Plenty to do over the festive period - V/Line

ISSUE 62 December/January 2011
Plenty to do over
the festive period
The summer holidays may be quiet in the office, but there’s plenty on
offer over the Christmas break and summer months for those lucky
enough to have some time off.
For starters, V/Line services will be free all day on Christmas Day and on services
arriving at their destination after 18:00 on New Year’s Eve. Free travel is also available
on the first service leaving Melbourne to every regional destination on 1 January 2011.
Inside
3 Avalon
Airshow
4 Hanging
Rock Races
5 Zo o
Offers
A Day on
6 the Dam
7 Travellers
Aid
Win Vixens
8 membership
Check out the new V/Line website at vline.com.au
Victorian Country
9 Swimming
Championships
10 Performance
Results
Continued next page
11 Sudoku

Friday 24 December 2010, Christmas Eve
Normal train and coach services.
Saturday 25 December 2010, Christmas Day
Sunday train timetable. Special Christmas coach timetable applies.
Sunday 26 December 2010, Boxing Day
Sunday train and coach timetable. No Canberra via Bairnsdale coach.
Monday 27 December 2010, Public Holiday
Saturday train and coach timetable. The Mildura overnight coach will run.
Tuesday 28 December 2010, Public Holiday
A special train and coach timetable.
Friday 31 December 2010, New Year’s Eve
Normal train and coach services. No Nightlink to/from Adelaide.
Saturday 1 January 2011, New Year’s Day
Saturday train and coach timetable.
Monday 3 January 2011, Public Holiday
A special train and coach timetable.
Use the Plan Your Journey tool at vline.com.au
Plenty to do over the festive period
from cover
Then we’ve got some great events we’re supporting
over summer: the Hanging Rock Races in January,
A Day on the Dam in Colac (the precursor to the Apollo
Bay Music Festival), special discounts to the zoo, the
Victorian Country Swimming Championships in Geelong
and, just sneaking into Autumn, the Avalon Airshow
in March.
For other ideas of what to do over summer, visit the new
V/Line website and press the ‘Escape’ button on our home
page to see a random featured destination in Victoria.
Keep reading for more details on these hot events
and details around free travel over the holiday. And
if you are travelling on Christmas Day, remember it’s
a first-come, first-served basis due to public holiday
constraints. So that means book your seat on longdistance
services, or travel early.
V/Line wishes customers a very merry Christmas and
a happy and safe 2011.
2011 Australian International Airshow
The Avalon Airshow is on again, and V/Line is
running extra services to Lara to help people get to
the aviation spectacular.
The show opens to the general public from 2pm on
Friday 4 March. The program includes a spectacular
Friday night flying display, along with comprehensive
flying demonstrations across the weekend. The show
wraps up on Sunday 6 March.
Trains will run between Melbourne and Lara and
Geelong and Lara with shuttle buses between Lara
Station and Avalon Airport.
And don’t forget, Airshow patrons from metropolitan
Melbourne and Geelong can travel on public transport
to the Airshow and back on the one V/Line ticket.
Tickets to the Airshow from Melbourne include return
metropolitan train, tram and bus travel from anywhere
in Zones 1+2 to Southern Cross Station, return V/Line
travel to Lara Station and return shuttle bus travel
between Lara Station to Avalon Airport. Tickets do not
include entry to the Airshow.
Go to airshow.com.au for more information.
Page 2 Page 3

Get V/Line to the Hanging Rock Races
Saturday 1 January and Wednesday 26 January 2011
You belong in the zoo (and so do your kids)
Love the races? Well fear not, the
racing carnival hasn’t finished yet.
The Hanging Rock Races have been at
the base of the famous Hanging Rock
for over 120 years. These races are a
great day for friends to get together in
a fun and relaxed environment, and
without the hustle and bustle of the
metropolitan racing meets.
V/Line offers great racing packages to
Woodend from Melbourne at $34.80
($18.40 concession) which includes
entry to the racecourse and shuttle
transfers to and from the station.
You can buy your V/Line race
packages from staffed V/Line
stations, premium metropolitan
stations and by calling 136 196.
Visit vline.com.au/racing for more
information and shuttle bus departure
times.
V/Line has teamed up with Metlink, the Melbourne Zoo
and Werribee Open Range Zoo to offer V/line customers
20 per cent off adult and child entry to these terrific
destinations.
And with the zoos experiencing a baby boom with their
second baby elephant and a new baby orang-utan, you
are guaranteed a great day out.
This special deal is on offer over the summer school
holidays – 18 December until 6 February 2011. Simply
show your V/Line ticket on entry and enjoy the savings
to be made – almost $5 on an adult ticket!
Your V/Line ticket allows you to travel on metropolitan
trams, trains and buses at no extra cost. That means the
short train or tram ride to Melbourne Zoo is included in
your V/Line ticket. A bus runs between Werribee Station
and the zoo so if you’re coming from Melbourne, catch
a metro train to Werribee Station. And if you’re coming
from Warrnambool or Geelong, you can get a V/Line
train to Werribee.
Go to zoo.org.au for information on Melbourne Zoo
and Werribee Open Range Zoo or visit
metlinkmelbourne.com.au/zoo
Page 4 Page 5

A Day on the Dam
Every journey counts
The 2011 Apollo Bay Music Festival will launch
an exciting pre-show event on Sunday 16 January
in the Otways.
A Day on the Dam at Otway Estate Winery &
Brewery will see an exciting showcase of artists
who’ll perform at this year’s Festival in April.
Pre-ordered lunch hampers are on offer as well
as a Farmer’s Market, food stalls and other live
entertainment.
The Otway Estate is set on 16 acres of vines
hidden among 28 acres of bush adjoining the
Otway State Forest, and just a stone’s throw from
the Great Ocean Road.
Catch the 09:00 train from Melbourne to Colac
where a courtesy shuttle bus will meet patrons for
a 10 minute transfer to the vineyard. Return train
departs 18:24.
Bookings are essential for this event so
call Moshtix on 1300 438 849 or visit
apollobaymusicfestival.com for more
information. And don’t forget to book your V/Line
train ticket as well.
Travellers Aid offer support, advice and assistance to
all travellers, including people in emergency situations
and those with special needs.
Travellers Aid services include:
• Internet access, showers, baby-change facilities,
disabled toilets with adult change facility and hoist,
lounge area, luggage storage, ironing facilities,
meeting room hire and tourist information.
• Travellers Aid Access Service assists people with
disabilities with all forms of personal care needs.
• Emergency Relief Service from the Southern Cross
Station Centre. Call (03) 9670 2873.
• Stroller, wheelchair, electric scooter and electric
wheelchair hire at Flinders St, Southern Cross and
City Village.
• Companion Support for your Health Care
Appointments in addition to mobility/buggy
assistance.
For more information go to travellersaid.org.au
or call the following locations:
Southern Cross (03) 9670 2072, Flinders St.
(03) 9610 2030, City Village (03) 9654 2600.
Page 6 Page 7

Win a Melbourne Vixens membership!
V/Line and Netball Victoria are
giving away two Vixens membership
packages for 2011 valued at $175 to
one lucky V/Line customer. Not only
that, we’re throwing in free off-peak
train or coach travel to and from the
seven home games just to sweeten
the deal.
The Full Court memberships are perfect
for the passionate netball fan that likes
to cheer on the team each week and
provides access to all the home games.
Your membership gets you guaranteed
entry and the same seat for all home
games at Hisense Arena and the State
Netball Hockey Centre.
Members also receive:
• Personalised membership card
• Exclusive access to members only after-match functions
• Discounted Melbourne Vixens merchandise
• Free entry to all Australian Netball League (ANL) and
Holden Cruze Cup (VNL) games played at the
State Netball Hockey Centre
• Exclusive invitations to Vixens events including membersonly
training sessions and member appreciation event
• Priority access for finals tickets (except for Beyond the Court
members)
• Classy members only supporters scarf.
To enter go to vline.com.au/netball
The Victorian
Country Swimming
Championships
The Victorian Country Swimming Championships
have been the major meet for country swimmers for
over 50 years.
More than 800 swimmers and their families will
compete from all over country Victoria as well as the
borders of South Australia and NSW. The 2011 event
is being held at Kardinia Pool in Geelong from
28 – 31 January.
The aim is to foster high-level swimming within
regional Victoria and the event rotates around major
country centres each year. V/Line is a major sponsor
of the event for the first time in 2011.
Extra 1 2 30 seats per day!
Recycle at your station
Page 8
Keep an eye out for recycling bins on the platform at your station.
We’ve now installed bins at Geelong, Warrnambool, Colac, Ballarat, Swan Hill, Echuca, Gisborne, Kyneton,
Castlemaine, Seymour, Shepparton, Morwell, Warragul and Moe.
More recycling bins will be progressively rolled out across the network in the New Year to make sure your waste
is not wasted.
V/Line is committed to the ongoing improvement of our services, which is why we’re continuing to increase
seating wherever possible on your service. It’s just one of our responses to customer feedback and demand.
As regional Victoria grows, V/Line grows, so look out for many more improvements in the future.
Weekday services From Monday 13 December 2010
Geelong line
280 more seats
Ballarat line
540 more seats
Bendigo line
280 more seats
Seymour line
130 more seats
Call 136 196 vline.com.au

Performance results
Sudoku
October 2010
Short distance journeys
Line Geelong Ballarat Bendigo Seymour Gippsland
% of scheduled
services run
% of scheduled
services on time
to 5 minutes
Long distance journeys
Line
% of scheduled
services run
% of scheduled
services on time
to 10 minutes
Services run
96.9% 99.6% 99.9% 99.1% 99.3%
On time
87.2% 90.8% 87.8% 91.7% 74.3%
Warrnambool
99.4%
Ararat/
Maryborough
Swan Hill/
Echuca
Services run
On time
Albury/
Wodonga
Shepparton
Bairnsdale
(includes Sale)
99.6% 98.5% Track works* 100% 100%
82.7% 90.3% 88.9% Track works* 94.0% 70.9%
November 2010
Short distance journeys
Line Geelong Ballarat Bendigo Seymour Gippsland
% of scheduled
services run
% of scheduled
services on time
to 5 minutes
Long distance journeys
Line
% of scheduled
services run
% of scheduled
services on time
to 10 minutes
Services run
100% 99.5% 99.2% 99.5% 98.8%
On time
89.4% 91.9% 86.2% 91.4% 77.4%
Warrnambool
100%
Ararat/
Maryborough
Swan Hill/
Echuca
Services run
On time
Albury/
Wodonga
Shepparton
Bairnsdale
(includes Sale)
99.5% 99.0% Track works* 99.4% 100%
90.1% 90.5% 89.1% Track works* 93.1% 69.2%
* The Albury/Wodonga line was closed between Seymour and Albury for major track upgrade works. These trains are included
in the Seymour performance figures (as the new start and end point) until the works program is complete and full Albury train
services resume.
➔ On short distance services, punctuality is measured on time to 5 minutes 59 seconds.
➔ On long distance services, punctuality is measured on time to 10 minutes 59 seconds.
If your line did not meet its punctuality or reliability target and you have a valid periodical ticket of four weeks or more, you are
eligible for a complimentary return V/Line ticket as compensation.
All compensation claims must include a valid ticket and be made in writing to: Customer Relations, Reply Paid 5343, Melbourne VIC 3001.
Customers with further inquiries about V/Line performance should phone us on 136 196.
Puzzle Solution
7 5 4 8 2 6 9 3 1
3 2 1 4 9 5 6 7 8
8 9 6 7 3 1 2 4 5
2 6 3 1 8 4 7 5 9
9 8 5 2 6 7 4 1 3
1 4 7 9 5 3 8 6 2
6 1 2 3 4 9 5 8 7
5 3 8 6 7 2 1 9 4
4 7 9 5 1 8 3 2 6
Spend a few minutes solving this
puzzle, then check the solution
on page 10.
Sudoku
To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number
from 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 more
than once in any row, column or box.
This newsletter has been printed on Tudor RP 100%
recycled paper. Tudor RP contains 100% recycled
fibre sourced from collected office, printing and
converting waste. No chlorine bleaching occurs in
the recycling process. Sales of Tudor RP support
Landcare Australia.
3 4 9 5 7
8 9 6 3 2
2 6 1 5 9
8 2 6 7 1
1 4 3 6 2
2 4 5 8 7
3 6 7 2 4
Page 10 Page 11

A V/Line adventure gets you 20% off at the Zoo.
With a V/Line ticket not only do you get 20% off entry at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open
Range Zoo, you also receive free public transport on Melbourne trains, trams and buses on the day.*
To find out more, visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au/zoo or call 136 196
*20% off zoo entry for adult and child tickets, valid until 6 February 2011. Terms and conditions apply, see website for full details.