VLOCITY

The 'VLocity 160' (normally just 'VLocity') is a high speed diesel multiple unit train manufactured by Bombardier Transportation (contract inherited from Adtranz) for use on regional rail lines in Victoria, Australia, running under V/Line. As of 2006 they are the newest in V/Line's fleet, the previous being the Sprinter manufactured by Goninan (now United Rail)

Contents

Design Origins

Manufacturing and Testing

Passenger experience

Technical

Introduction into Service

Controversy

Accidents

Resources

References

Design Origins

The VLocity is an evolution of the Xplorer/Endeavour railcars built by ABB Transportation (now Bombardier Transportation) for CountryLink and CityRail, respectively, in NSW, themselves being derivatives of Transwa Australind railcars. National Express Group specified the NSW design as part of its bid to operate V/Line under the public transport privatisation scheme of the Kennett government in the late 1990s. The train was originally known as a 'V/Locity' (with the slash character).
The initial design called for a maximum running speed of 145km/h, this was later modified to 160km/h as part of the Regional Fast Rail project of the Bracks Labor government.

Manufacturing and Testing

38 VLocity two-car DMUs were ordered from the Bombardier Transportation plant in Dandenong. While the design was frozen before National Express Group exited its public transport contracts in 2003, following publicity, drinking fountains, previously not provided, were added to the specifications.
Late testing revealed noise levels that were too high in the cabin ^[1], delaying the introduction of the trains into service while the completed sets were modified.
A further two VLocity units to bring the total to 41, and 14 new carriages to go in the middle of existing VLocity sets (extending them to three carriages each) have been promised by the Labor Party for 2006/2007.^[2]

Passenger experience

The seating layout for the VLocity is 2x2, with a mix of 'club' style seats facing each other, and aircraft style rows. Four wheelchair spaces are provided in each set though the provision of tip up seats.
The VLocity offers economy-class seating only, although the seat width is equivalent to first class seating on V/Line locomotive-hauled services. ^[3]
Passengers may move freely between the two semi-permanently-coupled vehicles in a set. Conductors transfer between coupled sets at station stops when necessary, including for checking tickets.
Overhead rails exist for small baggage, while larger baggage is stored in the middle of the unit, with some spaces large enough for surfboards and bicycles.

Technical

Power is provided by a Cummins QSK 19R diesel engine (559kW) in each car. While the same engines are known to power 200km/h trains, it is believed by some that such a change would not be significant in terms of travel time.
VLocity units use Scharfenberg couplers. During early testing or breakdowns, they can be towed by other VLocity units, Sprinters or locomotives with transition couplers.
Air Radiators of Geelong provided engine cooling systems.^[4]
The VLocity runs on Victorian broad gauge, as with all other V/Line services. The bogies were made at Bombardier's plant in Derby, UK and are fully gauge convertible to standard gauge.^[5]
To increase capacity, and free up units, the Victorian Government has announced 14 additional motorized carriages with 80 seats to be placed in the middle of existing VLocity units, and two additional VLocity units will be built (not including the extra 1100 car being built to replace accident-damaged 1129).

Introduction into Service

The VLocity was introduced into service on the Ballarat line on December 22, 2005. Services on the Geelong and Bendigo lines were introduced on February 3, 2006 and February 24, 2006 respectively. Services to Traralgon and Seymour were introduced in September 2006.
Tables were installed in one unit, VL28, for evaluation purposes, ^[6]
160km/h services officially started on September 3, 2006, to Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong, and to Traralgon on September 15 2006. Outside these areas, where the VLocity is still accredited to operate for revenue passenger operations, they may travel up to 130km/h. As part of the 160km/h deployment, trains without TPWS, such as the majority of freight trains, may only travel at 80km/h on RFR track.
It is unknown if the VLocity will see service past existing destinations, such as Marshall to Warrnambool,^[7].

Controversy

As the VLocity seating layout is 2x2 instead of 2x3 on other V/Line trains, the VLocity is less suited to crush loads than older rolling stock. Some travellers have complained of overcrowding on VLocity services,^[8]
As with other projects in the Regional Fast Rail project, the VLocity has been used as political ammunition against the State Government for late delivery and cost blowouts.

Accidents

On Friday April 28, 2006, VLocity Set 29 (cars 1129 and 1229) derailed on its way from Ararat, at a level crossing near Beaufort when it collided with a farmers truck. Two passengers were confirmed dead with an unknown injury count. Set 29 had only been in service since the 21st of April - 7 days before the accident. ^[9]. Car 1129 was written off, and car 1229 was returned to Bombardier Dandenong for repairs and to be mated with a new replacement for 1129. ^[10]
On Friday, May 5, 2006 VLocity Set 04 travelling on the 9:38AM service from Melbourne to Ararat collided with a Car at the Rockbank Level Crossing near Ballarat. At the time, 30 people were on the train and the driver of the car was taken to hospital. The level crossing was protected and train services were delayed until 2:30 the same afternoon.

Resources

# Official information page at V/Line
#V/Linecars.com information page (Unofficial)
#Vicsig.net information page (Unofficial)
#Railpage Australia (Unofficial)

References

1. Fast trains strike costly sound hitch
2. Provincial Victoria: Moving Forward - Not Back
3. New VLocity trains (official V/Line information) retrieved 9th November, 2006
4. Track and Signal Vol 10. #2, pg. 103
5. http://www.vlinecars.com/vlocimg_constr.htm
6. Tables installed in VL28, V/Linecars.com
7. During the design of the VLocity, West Coast Railway operated the Warrnambool line and was not included in the RFR project
8. (exact citation needed), Geelong Advertiser letters section, mid-February?
9. "Two Dead in Train Crash", The Age, retrieved 28 April 2006
10. "VL29", Vicsig.net forums, retrieved 18 September 2006