V/Line

V/Line is proud to be a finalist in this year’s Victorian Training Awards in the Large Employer of the Year category. The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of organisations and individuals in the Victorian vocational education sector. V/Line’s shortlisting recognises our innovative training programs, which give staff the practical skills they need to run and maintain our complex train network. Our engaging training courses include certificates in train driving, customer service, rail infrastructure and signalling. We also have a range of accredited programs, including Safeworking and Track Inspector. This year’s awards will be presented on 30 August. Congratulations to all our fellow nominees. To find out more about working at V/Line visit: https://lnkd.in/g9wvYEp

V/Line is proud to be a finalist in this year’s Victorian Training Awards in the Large Employer of the Year category. The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of organisations and individuals in the Victorian vocational education sector. V/Line’s shortlisting recognises our innovative training programs, which give staff the practical skills they need to run and maintain our complex train network. Our engaging training courses include certificates in train driving, customer service, rail infrastructure and signalling. We also have a range of accredited programs, including Safeworking and Track Inspector. This year’s awards will be presented on 30 August. Congratulations to all our fellow nominees. To find out more about working at V/Line visit: https://lnkd.in/g9wvYEp

This month marks 20 years since the return of passenger trains to Ararat. Trains had operated to and from Ararat since 1875 before passenger services beyond Ballarat were discontinued in May 1994. The line was reopened in July 2004. Now – two decades on – Ararat Line trains are seeing record patronage since the introduction of the regional fare cap, as passengers continue to make the most of cheaper fares. Planning is also underway for the introduction of two additional return services per day on Saturday and Sundays, as part of almost 200 weekend services being progressively delivered across the network. Photo courtesy of Chris Gordon from the community celebration in 2004.

A great team effort by everyone at Deer Park Station who rescued malamute Khaleesi after she wandered onto the tracks recently. Our quick-thinking staff, Authorised Officers and Protective Services Officers were able safely reunite her with owner Sean after an eventful night for the curious canine.

370 years! That’s how much experience this soon-to-be-retired group of V/Line drivers chalked up between them. Families and colleagues gathered at Southern Cross Station last week as V/Line said farewell and thank you to these eight loyal, long-serving employees. Neil Kinkead (56 years), Les Kosewski (53 years), Ken Hambleton (52 years), Wayne Coleman (48 years) and Colin Holly (43 years) were each presented with a special plaque by Acting V/Line CEO Jonathan McKeown recognising their years of service. Trevor Luxford (42 years), David Robinson (39 years) and Michael Williams (48 years) were unable to attend the ceremony. We thank this group for helping our passengers get where they needed to go over many decades and offer them our best wishes for the future. V/Line has more than 600 drivers delivering services across regional Victoria each week and is continuing to expand its workforce to help meet the needs of growing communities. Anyone looking to join V/Line as a train driver can stay up to date with opportunities via our website - https://lnkd.in/g9wvYEp

Attention Maryborough! We’re celebrating a major milestone on the Murray Basin Rail Project this week with the completion of the Ararat-Maryborough Line upgrade. Come on down to Maryborough Station tomorrow morning (Thursday 18 July) at 7am to see an unveiling of artworks painted by acclaimed local artist Kyle Torney. Seven paintings by Kyle of fruits, nuts and grains moved by rail via the Murray Basin freight network will adorn locomotives hauling produce across the state’s north-west. The painted loco will be travelling along the Yelta Line over the coming months so keep your eyes open for these incredible works. If you love art, trains and Victorian produce, please come and join us.

This #NAIDOCWeek, we’re celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.   Deer Park Services Officer Christine is one of V/Line’s proud First Nations staff.   “When I see how big NAIDOC Week and other reconciliation events are now, it makes me feel so proud,” Christine said.   “The new station at Deer Park opened recently and we had a smoking ceremony, which is almost standard practice for opening new buildings now, the recognition of Aboriginal culture is so embedded.”   At V/Line we acknowledge all First Nations Australians of the beautiful lands upon which our services travel, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. You can learn more about NAIDOC Week at naidoc.org.au

Eureka!     This year’s V/Line Cup will be played in Ballarat for the first time,  featuring the best under 15 footballers from across regional Victoria.     V/Line Acting CEO Jonathan McKeown joined AFL Victoria and City of Ballarat representatives at Mars Stadium this week, to announce Ballarat as the host for the 2024 three-day tournament.    Around 600 players and officials from across regional Victoria and their families, will be welcomed to Ballarat during AFL Grand Final week in September.    Games are scheduled to be played at Mars Stadium, Sebastopol and Learmonth.    The V/Line Cup has a rich history dating back to 1949 and we have proudly supported the event for the past 20 years – recently announcing a three-year extension of our partnership with AFL Victoria.        We are thrilled to continue supporting this important junior sporting event and look forward to once again being part of all the action this September. 

It’s not every day we have such a unique passenger at Southern Cross Station.    This prehistoric visitor was inspecting one of our wrapped VLocity trains to celebrate the Victoria the T-Rex exhibition at Melbourne Museum   The exhibition features the real fossil skeleton of ‘Victoria’, a 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus – the biggest T-Rex fossil ever to be shown in Australia.    V/Line has enjoyed a partnership with Museums Victoria for over a decade and with daily fares now just $10.60 as part of the regional fare cap, we are thrilled to bring travellers from across the state to exciting events like this one.     So why not jump aboard a V/Line train to the city and check out this dino-mite exhibition. 

For two decades, our partnership with AFL Victoria through the V/Line Cup has been kicking plenty of goals for aspiring young footballers. Since 2004, more than 100 players have been drafted into the AFL and AFLW – and V/Line is delighted to announce we’re extending our support for the V/Line Cup for another three years. The V/Line Cup is Victoria’s premier under 15s representative footy carnival for country boys and girls, with more than 600 players, officials and umpires coming together for the event. We look forward to continuing to support this invaluable competition and seeing the next generation of the state’s rising stars showcase their skills. Stay tuned for more details from AFL Victoria on the host city for this year’s V/Line Cup competition. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gAgagxBx