General News
28 November, 2025
Joint emergency train-ing
Local first responders familiarise themselves with V/Line train.
If an emergency happens on a V/Line train the local emergency services are better prepared after a joint training session earlier this month.
Around 40 emergency services personnel attended a familiarisation session on November 10 in Maryborough to learn about what they might encounter when responding to a rail incident.
The session, organised by V/Line, included members from the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Ambulance Victoria, Victoria Police and the State Emergency Service (SES).
Attendees were able to inspect a VLocity train and learn about its features from V/Line staff.
This included where to find and install ladders to get passengers off a train, emergency door access, train isolation systems, and key terminology.
CFA Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins said the hour and a half session was a strong success.
“There were a lot of people there who were unaware of what takes place,” he said.
“A lot more people walked away with a great bit of knowledge.”
Maryborough SES Unit Controller Rachel Mitchell said five local and two Marong SES volunteers attended the session.
“It was a great learning experience because it allowed us to see what their processes were and also how we would be able to ... help get people out and help people in general,” she said.
While neither Mr Higgins nor Ms Mitchell recall a local incident involving V/Line recently both agreed the session was still important.
“As soon as we say there hasn’t been one for years there’s probably been one tonight and it blows us right out of the water,” Mr Higgins said.
Ms Mitchell said training sessions like this help local crews be prepared, just in case.
“It’s no different to when we do our training for car accidents or searches, or even going out and dealing with storm jobs, if we know what we’re doing it just helps,” she said.
“If something does happen there are people there to help.”
V/Line’s executive director operations Sussanah Osborne said sessions like these provide practical experience for emergency service organisations.
“We thank the emergency services for their continued support and ensuring the safety of passengers and staff on the V/Line network,” she said.
The Maryborough session is one among many that have been held in the region over the last month.
V/Line said they regularly hold sessions like these across the network as part of their commitment to the safety of their passengers, staff and responding emergency services personnel.