Re: Overland survive strategy?

["Peter Berrett" <pberrett@optushome.com.au>]

Travel times to/from Adelaidce need to be reduced further. The cut in train
times has been welcome but I believe that a 4-5 hour service would make the
service considerably more attractive, especially to football fans.

How much upgrading of track would be needed to achieve this I know not
however I dont think we are talking VFT speeds here.

cheers Peter


James C. <james_ccj@optusnetdotcomdotau> wrote in message
news:3abde521$0$25500$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
> Overland can survive if some new strategy injecting to this service:
>
> *Fare adjust to competitive level.
>
>
> *Upgrade the train to a truely luxury train,
>
> GSR can do this with almost no cost, from 1st Apr all the first class
Indian
> Pacific and Ghan lounge cars will lost their name and Overland can use any
> of the IP/Ghan lounge to uplift its image. Currently there are 4 IP
> desinated lounges, 2 Ghan desinated lounges, 1 rarely used conference
> car(fit with black leather couch in lounge car setting) and 2 luxury
> "Bluebirds engineer"'s lounges ocassionally appear in the consist.( BR102
> and  http://www.railpage.org.au/comrails/sar_carriages/b_bluebird_100.html
> and BMC1 ).
>
> The sitters and sleepers already been refurbished and shouldn't need
anymore
> upgrade(perphas enhance entertainment range)
>
>
> *Joint operation with local tourist operators and accomadation package
offer
> to passengers.
> (also, how about free metcard for everyone? hence easier for passengers to
> travel to and from SSS)
>
>
> *Cooperate with airlines as a joint package experience.
>
> If you can't beat them, join them ! but inorder to attract passengers and
> make them feel this package is worthy, the train itself has to improve
> luxury.
>
>
> *Modify timetable
>
> either run twice daily (day and night XPT style timetable) or continue
with
> current schedule but extend once weekly to Sydney via Melbourne.
>
> #Twice daily would improve flexibility when it comes to cooperation with
> airlines and for passengers choice. Night service no doubt save time and
> accomadation for travellers.  Daylight service can be as succesful as many
> SA and western Victorian towns are not properly serve by public
transports.
> Twice daily service however maybe costly.
>
> #Keep current schedule and addition a Sydney service on Tuesday:
>                    Tuesday
> Adelaide        900
> Melbourne   1940
>                     2010
> Sydney           810
>                      (Wednesday)
> Sydney           910
> Melbourne     2110/2140
> Adelaide          740
>                     (Thursday) based on Overland can do Adelaide-Melbourne
> trip in 9 and half hours.
>
> So there would be additional weekly service from Sydney-Adelaide.
>
> Cheers
> James
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