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).
History
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,delaying the introduction of the trains into service while the completed sets were modified.
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.
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.
From 2010 some Ballarat line services will be extended to Maryborough.
Additions to the fleet
After the initial order of 28 units, a further two VLocity units were later ordered to bring the total to 40, along with 22 new intermediate trailers to go in the middle of existing VLocity sets (extending them to three carriages each). The first 14 were promised as part of the 2006 State Election campaign by the Labor Party in November 2006, and the order being placed in December the same year, and the order for the next eight announced on 12 October 2007. The first centre car, numbered 1341, has been placed in the middle of set 1141-1241, so that is now a three-car set. As of December 2008, seven such centre cars are now in service (in VLocities numbered VL35 to VL41).
In July 2008 the State Government unveiled a $236 million package of regional rail improvements, including nine new 3 car units, and a additional centre car to be inserted into an existing 2 car unit.
In December 2008 the state government announced an order for an additional eight 3 car units.
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