VLP coach service

["James C." <james_ccj@optusnet.com.au>]

"> About bloody time - I can't stand those stuffy, bumpy buses, with
> kiddies throwing up, getting squashed by the elephant sitting beside you
> (even though they could have had a full 2-person seat to themselves two
> rows further down the bus - get the idea?),

Yes, I went to Maryborough and Ararat last December and I couldn't believe
the crowd at Ballarat . Almost  70% of the very full 2 cars Sprinter from
Melbourne got on either Maryborough or Ararat bus plus you have those people
spent a morning shopping at Ballarat and returning to their towns.

Even worst with Bairnsdale bus services. 3 full coaches were not enough last
time when I went to Bairnsdale(Jan 2001)

>and the highway traffic
> (ever caught the Vline bus to Stawell during a holiday period? - Its bad
> enough Melb-Ballarat. I try to avoid holiday periods were possible!

Highway between Sale-Bairnsdale is just as bad, mostly 1 line traffic. My
bus almost missed train connection on the way back being 15 minutes late.

> Bring back the Melb-Horsham (via to end of Geelong if necessary)
> services. I remember the days when it ran 4 cars, and was still at least
> a quarter full at the end of the line (and many times standing-room only
> Ballarat to Melb). Yes, I know it would have to be standard gauge (so
> Ballarat would miss out these days, unless...), but they may as well
> "bite the bullet" and start doing something about the different gauges -
> prefereably sometime this century.  :-}

Or offer subsidy to GSR and run Overland from Melbourne through
Geelong,Ararat, Horsham and Dimboola to Adelaide and make stop at Stawell.
Best if Overland can run twice daily one daylight and one overnight each
way(XPT style).

Cheers
James