Re: Goodbye Overland

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

I couldn't agree more.  (The Overland needs a bit of imagination and flair
incorporated in it to turn it around).  Even QR here in Australia has done a
fair degree of re-engineering with things like converting the Midlander to
Spirit of the Outback and is contemplating replacing The Westlander and
Inlander with higher speed diesel railcars.  Sure they might lack some of
the romance and style of the overnight sleeper services, but if they cause
passengers to flood back then that's great.  In WA The Prospector replaced
the overnight Kalgoorlie Express and it resulted in a flood of new
passengers.

--
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 863cco$ajv$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:863cco$ajv$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <3884b386$0$1745@motown.iinet.net.au>,
>   "Graeme" <gvrail@thatsent.com.au> wrote:
> I think the way to save The Overland is to see
> > the  train operate both as a daylight and overnight train, with
> overnight
> > services operated on nights of peak demand which is roughly three
> days per
> > week and daylight services on another three days per week leaving one
> day
> > per week for the consists to receive heavy servicing, detailed
> cleaning etc
> > etc.
> >
> > With the reduction in journey times brought about by concrete
> resleepering
> > and rerailing in Victoria and hopefully more to come, there is the
> scope to
> > see The Overland service even do complete round trips in the peak of
> the
> > peak (such as AFL Football Finals, Easter etc), that gives the train
> greater
> > flexibility to respond to the market.
>
> Currently the running time almost can make a quick day trip. The 30$
> supersaver introduced couple of month ago has been a great suceess,
> Overland has always been a headache for AN since the introduction of
> Compass airline.
>
> > 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!!!
>
> How about borrow the "round end" lounge(Wegman) carriages from ASR to
> boost passenger?
> There is a potential for Overland, it can be as sucessful as Ghan or
> Indian Pacific if carefully marketing.
>
>
>
> James
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.