Re: fast trains

[james_ccj@my-deja.com]

In article <8acp46$ojo$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,
  Vaughan Williams <ender2000@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
> > The Bendigo line has some serious curves and is mostly up hill, or
so
> it
> > seems when you are on a Y Class with 149 tonnes behind
>
> Uphill is less of an issue than tight curves
>
> >  [grins... 8-) ] But the Bacchus Marsh to Ballan section needs to
> climb
> > several hundred meters whilst traversing an old glacier formed river
> valley
> > some 16 kms wide!
>
> (details snipped)
>
> The only part of that section that I'd suggest realigning is the
> ridiculous deviation to the south after the marsh - It'd need a
bridge,
> probably.
>
> A few other curves could be straightened somewhat (as well as
shortened
> distance-wise) with the odd short tunnel or cutting.
>
> The other place where the line should be straightened and shortened is
> the bit where it wanders off in a big semicircle to wallace and
> bungaree (to avoid a hill, I think). Like on the bendigo line - either
> go over the hill or through it or some combination.
I think the Suburban stretch in between Spencer Street and St.
Albans/Sunshine needs attension as well. Country Trains usually travel
VERY SLOWLY through this section and usually get hold up by suburban
service especially at North Melbourne area. If you sit in the front row
of the Sprinter, you can see the suburban train right in front of you
in a distance. Some Careful timetabling/signal upgrade or even a
dedicate line maybe needed. I think NX can easily knock off 5 minutes
by improving this section.


> And that National have agreed to provide  $1 billion+ worth
> > of Trains, and generate a specific increase in Patronage for a fixed
> period
> > of time!
>
> Not quite.
>
> National are effectively buying these trains with public money. Its
> built into their subsidies.
>
> Their impressive-sounding patronage increase targets are rhubarb as
the
> subsidies are not conditional upon their attainment - in other words,
> NX are under no obligation whatsoever to achieve them. History
suggests
> they are most unlikely to do so (see National Bus).
NX was(I think still is) the most reliable rail operator in the UK.
Passengers generally have good impression with service operate by NX.
(Especially ScotRail). Simple extension of some Sprinter service to
Ararat/Echuca/Maryboruogh or even Bairnsdale cooperate with local
tourist operators would easily attract lots of passengers.

Different case with bus. Buses aren't that attractive to passengers and
are subject to road condition, delays are very common with buses,
schedule are slow even those ones that go on the Eastern Freeway. As
far as I know, I have never heard of a bus route with massive passenger
increase:-)

On top of that National buses have a large fleet of old buses that are
non-aircondition. Newer ones are very uncomfortable(seats as hard as a
timeber stool), and if you have a look at National buses timetable most
of the service reduced greatly after 6pm. at the same time
Hillside/Bayside trains still running flyer/express service. I don't
think National Bus would be a success story,

 --
Cheers

James


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