Re: Goodbye Overland

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <86osb3$o57$1@nnrp1.deja.com> thalytgv@my-deja.com writes:
>From: thalytgv@my-deja.com
>Subject: Re: Goodbye Overland
>Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:32:51 GMT


>> If Newport to Ararat were built to 115 km/h standards with CTC as it
>should
>> have been then its faster than via Ballarat but again ,all these
>factors are
>> totally beyond the control of the pass train owners
>> >Crossing loops were removed and (in SA) intermediate follow-on
>signals were
>> >removed, giving longer sections and reducing the opportunity to
>>overtake.
>Actually I notice the train takes for ever to travel between Laverton
>and Spencer Street the train is as slow as a bike, North Shore to
>Spencer Street takes 1 hour and 15 minutesm V/line's stopping service
>can easily do less then that (taking account of longer route via
>Tottenham yard).
>The train can easily do within 10 hours if this section upgraded.

>> Fair enough, GSRs fares are high,no doubt about it , but they need to
>be .
>> Running trains these days is an expensive business.
>Especially there are so many competitor on this route including a rail
>competitor: V/line whose Daylink(recieve subsidies from Vic government)
>still very popular with most of the traveller.

>> In GSRs case ,and indeed in the case of other private operators there
>are lots
>> of expenses which dont exist for rails competitors,like air and bus.
>You might notice Overland is the "CHEAPEST" GSR service of all, even
>with 1st class sleeper still 50$ cheaper then flying economic class.
>also recently launched 30$ supersaver cheaper then any other transport
>mode.

>Fare aren't the major conern, Ghan and Indian Pacific's fare are more
>expansier then flying, but GSR have no trouble to fill up these 2
>trains.


>Cheers


>James


>Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
>Before you buy.


Yes but remember that the IP and the Ghan cater for a totally differant market.
These trains are marketed as an adventure in themselves and are popular with 
overseas tourists. simply because of the distances they travel and the parts 
of Australia they go thru.

The Overland is simply an overnight commuter train.
There is nothing special about the scenery it travels thru.
Its effectively just another way of getting from Melb to Adelaide.
As Rod previously mentioned the Overland has been going backwards for 
years,long before GSR took it over.
In a way GSR really didnt get a very good deal when they bought the passenger 
arm of AN , in that they should have at least got the CLPs,as they were 
clearly used by AN for the pass trains,and to at least keep the playing field 
a bit more level,a concession or even removal of the track access charges on 
the SA side would be fair, after all AN didnt pay track access charges when it 
ran the pass trains , at least not in SA anyway.
It will be interesting to see what happens if / when the train dissapears 
entirely , as to what the respective State Govts will do ,(most likely 
nothing.)
I guess the option still exists for organizations like WCR or even NXP or 
Countrylink to fill the gap.
How much chance they would have of making a profit is anyones guess.
One would think that an organization that owned its own locos and didnt have 
to hire them might stand some chance.

MD