women in Transport (WiT) Mentoring Program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2023.

Running for six months from 24 April 2023 to 1 November 2023, the program includes networking opportunities, professional development sessions, training and resources, as well as ongoing assistance and guidance to structure mentee/mentor meetings.

The program is open to staff working in any role in Victoria’s transport

industry, and staff can apply to be either a mentor or mentee.

Mentee participation is open to all women (inclusive of transgender women) and non-binary and gender diverse people.

Mentor participation is open to anyone with at least five years’ experience in their field.

The program encourages and welcomes men as mentors, and people from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications for the WiT Mentoring Program opened on 6 March 2023 and will close on 6 April 2023.

To learn more, or to attend a program information session, visit the WiT Mentoring Program website

New simulator gets drivers on virtual track

V/Line’s Dockland Training Centre received an upgrade recently, with the installation of a new portable desktop train simulator.

The simulator was installed by a team from contractor Corys, who travelled from France to set up and test the system.

Head of Operations Training & Development Renee Cox said the simulator features a 32-inch curved screen showing the front view from a VLocity train cabin, two 24-inch touch screens, and controllers that replicate the main driver desk control equipment.

“Being portable, the simulator can be taken to train drivers in regional depots, and will enable more drivers throughout the network to make use of driving simulators in their training.

“The simulator is also compatible with those used by Metro Trains Melbourne, so we’ll be able to use their existing computer-generated imagery of metropolitan rail corridors in V/Line driver training.

“The new system also includes train modelling software which simulates

the operation of our VLocity trains, which can be programmed with different driving scenarios as part of the driver training process.”

The new portable desktop simulator is part of the Driver Training Simulator Upgrade Project, and was provided alongside 450 kilometres of new

computer-generated imagery for regional rail corridors.

The Driver Training Project will continue throughout 2023, with upgrades to V/Line’s two full mission cab-train simulators set to be completed late in the year.

L – R Driver Compliance Training Officers Craig Haber and Mark Michel with Corys engineer Thierry Caperan

V/Line embraces International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day 2023 has been marked across V/Line, with the Embracing Equity at V/Line event taking place at the 452 Flinders Street office on 9 March.

The event was part of wider International Women’s Day celebrations across V/Line and featured a keynote address from Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, as well as a panel discussion with Executive Director People & Integrity AnnMichel Greenwood, Director

Train Services Elizabeth Reddy, Traralgon Regional Driver Supervisor Helen Candir and Southern Cross Customer Services Manager Lesla Shortis.

More than 100 V/Line staff attended in person, with a further 240 tuning

in to the live stream. Engine Room also played host to a range of stories featuring V/Line women across the week.

If you missed Embracing Equity at V/Line, the recording is available here

Meet Geelong’s all-female way maintainer crew

Muna Almuaalim, Elyce Hague, Steph Parletta and Chi Trinh have 90 minutes to complete an emergency repair before re-opening the line for the next freight train.

All of the women joined V/Line from other industries – Steph was previously in retail and holds formal electronic technology qualifications, Chi worked for cosmetics brand Mecca, while Muna lost her chef job at Melbourne’s Art Centre due to the pandemic.

Holding a chemical engineering degree, Elyce was a butcher for eight years before working at a company

making carbon-fibre wheels for Ferraris and other high-performance cars. Completing the team is Nikki Talbot, who was a personal trainer for seven years before joining V/Line.

The team loves their work and said it beats the nine-to-five routine of their previous roles.

“I’m surprised I’m here. I love it. I’ve never worked with tools before and it’s exciting to be learning something new every day,” Muna said.

Elyce said she was proud to be part of the first female team of way maintainers.

“There’s a misconception with night shift that you won’t have time to do mum things, but I see and spend more time with my kids than I did in my previous jobs.”

The team’s manager, Track Supervisor Darren Duffy, was full of praise for the group.

“We’re proud to have the first allfemale track maintenance team in V/Line’s history,” Darren said.

“They’re unstoppable – they cut rail, swing hammers, clip tracks.

“It’s fantastic to see them going from entry level, moving into higher positions and taking on the big roles.”

On a stretch of the Warrnambool line near Colac, at 2am on one of the hottest nights of the year, V/Line’s first all-female team of way maintainers were hard at work laying new tracks in more ways than one.

Muna Almuaalim, Chi Trinh, Steph Parletta and Elyce Hague

Get together for A Taste of Harmony

A Taste of Harmony is Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity, focusing on food to bring people together.

The event is an opportunity to share, discover and learn about each other’s cultural heritage through good food and great conversations.

V/Line will be celebrating A Taste of Harmony from 20 to 24 March, with staff able to celebrate in a range of ways, including hosting A Taste of Harmony event using a specially prepared event kit.

The kit comes complete with recipe cards, posters, bunting and a fun cultural quiz, ensuring that staff can celebrate A Taste of Harmony wherever they are across the V/Line network.

The V/Line Recipe Book is also making its return in 2023, with staff encouraged to try the already available recipes, as well as submit their own.

To learn more about celebrating A Taste of Harmony in 2023, please visit the Engine Room.

INTRODUCING HELEN CANDIR

Helen has been Traralgon’s Regional Driver Supervisor for the past two years and had been driving for V/Line for three years prior. She joined V/Line after 13 years as a driver for Metro Trains Melbourne. In her current role, Helen is responsible for managing 31 drivers on the Gippsland line.

Helen on V/Line:

“I really like that V/Line has great values and is a supportive, inclusive place to work. I believe in what V/Line is trying to achieve in terms of safety, equality and ensuring everyone feels valued. I’ve had plenty of options to develop my career and I’ve always been encouraged.

“As a regional driver supervisor, I like being the first point of call for my drivers, being able to support them with work issues, or even with life issues. I make sure they have everything they need to do their job safely and feel happy at work.”

On International Women’s Day: “It’s about celebrating the ways we’re different, as well as the ways we’re all equal in 2023.

“It’s not just celebrating how far we’ve come – it’s about having more opportunities for women and men. We’re getting to the point that people, especially young girls, can believe that they can achieve anything.”

On supporting gender equality: “It’s good when people speak up against inequality on someone else’s behalf. As a female who has worked in a male-dominated industry my whole adult life, it really means something when someone else speaks up as an ally for someone else’s equality.”

On blazing a trail:

“It’s a new situation for there to be so many women in driving now. When I started as a driver at Metro, what was then Connex, I was 21, I was the youngest female and there were nine female drivers – out of 700 men.

“Now I’m V/Line’s first female regional driver supervisor. I like thinking that I’m setting an example for the other female drivers so they can step into different roles in the future.

“When I think about who inspires me, I think of a former colleague who’s still at Metro Trains. When I was a young female train driver, I watched her be the first driver to take maternity leave. She returned to work afterward and went on to become Metro’s first female regional driver supervisor.

“She’s still a mentor to me, and someone I’ve definitely drawn strength from in my career, having watched her blaze that trail.”

On life outside of work:

“I spend time with my young daughter and son – I really like cooking for my family. People might be also surprised to know I sing and perform in musicals and bands.”

If you missed any of our V/Line in Profile International Women’s Day series, click here

Much-loved conductor calls time

Moe V/Line Conductor Paul Burley retired on 15 February after a career spanning 46 years in the railways.

Paul received well wishes from staff and passengers around the state during his last week.

A presentation took place at the end of his last shift, where Paul was given a gift highlighting his outstanding career.

Paul started at Warragul Station in July 1976 and has since worked more than 10,385 shifts and travelled more than 3.2 million kilometres – the equivalent of going around the earth 80 times. Within 12 months of starting on the rails, Paul was offered an opportunity to become a conductor based at Traralgon, where he remained for the rest of his career.

“I have had a great career and the staff have become like family –I will miss them,” Paul said.

“When I first started, we had the ‘red rattlers’ and there was no heating in them other than foot warmers on the frosty mornings.

“Some of my highlights were running the first train when it returned to Bairnsdale in 2004, and getting chosen to work the test runs for the VLocity trains when they were first built.”

Regional Manager East Tim Pianta said Paul had been a highly respected member of V/Line and was known for his friendly and professional demeanour.

“There is not a conductor in this region who has not gone out with Paul when they first started, to experience firsthand how to best run a train,” Tim said.

“Thank you Paul for your service to the Gippsland community and for all the passengers you have helped get where they need to go over your many years of service.”

Paul and his wife Dianna plan to spend their retirement between home in Moe and Lakes Entrance –with the occasional trip on the rails. All the best from everyone here at V/Line, Paul.

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Celebrating Victoria’s RAIL HISTORY

In this edition of Celebrating Victoria’s Rail History, we travel to Gisborne and Macedon stations.

Gisborne

Gisborne Station opened on 8 July 1861, when the railway line was extended from Sunbury to Woodend.

Like the town itself, the station was named after Henry Fyshe Gisborne, who was Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Port Phillip District between 1839-1840.

In 1910, the station became a block post for all trains on the line, with an interlocking frame added 12 years later. The 1990s saw multiple changes at Gisborne, with the B siding, the track that passed through the former goods shed, the connection between

the A siding and a crossover located at the up end of the station, all removed by 1994.

In 1996, boom barriers replaced hand gates at the Station Road level crossing, with the up end crossover also removed that year.

The 2000s was also a period of change, with the former goods shed destroyed by fire in 2000 and the interlocking frame abolished in January 2005.

In March 2014, the station platforms were extended to accommodate longer trains.

Macedon

Macedon Station opened on 8 July 1861 as Middle Gully before being renamed Macedon on 1 April 1870. Sidings and a crossover once existed at the station but were abolished in the 1980s.

The Victoria Street level crossing was closed to road traffic, except for emergency access vehicles in 1994, and closed altogether in 1995.

Like Gisborne Station, platform extensions for longer trains were completed at Macedon in 2014.

Gisborne Station circa 1922

Gisborne Station in 2006

Historic photo of Macedon Station, date unknown

Macedon Station in more recent times

In the next edition, we’ll visit Woodend and Kyneton.

More support for the Blood Challenge

V/Line’s strong position in the Blood Challenge has continued, with 59 donations completed before the drive closed on 14 March.

Among those donations was CEO Matt Carrick and a team of staff, who visited the Melbourne Lifeblood donor centre on Collins Street on 1 March.

Congratulations to all staff who have donated across the course of the Blood Challenge and keep an eye out for the final results at the end of March.

Fare cap draws closer

Teams across V/Line continue to work together to prepare for the introduction of the fare cap, which will take effect from 31 March.

The fare cap will bring regional fares in line with the metropolitan rate, capping the cost of a daily ticket on the regional network at $9.20 for a full fare or $4.60 for a concession.

To get the latest information ahead of the fare cap implementation, check the comprehensive FAQs page on Engine Room.

L-R: Southern Cross Customer Services Manager Lesla Shortis, Bacchus Marsh Services Officer Kane Vicary-Lovegrove, CEO Matt Carrick, Southern Cross Services Officer Christine Nimmett, Asset Insights Manager Kieran Sager

Waurn Ponds duplication works ongoing

Works are progressing to transform South Geelong and Marshall stations and deliver more frequent and reliable services for the growing communities nearby, with more than 400 people working 21,000 hours during a nine-day line disruption in February.

While coaches replaced trains on the Geelong and Warrnambool lines, more than five kilometres of signal cable relocation was completed in the rail corridor to prepare for track duplication.

Trenching for new signalling infrastructure between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds continued, with around 2.5 kilometres of cabling works completed.

Volunteers take flight at Avalon

As people turned out in their thousands for the 2023 Australian International Airshow at Avalon, V/Line’s south-west team and volunteers were on hand at Lara Station to welcome and guide

Open to the public from 3 to 5 March, the 2023 Avalon Airshow was the first to be held since 2019 after the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fencing was installed at the stations and within the rail corridor, and construction continued on access tracks, with 3,500 tonnes of soil removed during the disruption.

Minor works continued at the Waurn Ponds stabling facility, including signal testing, asphalting and landscaping, to prepare the yard for operation later this year to boost V/Line’s train stabling capacity.

Executive Director Operations Rochelle Reynolds with Regional Manager South West Stuart Beardwell.

Back L-R: Conductor Geelong Lorraine Gillett, Customer Services Manager Ballarat Alex Butteriss, Customer Services Manager Bendigo Allan Lever

Front L-R: Digital Customer Experience & Ticketing Manager Matthew Grindrod, Executive Assistant Pina Scicluna, Customer Operations Business Improvement Manager Larissa Scanlon.

L-R: Regional Manager South West Stuart Beardwell, Wyndham Vale Services Officer Luke Beaton, Executive Assistant Pina Scicluna, Customer Services Manager South West David Naylor, CEO Matt Carrick, Customer Experience Advisor Hannah McMaster, Customer Experience Officer Mish Hinde.

Compliments of the week

This compliment is from a passenger who attended one of the Harry Styles: Love

On Tour concerts at Marvel Stadium on 24 and 25 February.

This compliment is from a passenger with a mobility scooter, who travelled on one of the V/Line Minibus Project’s minibuses while coaches were replacing trains on the Geelong line.

“Thank you so much. I really hope you guys keep using the minibuses, as I often have to wait hours for a taxi when coaches replace trains. Keep up the great work and I mean it.”

Kili and Archer belong to Workforce Controller Team Leader Tara Dunn and her partner Connor.

Kili is a five-and-a-half yearold Australian cattle dog, or blue heeler.

Tara says Kili, who is named after one of the 13 dwarves from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, is incredibly sweet – an oversized lapdog who loves snuggling up to Tara while she reads.

Archer is a seven month-old Australian Shepherd, who Tara describes as too smart for his own good – she’s had to childlock most of her house to protect it from Archer’s curiosity!

The passenger boarding the minibus with two of V/Line’s Authorised Officers