Re: Goodbye Overland

["Graeme" <gvrail@thatsent.com.au>]

You are quite right about the difficulties associated with the Overland
Route, in regard to speed, affects of competition, road/airlines and for
that reason how intercapital passenger rail services are run or more
importantly can perform a role that enables them to flourish really requires
them to be re-engineered.  I think the way to save The Overland is to see
the  train operate both as a daylight and overnight train, with overnight
services operated on nights of peak demand which is roughly three days per
week and daylight services on another three days per week leaving one day
per week for the consists to receive heavy servicing, detailed cleaning etc
etc.

With the reduction in journey times brought about by concrete resleepering
and rerailing in Victoria and hopefully more to come, there is the scope to
see The Overland service even do complete round trips in the peak of the
peak (such as AFL Football Finals, Easter etc), that gives the train greater
flexibility to respond to the market.

If rail can't compete directly with road and or air because of speed or even
price then the next best thing is to have it carve out a unique niche in
terms of a scenic tourist orientated day service on one hand as well as a
classic overnight train on the other when demand is high!!!

For all their faults etc there are some good examples of how both Amtrak and
Via Rail (Canada) have been successful in re-positioning long distance
passenger rail.  Via Rail's Skeena which was an overnight passenger service
operating in Western Canada suffered from similar problems that affect The
Overland.  They converted the overnight service into a daylight operation
re-engineered the on board service etc with the result that patronage has
boomed!!!


Graeme Vellacott
PO Box 322
CANNINGTON 6987
AUSTRALIA
Email:   gvrail@thatsent.com.au
Ph/Fax: +61 8 9451 5630
Visit www.thatsent.com.au
<thalytgv@my-deja.com> wrote in message 861q0e$4fk$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:861q0e$4fk$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <38843092.0@kastagir.senet.com.au>,
>   "Lachlan Smith" <lsmith@senet.com.au> wrote:
> > GSR is going to reduce the Overland to 3 nights a week, and will make
> no
> > guarantees about its future.
> >
> > See http://www.abc.net.au/news/state/sa/metsa-18jan2000-45.htm
> >
> > Lachlan
> >
> The news didn't mention when will they start the reduction,
>
> I know this route is always been a difficult route. From the start,
> relatively small number of passengers travel in between these two city,
> poor track, strong competition from bus ,air,cars and even V/line(Does
> V/line get subsidy for "daylink"? ).
>
> Apart from lowering the fare, GSR needs more marketing or look for wyas
> of filling the seats example extension of Overland to Perth once a week
> or extend from Melbourne end to Sydney.
>
> Just an idea....
>
> James
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.