V/Line is the name of the regional train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983.

Contents

1 Freight Operations 2 Privatisation & National Express 3 External links 4 See also

Freight Operations

V/Line formerly had a freight division, known as V/Line Freight. With the Kennett Liberal government, V/Line was split up into two separate divisions: V/Line Passenger and V/Line Freight, both separate companies with little relationship and separate management to each other. When V/Line was privatised in 1999, the passenger and freight divisions were privatised separately. National Express got the passenger division, and the freight division was awarded to Freight Victoria (later Freight Australia, now Pacific National).

Privatisation & National Express

The National Express Group was awarded the V/Line Passenger franchise in mid-1999. It ran the franchise until 2002, when the Australian branch of the group suffered a financial collapse. After this event, the Victorian Government was required to take back control of 3 of it's public transport franchises (VLP, M>Tram & M>Train).

V/Line is slated to be re-privatised in 2006, after the Regional Fast Rail project project has been completed.

External links

• V/Line Passenger (http://www.vlinepassenger.com.au)
• Pacific National (http://www.pacificnational.com.au)

See also

• Railways in Victoria
• List of regional railway stations in Victoria