The Victorian Government is giving ten retired V/Line trains a new lease of life hauling freight across the state after securing a lease agreement with private freight operator Southern Shorthaul Railroad.
V/Line has leased the N-Class trains to the operator on a long-term contract, helping to boost Victoria’s freight capacity and meet increased demand, particularly in grain and intermodal haulage.
V/Line led the program, supported by Freight Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and the Department of Treasury and Finance.
As more of V/Line’s classic fleet trains are progressively replaced with modern VLocity trains, there’s an opportunity for locomotives to be repurposed on the freight network.
I will be doing a Swan Hill daytrip over the Easter long weekend. Shortly this will be the only remaining loco hauled V/line passenger service, and the only loco hauled passenger service in Victoria other than the Overland (excluding heritage and any of Journey Beyond’s rail cruises which I’m not counting for obvious reasons).
I understand the only other loco-hauled service is one Geelong - Melbourne weekday AM trip which goes back again in the PM.
They really need either a new longer distance train with the appropriate amenities, or to buy Vlocities properly kitted out (or whack a buffet car into some of the existing 3 car sets).
Longer term they should be electrifying the commuter routes with 25KV AC (as far as Waurn Ponds, Wendouree, Epsom / Eaglehawk, Seymour and Traralgon) and replacing the Vlocities with electric stock that can run on that and 1500V DC, then all trains beyond the wires should be fitted with longer distance amenities and capable of running under the wires inbound of where they end.
They could start procuring regional trains that are bi-mode (if only to get the diesel stink out of Southern Cross - sheesh!), and then progressively extend the wires to places like Melton and Wyndham Vale. I think that would be much simpler and cheaper than putting in different 25kV AC system, even if that were the ideal solution.