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On Tuesday 28th
March 2006, a new VLocity Unit (VL28) was delivered from the
Bombardier Plant at Dandenong, along with VL14, which has had its
sound proofing modifications and water fountain installation work
completed. Apart from the difference in
the way that the two units were built (VL28 having the modifications
inbuilt, VL14 having to be reworked), VL28 also was built with
tables installed between all facing seats in the unit as a trial.
The tables are mounted to both the wall, and
the floor. They have a fold down section which gives passengers the
choice to either use the table in its folded down state, or just
leave it as it is if they aren't using it.
(see
photos below)
VL28's first revenue service run was the 1700
Spencer Street to Ballarat service (8123) on Wednesday 29th March
2006, with VL19 trailing.
Since entering service, V/Line have been
surveying passengers sitting in facing seats in VL28 on the services
it has operated to Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo. Questions have
been asked along the lines of:-
- What do you think of the tables?
- Are you using the tables? If so, what
for?
- How often do you use V/Line services?
- Which stations are you usually on and
off at?
If the trial of the tables in VL28 is deemed
successful, it is believed further VLocity Units will have tables
installed.
Photos
(taken
Friday
7th April 2006):-
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| Looking
towards the west side facing seats, showing the trial table
installation. |
The trial
table installation - note the support leg connected to the
floor. |
Looking
towards the east side facing seats, showing the trial table
installation. |
VLocity
tables in their folded form. |
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| Hinges allow the folded
sections to easily come down. |
The amount of table space
per seat is quite sufficient - enough to comfortably fit a
laptop computer or A4 sized documents. |
The support leg bolted into
the floor, allowing easy removal of tables if the trial is
unsuccessful. |
Both disabled access
seating areas also contain a small wall mounted table. |
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