Select Committee on Train Services Rob Barnett , Chief Executive Officer Ursula McGinnes , GM Stakeholder Relations Greg Wilson , Manager Network Services and Performance 5 October 2009
V/Line is Victoria’s largest regional public transport provider Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 2
We are Victoria’s largest regional public transport operator. Our 1382 staff work hard to get people where they need to go, running 1400 train and 600 coach services every week. We operate 83 stations across the network and run an extensive fleet of trains. We provide access for passenger and freight services and maintain 3700 kms of regional track and infrastructure. We are a state-owned entity and report to the Minister for Public Transport and the Treasurer. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 3
Growth of 82% growth between June 2005 and June 2009: unparalleled in any other Australian public transport service Five year patronage growth 7.25 2004-05 2005-06 7.64 2006-07 9.72 2007-08 11.96 2008-09 13.17 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 million trips Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 4
Strong growth across the four Regional Fast Rail lines Gippsland Bendigo 2004-05 0.85 2004-05 1.32 2005-06 0.82 2005-06 1.47 2006-07 1.05 2006-07 2.2 2007-08 1.54 2007-08 2.78 2008-09 1.77 2008-09 3.06 0 1 2 0 2 4 million trips million trips Ballarat Geelong 2004-05 1.35 2004-05 1.84 2005-06 1.37 2005-06 2.03 2006-07 1.88 2006-07 2.57 2007-08 2.39 2007-08 3.08 2008-09 2.68 2008-09 3.38 0 2 4 0 2 4 million trips million trips Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 5
Regional Fast Rail facts RFR was a generational change for the regional train network with: - 38 new award-winning VLocity trains (travelling at speeds up to 160km/h) - 500 km of upgraded track - 400 new and upgraded railway signals - 460,000+ concrete sleepers - 170 upgraded level crossings - new rail safety systems - new fibre optic signalling Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 6
Origin of success was V/Line’s new RFR timetable ‘ More services, more often at times you want to travel’ - more than 400 extra services every week into regional services - 287 weekday services - 114 weekend services - new flagship services to each regional centre - ‘shoulder peak' services and hourly off-peak services - late night trains, and - increased seating capacity on new modern trains. The timetable drew on extensive community and customer research and feedback. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 7
Bairnsdale Patronage 140,000 Patronage (boardings) 120,000 100,000 80,000 The return of train 60,000 services to Bairnsdale 40,000 and Ararat have been 20,000 - incredibly successful. 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 Bairnsdale 74,236 68,483 75,005 100,484 126,929 Fin. Year From the first year of returned operations, Ararat Patronage patronage grew by 71% 40000 on the Bairnsdale line and 55% on the Ararat Patronage (boardings) 30000 line. 20000 Return of services to 10000 Maryborough by mid- 2010 will be welcomed by 0 the local community. 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 Ararat 25473 26178 25774 33663 39529 Fin. Year Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 8
Extreme heat in January and February 2009 challenged Victoria’s transport network – as it did other utilities such as power and roads. This was not new for V/Line as regional Victoria experiences more hot days than Melbourne every year . Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 9
During January and February 2009 parts of regional Victoria were hotter for longer than Melbourne… just as it is every year. January days over Towns 32° 36° 40° Bendigo 16 9 6 Shepparaton 20 11 6 Echuca 21 14 6 Swan Hill 22 14 7 February days over Towns 32° 36° 40° Bendigo 10 5 3 Shepparaton 13 7 4 Echuca 14 8 4 Swan Hill 11 10 6 Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 10
V/Line applies speed restrictions for safe running in extreme heat • If rail temperature exceeds the stress-free temperature of the rail, the rails expand and can force sleepers to move sideways creating a buckle. • The critical components are the ballast quality / quantity and sleeper quality. Typically rail is 60 kg/m. • Speed restrictions are applied to reduce the forces applied by passing trains and also to allow trains the chance to stop in the event of a buckle. • Heat speed restrictions are applied by all track managers including ARTC, TransPerth, West Rail, QR and even in the United Kingdom. • Speed restrictions are applied to both timber and concrete track but typically the restrictions are more severe and introduced at lower temperatures on timber. • Once air temperatures exceed 40°C on all track the restrictions become quite severe. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 11
Communicating heat speed restrictions to travellers • We explain to customers what to expect on hot days and that heat speed restrictions between midday and 8pm may mean: - some longer trips - some trains may connect with coaches • Since program was in place, customer enquiries on this issue have reduced. • People knew what to expect because they have been informed. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 12
Under pressure Jan-Feb 2009: We worked together with one unifying principle: getting our customers to where they were going with minimal inconvenience, regardless if this was by train or by replacement coach. We put our operational plan in place and we communicated in advance as much as possible, so people knew the change to their travel arrangements. And people were understanding – they knew the circumstances were difficult and that we were working in their best interests. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 13
Extreme weather performance 13 January- 7 February 2009 Train services: put our operational plan into place early • Scheduled services = 5,341 • Services operated = 4,979 (93%) • Train services cancelled/replaced = 362 • Coaches Utilised = 1,665 Air conditioning issues – isolated to older trains (N-sets) • 53 cancellations due to air conditioning failures. • 93% cancellations were on loco hauled trains – VLocity and Sprinter trains performed well. • Fewer customer complaints about air conditioning in 2009 than in 2008. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 14
Extreme weather performance (cont.) 13 January- 7 February 2009 Customer communication • Advanced information through our new SMS notification system (V/Line Inform) • Regular web updates • Embedded travel information through the ABC – particularly effective during the bushfire period • Communication was difficult at times at Southern Cross Station and other key stations. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 15
Improvements in place for summer 2009-10 • Fire preparations - Vegetation management and fire plans in place early • Operational plan - Ongoing refinement of plan based on the conditions at the time - Continuous improvement programs and initiatives such as night shift train maintenance and extra supervision in yard operations • Internal Communication - Improved communication flow from yard operations to Southern Cross Station Control Room, providing better information to frontline staff • Staff safety - Heat and exhaustion management - Bush fire protocols Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 16
Improvements in place for summer 2009-10 (continued) • Air conditioning - Servicing and modifications to reduce failures. • Strengthening communication to customers - Wider promotion of V/Line Inform. - Real time updates on the web. - Advance communication through ABC, regional news sources. Select Committee into Train services 5 October 2009 Slide 17
Slide 18 Questions 5 October 2009 Select Committee into Train services
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