Full steam ahead for myki - V/Line

Full steam ahead for mykifrom coverIt also means that if you board at anunstaffed station, you can top up yourmyki before travelling, instead of havingto buy a ticket from the conductor.V/Line tickets migrating to myki arethe single, return, weekly, monthly,date-to-date and off peak tickets, allof which can be accessed using mykifare products.For single, daily and off-peak ticketsyou should switch to myki money,while those using weekly, monthly ordate-to-date tickets should switch tomyki pass.Weekly, monthly and date-to-datetickets will no longer be available topurchase after the last service on23 September 2013, but all othersingle use tickets will still be availablefor some time.To find out more, you can also visit thetemporary PTV Hub on the ground floorof Southern Cross Station near themyki barriers.Message from the CEOHello everyone,I’ve been in the role of CEO with V/Line for a little morethan a month now and I’m honoured to be heading up anorganisation which is the lifeblood of regional Victoria.Although a native Queenslander, the Melbourne I know isprosperous and cosmopolitan while managing to maintaina friendly feel. Regional Victoria, I was told, was a mixture ofbeauty, history, humour and heart. And after my whirlwind tour of the state, it’severything I thought it would be, and more.The staff I’ve met tell me it’s our customers that make their jobs worthwhile.And you’ve told me how important V/Line is to your lives, be it commuting or justcatching the train from time to time. Coming from a very customer-focussed roleat Queensland Rail I am passionate about providing uncompromising service.I will continue to uphold V/Line’s hard-won reputation, not just as public transportprovider, but also as an integral part of the community which supports local businessand its people.In my short time at V/Line I’ve made my passion for safety well known amongst ourteam. With more than 1400 people under my care I don’t want anyone jeopardisingtheir safety, regardless of the task at hand. I feel the same way about ourcustomers. I place the utmost importance on level crossing safety so please respectthe railway. Remember that dashing across tracks in front of trains can cost lives.I will continue to give you regular updates about your services and our excitingfuture.Theo TaifalosChief Executive OfficerPage 2

RRL updateNetwork improvementsV/Line programmed two weeks ofintensive maintenance on its Ballaratand Bendigo lines over the July schoolholidays (29 June to 14 July 2013).Bendigo line works included thereplacement of 3600 old woodensleepers with concrete over threekilometres and the installation ofthree new bridges.The Ballarat line had more than1000 tonnes of ballast (crushedrock) replaced between Ballarat andRockbank plus tree trimming andweed removal.This coincided with majorconstruction works on the RegionalRail Link project between Deer Parkand Southern Cross Station.Coaches replaced all V/Line trainson the Ballarat and Bendigo linesfrom Saturday 29 June to Sunday14 July. We thank our customers fortheir patience during these essentialworks.Safety first for local schoolsV/Line recently teamed up with a Regional Rail Link project team to visit Deer Park Westand Ardeer primary schools to speak to the students about the importance of staying safearound construction zones and train lines.Representatives from V/Line and RRL asked the students some tricky questions aboutconstruction and train safety and were very impressed with their answers.At the end of the presentation the students received a small pack to thank them fortheir participation.The RRL Rail Systems project team is responsible for delivering Regional Rail Link’s traincontrol and signalling systems.Page 3

Work continues in GippslandV/Line has been running a track inspection train betweenTraralgon and Bairnsdale as part of a maintenance blitz onthe line while it is closed to passenger trains.The Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle (EM100) checks the trackgeometry and records technical data to be analysed by theinfrastructure team.The EM100 provides detailed information to pinpoint anysections of the line that require particular attention from ourmaintenance crews. V/Line CEO Theo Taifalos reminded localsthat even though passenger trains were not currently operatingdue to safety concerns with level crossing activation, it wasimportant to remain vigilant at level crossings.Infrastructure Evaluation Vehicle “EM100”.For updates, please look for V/Line’s regular “Gippsland line updates”in regional newspapers or visit: vline.com.au/gippslandlineInternational Awards for V/LineV/Line has won a prestigious award from the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).My LineWe took out the UITP Asia Pacific Region Customer Service Award for our My Line initiative.The trophy for customer service was part of the UITP’s Grow with Public Transport Awards andV/Line was judged the winner out of 26 public transport operators in the Asia Pacific region.My Line was launched in 2012 as V/Line’s integrated customer communications platform.Through My Line, V/Line now has thousands of followers on Twitter who receive real-time travelupdates tailored for each line on the network. A My Line app for smart phones is now available.V/Line also had its Guilt Trip campaign internationally recognised, winning three Bronze Lions at the Cannes Lions InternationalFestival of Creativity.Page 4

V/Line winter escapesWarm up this winter with hot offersexclusive to V/Line customers.With lots of great deals at restaurants,accommodation and attractions inMelbourne and throughout regionalVictoria, the V/Line Escape app is theperfect cure for the winter blues. Here area few of our favourites, but for many more,download the free V/Line Escape app today.Available for iPhone and Android.• Save 20%* at the 2013 Scarf Festivalat the National Wool Museum, Geelong7 June – 25 August• Get one free child entry per adult* at theDiscovery Science & Technology Centre,Bendigo• Save 10%* on all purchases at the Town& Country Gallery, Yarragon• Save 20% on either the Foodies DreamTour or Market Insider Shopping Tour atthe Queen Vic Market, Melbourne.*Terms and conditions apply. Go to vline.com.au formore information.Page 5

Rainforest adventure at aquariumGetting there: An easy walk from either Southern Crossor Flinders Street Station. Trams on Route 75 and the CityCircle stop right outside the aquarium.Get ready to be transported from the depths of the ocean tothe leafy surrounds of the Australian rainforest in MelbourneAquarium’s brand new Rainforest Adventure exhibit!Launching this winter school holidays, Rainforest Adventuregives visitors a chance to wonder at some of the truly uniqueanimals not found anywhere else in the world; including bizarrebugs, aquatic reptiles, river giants and ancient Australians.The new exhibit is Australia’s most interactive rainforestexperience. Visitors have the opportunity to encounter hermitcrabs and blue tongue lizards and come face-to-face with theworld’s largest collection of Archerfish in the all-new Billabong.V/Line customers get a 20 per cent discount on child, adult andconcession entry on presentation of a myki or V/Line ticket.Melbourne Aquarium in centrally located on the banks of theYarra River at the corner of King and Flinders streets. It is openevery day of the year from 9.30am to 6pm, last admissions at5pm. For further information visit melbourneaquarium.com.auPage 6

Melbourne International Film Festival25 July – 11 AugustMIFF returns this year to transform Melbourne with a jam-packed selection of global cinematic delights.Cannes highlights, critics’ favourites, award winners, rare gems, emerging stars, cult classics,family-friendly and youth flicks – MIFF has something for everyone! All your favouritefestival programs are back in 2013 along with a few surprises set to entertain, challenge andbroaden your perspectives.Go to miff.com.au or download the apps for iPhone, Android and iPad to stay up to date withticket information, news, special events and much more.Special offer:V/Line customers will receive a 20% discount on tickets to the Melbourne International Film Festival.Simply enter the promo code: VLINE when you book online at miff.com.au or mention you travelled onV/Line in person at the Box Office, located at The Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne.Getting there: MIFFuses a range of venues.Go to miff.com.au tofind out where your filmis playing. Your V/Lineticket gives you freetravel on metropolitantrains, trams andbuses.V/Line’s Wade Roberts, Faye Kearns and local carerNeil Morgan with the saved joey.Move over Kangaroo DundeeWhen a Bendigo train struck a kangaroo at Ravenswood last month V/Line staff savedan orphaned joey.Our drivers noticed the joey popping its head out of the pouch of the kangaroo.Train control contacted Wade Roberts from V/Line’s Infrastructure Team who came tothe rescue.He located the joey, wrapped it in a blanket and drove it back to the depot in Bendigo.Wade’s colleague Faye Kearns contacted Wildlife Rescue Emergency Services (WRES)and local carer Neil Morgan came to collect the orphaned joey.The 10 month old male joey is doing fine. He will grow up in a new family with joeys ofsimilar age and they will all be released together when they are 18 months old.Page 7

Ballarat International Foto Biennale17 August – 15 SeptemberBIFB’13 has two major exhibition programs:the curated Core Program which features21 Australian and International artists, andthe open entry Fringe Program – a city-widepresentation of over 100 shows stagedwithin galleries, project spaces, commercialbusinesses and public sites.The Biennale represents some of thebest and most innovative contemporaryphotographic practice encompassing allthe genres of photography from reportageto fine art, staged in heritage buildingsin Ballarat. The program of events isdesigned to educate and inspire. It includesthe Projections program, workshops,seminars and master-classes, artist floortalks,portfolio reviews, schools programand a photographic book prize. BIFB issupported the City of Ballarat and BallaratRegional Tourism.Special offer:V/Line customers are able to purchase aBIFB’13 catalogue at a discounted rate of$15 (normally $20)!Image: Erika DiettesGetting there: Just a 90 minute train ride from Melbourne with V/Line.Page 8

Kids train to be mini MonetsCreek Street Christian College kids show off their artwork in front of the Monet train.Brushing up on their Monet, Bendigo grade two students were asked to recreate a piece of art from Monet’s Garden – the NGV’sstunning exhibition devoted to Claude Monet’s iconic garden at Giverny.More than 20 grade twos from Creek Street Christian Collegewere at Bendigo Station in late June to display their canvassesand compare their work to the master’s Waterlilies (Nympheas)which adorns a V/Line train.With the exhibition now in full swing at the National Gallery ofVictoria on St Kilda Road, the train is a colourful reminder that anescape to Monet’s Garden is but a short trip away with V/Line.With the winter school holidays a challenge for families lookingfor something that ticks all the boxes, Monet’s eternal appealcombined with the adventure of the train or coach, makes it theperfect day trip for everyone.There’s also a discount for our customers who show theirV/Line ticket – adults at concession prices.The NGV also has painting workshops, guided talks, shortcourses and films, as well as a wonderful and diverse range ofschool programs to enhance the visit.Monet’s Garden runs until 8 September.Getting there: Catch a Metro train or a Route 75 tram fromSouthern Cross to Flinders Street Station.Page 9

Performance resultsMay 2013Short distance journeysLine Geelong Ballarat Bendigo Seymour Gippsland% of scheduledservices run% of scheduledservices on timeto 4 minutes59 secondsLong distance journeysLineServices run98.3% 96.3% 97.3% 99.9% 98.4%On time76.8% 86% 88.1% 91.3% 75.2%WarrnamboolArarat/MaryboroughSwan Hill/EchucaAlbury/WodongaServices runSheppartonBairnsdale(includesSale)#Large sections of track between Seymourand Albury are subject to speedrestrictions as ARTC work continues.➔ On short distance services, punctuality ismeasured on time to 5 minutes 59 seconds.➔ On long distance services, punctualityis measured on time to 10 minutes59 seconds.If your line did not meet its punctualityor reliability target and you have a validperiodical ticket of four weeks or more, youare eligible for a complimentary returnV/Line ticket as compensation.All compensation claims must include a validticket and be made in writing to: CustomerRelations, Reply Paid 5343, MelbourneVic 8060.Customers with further inquiries aboutV/Line performance should phone us on1800 800 007.Puzzle Solution% of scheduledservices run% of scheduledservices on timeto 9 minutes59 seconds100% 100% 99% 93.1% 99.4% 99.5%On time89% 95.7% 94.9% 46.3% # 78.7% 81.4%Page 10

SudokuSpend a few minutes solving thispuzzle, then check the solution onpage 10.SudokuTo solve a Sudoku puzzle, every numberfrom 1 to 9 must appear in:• Each of the nine vertical columns• Each of the nine horizontal rows• Each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes.Remember no number can occur morethan once in any row, column or box.V/Line Voice is printed on carbon neutral certifiedpaper. Maine Recycled–Silk features 60% certifiedpost-consumer waste recycled and 40% FSC certifiedvirgin fibre sourced from responsibly managed forests.Please dispose of this newsletter responsibly.Page 11