V/Line fare reductions

[L2.]

I was in Victoria last weekend and made use of the V/Line rail service instead of driving to travel from Melbourne to Ararat, then return the following day, after realising that the journey would only cost $6.70 each way following the reduction in fares that commenced back in April.

This might be worth a look for anyone contemplating intrastate travel in Victoria, or to some interstate destinations close to the border which are also included in the new cap, which as of the recent fare rise on 01/07/2023 means that any one-way or same day return journey is capped at a maximum fare of $10.00 on weekdays, or $7.20 on weekends.

I found the service to be perfectly pleasant and comfortable for my journeys, neither of which were crowded, albeit I have seen media reports of overcrowding since the fare cap came into place. Perhaps daytrippers were put off on the day of my journey as the first 30 minutes of the trip was via a replacement bus to Sunshine, connecting with an onward train service, due to trackwork in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.

One of the best value journeys has to be that you can travel from Melbourne to Merimbula for $10 on weekdays or $7.20 on weekends, albeit it is a 9 hour journey of which is half is via coach, and the train no longer offers either first class or a buffet service on that line since they introduced new rollingstock. I can't see any Qantas or REX fares currently advertised for MEL - MIM costing less than $179 for comparison.

 

[Mwenenzi]

During the week a lot of daily commuters on some V-Lines going/to from work. ~7:00-08:30 & 16:00-18:00

 

[Melburnian1]

One of the best value journeys has to be that you can travel from Melbourne to Merimbula for $10 on weekdays or $7.20 on weekends, albeit it is a 9 hour journey of which is half is via coach, and the train no longer offers either first class or a buffet service on that line since they introduced new rollingstock. I can't see any Qantas or REX fares currently advertised for MEL - MIM costing less than $179 for comparison.

Melbourne to Mildura is also the fares you quote, with pensioners, some students and seniors paying half those fares.

This route can also have very high air fares. Coaches connect at Swan Hill to and from trains boiund for or originating from Southern Cross.

You could also go to Adelaide or Canberra on V/Line by part coach, part train: an additional fee (extra fare) of about $23 applies for a single (i.e. one way). It was $21.30 extra but has risen on 1 July 2023 by about eight per cent. Very economical compared with typical air fares, and pleasant enough travel, especially on the rail sections.

 

[L2.]

Today was the final day of the older 'N set' locomotive hauled trains from the 1980s on the Warrnambool line, which is closing for trackwork for the next two weeks, and will be serviced exclusively by newer trains when it re-opens.

This means the end of the onboard buffet service and checked luggage for that line, as the newer 'Vlocity' trains they're replacing them with were built for shorter journeys, and don't have either a buffet module or a luggage hold.

The older trains being replaced also have a carriage with forward-facing reclining seats that was formerly known as 'first class' until 2023, and since then has been bookable to anybody at the standard fare.

This leaves the services to Swan Hill and Albury as the only ones left with a buffet, following similar 'improvements' to other lines in the recent past, and only the Swan Hill line still retaining the 'N set' trains that have a checked luggage facility and the not-quite-first-class carriage.

IMO it's not ideal, but I could suffer a 3.5 - 4 hour long train journey without these amenities, although it's close to intolerable for those travelling further with coach connections, e.g. any poor souls doing a 6.5 hour long trip from Mount Gambier to Melbourne.

I lost interest in doing the Melbourne - Bairnsdale - Canberra trip again (although it's very scenic!) when they removed those facilities from the Bairnsdale train, meaning you have to wait over 6 hours after leaving Melbourne until the bus eventually stops for a meal break in the very small town of Cann River.

 

[TonyDoh]

Perhaps someone from the Qantas "enhancement" team has left the airline and joined VLine...

 

[Austman]

Today was the final day of the older 'N set' locomotive hauled trains from the 1980s on the Warrnambool line, which is closing for trackwork for the next two weeks, and will be serviced exclusively by newer trains when it re-opens.

Then I accidentally travelled on one of the last "N Sets" from Warrnambool to Melbourne on Friday 28th March!

The previous "First Class" seats (2-2 configuration) were indeed available for the standard price on a first come basis.

I had a empty seat beside for the entire journey.

I won't say the newer trains are terrible. I had one on my Melbourne to Warrnambool direction. They had 2-2 seating as well. And the toilets were heaps better! But no buffet.