Re: Straight from the Horse's Mouth

[broken_hill@hotmail.com]

Recently, I posted an e-mail to Great Southern Railway.  I received a
response from the CEO, which I then forwarded on to a few of my friends
for their interest.  Unbeknownst to me, one of them has posted an
extract from the response to this newsgroup.  I regret their decision
to do so.  At the request of the CEO of GSR, I am now posting my
original letter, along with his complete reply as follows:

Original message:

Subject:
        What a Joke
   Date:
        Fri, 28 Jan 2000 04:49:17 PST
   From:
        <broken_hill@hotmail.com>
     To:
        Salesagent@gsr.com.au

Dear Mr Stephen Bradford,

Back when the federal government sold Australian National the rail
industry in South Australia was full of hope that finally someone had
the balls to operate and maintain passenger services.  How wrong the
government was.  I have written to you before, only to hear all the
frog shit.  It disgusts me now to hear the Overland will only operate
on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights.  What is your company doing -
Honestly.  First the track speed was slow, that's now almost been
rectified and then you agree with National Rail to put BL Class
locomotives on the train (a freight locomotive on a passenger train,
100kph)  Who are you trying to kid?  Yes Mr Bradford I will
continue to travel on GSR trains and will also continue to be a full
paying passenger, but attitudes towards the average passenger is crap.
I am very lucky I know much about Australian passenger trains. A train
is a train and not a bus on bogies.

Mr Bradford out of interest's sake have you ever travelled on the
trains you operate and I mean the economy section?  Fancy sitting
from Sydney to Perth, Alice Spring to Melbourne with nowhere to go?
Even a slow bus gives you the chance to stretch your legs.  I mean
those clapped out AG/BG sitting cars, feels like the bogies need a
good overhaul.  As for First and Holiday class the service is much
better and very comfortable, for the price though might as well book
an air fare, bet you're scared about virgin entering the market.

Also I had a lot of inspiration about the relocation from Keswick
Terminal back to Adelaide Station, this is excellent.  You would be
very foolish indeed to renig on this idea.  Keswick as you know was
a huge goods yard with residential housing  built on the old Mile End
Depot and population in the area has increased, but Adelaide Station
is ADELAIDE STATION.  You should already know the advantages, so get
your act together and strive.  Fancy sending Trans Adelaide services
through Keswick.  Trans Adelaide is already being laughed at by all
the other Australian Suburban Rail Systems.  I wonder how the everyday
commuter would feel about an extra four minutes added to their
Noarlunga Centre or Belair trip.

Well Mr Stephen Bradford you now have my thoughts.  You have it in
black and white.  Put more trains on the track and improve schedules.

Killing the Overland, you hypocrites.


Response:

From: "Murray, Sally (GSR)" <Sally.Murray@serco-ap.com.au>
To: "'broken_hill@hotmail.com'" <broken_hill@hotmail.com>
Subject: Email to Great Southern Railway - Attention Mr Andrew Harris
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 14:43:09 +1100

Dear Mr Harris,

Thank you for your email of 28 January.  I can advise: -

*      Great Southern Railway is a private company which is required
to make a profit on capital invested.  The business to us is not a
hobby on which to lose significant amounts of money.

*      Our efforts, I believe, to grow rail travel in Australia has
been nothing less than superb.  We extended The Ghan, introduced tours
off the Indian Pacific, refurbished The Overland, introduced
refurbished carriages, brought the Chairman's Car into service etc.
These may not be all to your personal liking but they bring to Rail
new customers - this is what is needed, in our view.

*      The Overland has lost considerable sums of money, but much less
than Australian National.  There is no justification for a Monday and
Tuesday service in most weeks in February or March.  There are not
enough passengers!  This is a simple fact that has been in evidence
for 5 plus years.

*      Track speed is now (since September 1999) not an issue.  The
market is telling us the present timetable for a night service is at
its optimum - any less would be unworkable.

*      I don't know what you mean about the BL locomotives.  They
adhere to track path speed and are cost effective.

*      Coach class sit-ups meet a segment of the market in an
effective manner.  It is not deluxe and is not sold as such.  Our
market research says that a lounge car (at an extra price in coach
class) would not be supported by passengers.

*      Our coach class carriages are safe, have well maintained bogies
and meet a market segment.

*      I have no fears about Virgin or any other competitor - it is a
free market economy.

*      First class is a holiday not A to B travel.  You may not like
this, but it is the market segment that we meet and meet well.
Comparison to airfares is a nonsense.

*      Great Southern Railway will not be relocating to Adelaide
Station. This has been confirmed by the South Australian Government.
The cost, logistical complexity and effect on local trains make this
decision mandatory.  We have never stated we support a move to Adelaide
Station, anyway but we did participate in the Government study to
completely resolve the matter.  An active working party is now examing
the use of Keswick as an interstate and intrastate rail and bus
terminal.  This concept, in my view, has considerable merit.

Your sincerely,

Stephen Bradford
Chief Executive Officer

(Message delivered via smurray@gsr.com.au - Personal Assistant to CEO)


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