By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
SOME V/Line services will be replaced with buses after a “higher than normal wheel wear” was detected on some of the train carriages made by a Dandenong-based company.
In the last month V/Line has identified the higher-than-usual wheel wear on some of its VLocity carriages, which are made by Bombardier Transportation in Dandenong.
It’s reported that the operator is inspecting all 59 of the trains and will undertake maintenance on those not up to standard, which will see fewer carriages available and some services replaced with buses.
It is understood that about a quarter of the VLocity fleet has been taken off the rails for repair.
In a statement released on Thursday 14 January, V/Line said it is working “closely” with Bombardier to schedule the required maintenance so that carriages can be returned to the service “as soon as possible”.
“V/Line, Bombardier and an independent expert from the Institute of Rail Technology are investigating the cause of the issue,” the statement read.
“We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding and we’ll continue to do everything possible to ensure you experience a safe and comfortable journey.”
The high wear on the wheels – manufactured by Newcastle company Comsteel – is believed to be result of part of the wheel, known as the flange, deteriorating at a very fast rate.
As a result of the maintenance, several services were cancelled on the Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines on Thursday 14 January.
“Safety is our number one priority at V/Line. We will never compromise on safety and will continue to complete inspections of carriages and tracks to ensure services operate safely,” the V/Line statement said.
All information about these changes will be posted via the traffic light tool on the V/Line website, V/Line Twitter pages and via station announcements.
For more information, visit www.vline.com.au.
