By Casey Neill
An upcoming television show will highlight Pakenham’s important role in the creation and testing of trains.
Episode nine of Railroad Australia, scheduled for the Discovery Channel on Thursday 21 September, will give viewers an insight into what goes on behind the scenes of Victoria’s train network.
It will also feature the testing of the state’s VLocity trains along a section of railway just outside Pakenham.
Dandenong employee of Bombardier Transportation Chris Barnett is among the stars of the television series and will appear in the episode.
Mr Barnett has had a long interest in the industry; his dad worked on the Victorian railways in the 1960s and he himself became a trainee in 2000.
He said a strip of track between Tynong and Nar Nar Goon was the ideal place for testing trains.
“As part of the commissioning process at the end of the build, V/Line sends a driver out to put it through its paces,” he said.
“There’s a section of track that we use for testing out past Pakenham, where there’s straight and level track.
“We know it will give reliable data.”
Mr Barnett said testing took place in off-peak times to minimise commuter disruption and safety.
“Primarily we’re looking to make sure it will run as designed without any faults appearing,” Mr Barnett said.
There’s also a high-speed test to ensure the brakes are working.
He brings the train to a stop from 160 kilometres an hour.
“The train would need to pull up in about 800 metres,” he said.
“Very exact equipment measures the stopping distances.
“They’re the most modern train so they’re quiet, they’re comfortable, they’re smooth.
“They’ve got all the creature comforts of a modern vehicle.”
Mr Barnett said he hoped Railroad Australia gave passengers an insight to the system.
“I hope they feel safe travelling on our network because they can see how much effort goes on behind the scenes,” he said.
