The following articles appeared in the October edition of "Table Talk"
(Journal of the AATTC).
UPDATE - PRIVATISATION
ANRC staff were originally informed that the new owners would take over
operations as from 28th october 1997. (There is a rumour that this may be
put back to 7th November). Regardsing passenger services: the current
concessions etc will remain. No major changes to service (see below) will
take places until March 1998; there will be no fare rises until 1st April
1998 (the traditional time for ANRC to put up its fares).
UPDATE - RUMOUR DEPARTMENT
Despite the reports that have appeared in the daily press, it seems that
the new owners of ANRC passenger services, Great Southern Railway, are
planning the following [presumably for March 1998] (see above)
# THE INDIAN PACIFIC will continue to make two trips weekly Sydney -
Broken Hill - Crystal Brook - Adelaide - Crystal Brook - Perth and Return
# THE GHAN will have a greatly improved schedule making one weekly trip
Alice Springs - Crystal Brook - Adelaide - Crystal Brook - Broken Hill -
Sydney and return (a third weekly Adelaide - Broken hill - Sydney service),
whilst a second year-round trip will operate Alice Springs - Adelaide -
Melbourne.
# THE OVERLAND will run Adelaide - Melbourne six times a week (with the
Ghan this will make seven weekly trips on this route) - four or five
Overland trips will be in daylight with one or two at night meaning that
there will be only 12 hours between some trips and 36 hours between others.
There will be a greater flexibility in the destination of rolling stock
with cars no longer being dedicated to a particular train, ie the end of
The Overland's distinctive livery and the end of nameboards on the side of
cars.