707 Operations Inc

707 Operations Inc 707 Operations is a non for profit volunteer organisation that maintains heritage railway rolling st

The team of volunteers from 707 Operations have hit the ground running in Mildura, showing our 170 guests the very best ...
30/05/2026

The team of volunteers from 707 Operations have hit the ground running in Mildura, showing our 170 guests the very best that the Mallee region has to offer.

Split into four touring groups, our guests are enjoying our VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey touring, visiting Mungo National Park, Orange World, the Mildura Botanic Gardens and The Mildura trail of light exhibit. Each touring group is accompanied by our some of our team of volunteer guides, who have a passion for showing guests around this stunning region.

Our first full day in Mildura has been busy, and day two just gets better on Sunday concluding with a Murray River cruise to the delightful Trentham Estate winery.

By the end of our journey, guests will have rotated through all our attractions, and spent time with each of our guides. We hope you enjoy spending time with us as you see and explore Mildura.

We have four planned VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey trains in 2026 and limited spots remain available on future journeys:

23-28 July 2026: very limited space is available.
20-25 August 2026: SOLD OUT but a wait list is available.
22-27 October 2026: SOLD OUT but a wait list is available.

Book now to avoid disappointment: https://www.slowrailjourneys.com.au/vinelander

Check in has now opened for THE VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey travelling from Melbourne to Mildura with our departure sch...
27/05/2026

Check in has now opened for THE VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey travelling from Melbourne to Mildura with our departure scheduled for Thursday morning.

If you are joining us on THE VINELANDER, check in is now open 4.00pm to 6.00pm at The Savoy Hotel (Level 1), which is located on Spencer Street adjacent to Southern Cross station.

Another check-in session will operate tomorrow morning from 7.00am to 7.45am at The Savoy Hotel (Level 1) ahead of our pre-departure breakfast sitting. Breakfast is complimentary for all booked guests from 7.00am until 8.00am. Follow the signage at the Savoy Hotel to find the Slow Rail Journeys function rooms and breakfast.

All bags larger than a day-pack must be checked in at the bag drop area outside the breakfast rooms in the Savoy Hotel by 7.45am on Thursday morning, to allow for your bags to be securely transported forward to our next overnight stop.
All personal belongings taken onto the train must be self-handled from the Savoy Hotel to the railway station on Thursday morning, which is a 5-10 minute walk.

Our friendly volunteer crew will be on-site at the Savoy Hotel to answer your questions and offer directions from the Hotel to THE VINELANDER once the train carriages are ready for boarding.

The VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey to Mildura is operating at maximum capacity. We have four planned VINELANDER Slow Rail Journey trains in 2026 and limited spots remain available on future journeys:

23-28 July 2026: very limited space is available.
20-25 August 2026: SOLD OUT but a wait list is available.
22-27 October 2026: SOLD OUT but a wait list is available.

Book now to avoid disappointment: https://www.slowrailjourneys.com.au/vinelander

Welcome aboard THE VINELANDER to Mildura. We look forward to meeting you onboard.

After a period of maintenance, R 707 returns to the mainline tonight as we welcome guests aboard The GRAINLANDER Slow Ra...
15/05/2026

After a period of maintenance, R 707 returns to the mainline tonight as we welcome guests aboard The GRAINLANDER Slow Rail Journey.

If you’re booked to travel with us later tonight, your experience with us will commence at the Savoy Hotel (on the corner of Spencer and Little Collins Streets) at 7:30 pm. Please plan to arrive at the hotel no earlier than 7:15 pm.

In conjunction with The GRAINLANDER journey, we welcome students, parents and staff from The Melbourne Grammar School as the head conductor of the 90 piece orchestra launches the proposed 10 day 2026 Bluestone Express concert train for later in the year, travelling all around regional Victoria. Look out for further details of this exciting adventure from the Melbourne Grammar School soon.

In the consist of The GRAINLANDER tonight, you’ll see some of our motive power on test run following major overhaul works, including T392 in the popular Slow Rail Journeys livery.

Welcome aboard The GRAINLANDER and a very warm welcome to those new faces for The Bluestone Express.

Our members have read about it, and now it's time to share something amazing.We've just released T 392 from the paint bo...
23/03/2026

Our members have read about it, and now it's time to share something amazing.

We've just released T 392 from the paint booth following its mechanical overhaul and repaint into our Slow Rail Journeys livery.

T 392 has been out of service for some time while we gave it a mechanical overhaul to rectify some powering problems that it had developed. With thanks to James from Traction Engineering, we removed and repaired the main generator for trouble free operation.

After the mechanical repairs had been completed, we engaged our painters from Steel Protection Rail to repaint the body in a striking new livery designed to promote the Slow Rail Journeys product.

Tom Anderson, one of our dedicated volunteers, spent many hours producing a variety of different designs and making significant changes to ensure that the final design was what we set out to achieve and we think the final result is superb.

With work on T 392 now complete, we move our focus onto the rust removal and body repairs required to return S 306 to service as soon possible. Please consider a donation to our restoration efforts and help return S 306 to service: https://www.slowrailjourneys.com.au/donate

Our members read about T 392's new livery design first - Become a member today: https://bookings.slowrailjourneys.com.au/events/sevenosevenoperationsinc/1300088

Look out for T 392 on some of our future Slow Rail Journeys.

Did you get to the Newport Workshops open days last weekend? Our volunteers enjoyed seeing you there, showcasing our awa...
11/03/2026

Did you get to the Newport Workshops open days last weekend?

Our volunteers enjoyed seeing you there, showcasing our award winning heritage railway tours and restoration efforts.

We even had time to visit each of the other displays to learn what’s happening within the sector. We’re proud to work collaboratively with all other sector groups to achieve the very best outcomes for all.

If you enjoyed your visit to 707 Operations, why not become a member today?
https://bookings.slowrailjourneys.com.au/events/sevenosevenoperationsinc/1300088

Your membership with 707 Operations comes with many benefits, including:

Member discounts on all Single Day Slow Rail Journeys,
The ability to actively volunteer at our Newport Workshops and on our trains,
Pre-booking periods for some weekend Slow Rail Journeys, and
Receipt of the quarterly Hudson News and more!
Please note that memberships purchased now will be valid until 30 June 2027.

08/03/2026

The Riverlander Slow Rail Journey on its return from regional Victoria to Melbourne, near Ballarat, captured by our member Brad Oscar

The Riverlander Slow Rail Journey is returning to Melbourne today, after a weekend touring regional Victoria.Guests on b...
08/03/2026

The Riverlander Slow Rail Journey is returning to Melbourne today, after a weekend touring regional Victoria.

Guests on board this Riverlander journey have visited the Swan Hill food and wine festival, Lake Boga, Spannerman Art, Lake Tyrrell and some of the Silo Art Trail within the lower Mallee region of Victoria.

On train and off train, our guests are immersing their sense of adventure with the great team of volunteers from 707 Operations. We really enjoy showcasing the very best hidden wonders that regional Victoria has to offer.

Why not immerse YOUR sense of adventure with us on a future Slow Rail Journey? www.slowrailjourneys.com.au

The volunteer team from 707 Operations and Slow Rail Journeys have done it again, winning the ATHRA (Association of Tour...
07/03/2026

The volunteer team from 707 Operations and Slow Rail Journeys have done it again, winning the ATHRA (Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia) Tourism Promotion award for 2025!

During the 2024/25 period, 707 Operations further enhanced its award-winning Broad Gauge weekend “Slow Rail Journeys” sleeper trains by introducing the Vinelander, which operates 5-night, 6-day rail cruises along the Standard Gauge line to Mildura, utilising retired ex-V/Line seating cars. Guests are accommodated overnight in hotels. The Vinelander is revolutionary for the Tourist and Heritage sector in Victoria, offering a truly upscale rail cruise product to the Victorian market. Slow Rail Journeys’ Mildura Vinelander tours exemplify how the Tourist and Heritage sector can collaborate with government, regional tourism initiatives, and others to launch a product that is well-patronised, loved by guests, and mutually beneficial to Slow Rail Journeys, Victoria’s rail heritage, and the communities we visit.
The Vinelander is part of Mildura’s identity, and Slow Rail Journeys is excited to reintroduce this iconic train to the Victorian rails.

Congratulations to all our volunteers who work hard to deliver award winning service on each and every Slow Rail Journey that we operate.

Want to learn more about Slow Rail Journeys and our future destinations: https://www.slowrailjourneys.com.au

If you're visiting the Newport Workshops Open Days this weekend, be sure to visit 707 Operations inside 7 road to learn ...
06/03/2026

If you're visiting the Newport Workshops Open Days this weekend, be sure to visit 707 Operations inside 7 road to learn more about what we've been upto recently.

Inside 7 road you'll find a large range of snacks, drinks and souvenirs available as you browse around the expansive Newport Workshops site. Talk to our volunteers about Slow Rail Journeys, book your next holiday or become a member and benefit from exclusive member discounts!

Also inside 7 road you'll also find Train World Pty Ltd and Paul’s 3d prints with their extensive stalls selling a wide range of model railway equipment and trains.

Outside, R 707 will be in steam and on display for all to enjoy, alongside other magnificent steam locomotives that have been restored by Steamrail Victoria.

Get on down to the Newport Workshops Open Days this weekend. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

On behalf of the team at Slow Rail Journeys, we are thrilled to welcome booked guests aboard tonight's Riverlander! To e...
06/03/2026

On behalf of the team at Slow Rail Journeys, we are thrilled to welcome booked guests aboard tonight's Riverlander!

To ensure your journey starts as smoothly as possible, please find the essential details for your trip below.


🗓️ Tour Commencement: Friday, 6 March

Tour Commencement: Your experience begins at 7:30 pm at the Savoy Hotel (630 Little Collins Street, Melbourne).
Arrival Time: To respect the hotel's other guests, please do not arrive or congregate in the lobby/bar area before 7:15 pm.
Check-in & Dinner: At 7:30 pm, a team member will invite you upstairs for check-in and our "Bon Voyage" dinner.
Check-in Process: You do not need to print your tickets. To speed things up, we will have two lines based on your surname: A–M and L–Z.


🧳 Luggage & Packing

Bring it With You: Please bring all luggage upstairs to the dining room. Do not leave bags with the hotel reception, as this causes significant delays during boarding. There is a bag storage area outside the dinner venue.
Size Matters: Space onboard is cozy! We recommend one aircraft cabin-sized bag per person plus a personal item.
Amenities: We’ve got you covered. All bedding, linen, towels, and basic amenities are provided on the train.


🚆 Life Onboard

Dress Code: Keep it casual and comfortable! Sunny days with a maximum of 28 degrees are predicted for Saturday and Sunday in Swan Hill. Overnight lows of 13 degrees.
Power: Every cabin is equipped with 240V power points, perfect for charging your phone and camera.
Cabin Allocations: You will receive your specific cabin number during check-in at the Savoy.


🏁 Return to Melbourne: Sunday, 8 March

Potential Disruptions Post Arrival: Please be aware that Monday, 9 March, is a public holiday in Melbourne and our arrival falls during the F1 Grand Prix weekend, which may lead to road and public transport disruptions.

ℹ️ Additional Information

Itinerary: You will have received a PDF copy of the itinerary to your email for reference.
Onboard Updates: A hard copy of the final itinerary and further journey details will be waiting for you in your cabin.
Real-Time Communication: Keep an eye on your phone! We will provide further information and any schedule updates via SMS throughout the journey.
Cabin Allocations: These will be provided to you individually during the check-in process at the Savoy.


🏨 Guests who have booked the Savoy Hotel through Slow Rail Journeys
Booking Confirmation: If you have booked the Savoy Hotel through Slow Rail Journeys, your confirmation is located on the receipt, which includes details of your payment for your rail journey.
Check-in Time: The hotel is available for check-in from 3:00 pm.
Arrival Process: Simply go to the hotel reception and provide them with your surname to check into your room.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us via our socials, or by phone: 1800 707 677 (booked guests only)

Welcome aboard!

Address

P. O. Box 1051
Newport, VIC
3015

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11pm - 4pm

Telephone

0420806875

Website

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