Re: Countrylink - Canberra - Sydney

["Derick Wuen" <cullend@webone.com.au>]

Did the trip 4 (count 'em) 4 times last week.... for some odd set of
reasons.

Better than cars... you can walk around, not a lot slower, and more relaxed.

A whole lot cheaper than air and also not a lot slower CBD-CBD.

Buffet ok.

Travel first class because, as was pointed out to me many years ago when I
enquired about the essential difference between first and economy in the HCX
(dogbox) accommodation on the Canberra-Goulburn run, a "better class of
person" travels first class. Take that how you will. I found that there were
significant discounts on offer to the advertised first class fares on the
Xplorer.

Seating could have more foot (as opposed to leg) room, but then the rotation
mechanism takes up the foot room available on airline seats.... and we can't
wear non-reversing seats after the XPT fiasco in this department, can we?
Get up and walk around a bit. People over 6 foot should book an aisle seat
to stretch a bit.

On time performance ok for my purposes, but then I enjoyed a little extra
time with a trip on the suburban lines Lidcombe-Homebush on one occasion
(Lidcombe station upgrading?).

Finally.... no impediments to using mobile phones and laptop computers
compared with air (banned) or car (stupid). So you can actually get a fair
bit of business done while on the move.


IB98 wrote in message <20000122225847.02610.00002123@ng-cg1.aol.com>...
>Hi,
>
>I'm thinking about taking a countrylink train CBR-SYD and fly home later in
the
>day. How good are these trains?? What is the comfort level if I buy a 1st
class
>ticket?? Also do they usually run on time or are they often late??
>
>Thanks a lot
>