>What tends to distort the costs of running passenger trains versus other forms
>of transport is the very high numbers of concessional types of fares which
>Rail is forced to accomodate.
>Whilst I dont have any problem with people getting concessional fares,its only
>fair if all forms of transport are forced to provide the same
>concessions,which certainly in the case of the airline industry they dont.
>It might be a more fair scheme if there were no concession fares at all,and
>people who ordinarily would have gained a concession could get a rebate from
>Social Security after having paid the fare.
>At least this way,the true cost of running passenger services could be
>transparantly seen and costed.
>AS a matter of interest,if a private operator wins the bids to run AN
>passenger trains,will they be obliged to offer the same range of concession
>fares as AN itself offers?
>Interesting times ahead.
>cheers
>Maurie Daly
>--------------------------------------------------
>Maurie Daly
>Department of Communications Lab.
>Canberra
>Australia
>mauried@commslab.gov.au
>ph 6 2791331
>--------------------------------------------------
Interesting times for sure Maurie.
Will the Feds continue to subsidise the Overland,
Indian Pacific and Ghan.?
If they do not, then the Fares will be prohibitive and
three of Australia's Premier Passenger Trains will go
the way of the Camel.
Cheers
......Tell
Alice Springs NT << This is Ghan Territory >>