Re: Casino-Murwillumbah

[Matthew Nolan <mnolan@uq.net.au>]

David Proctor wrote:
> 
> David Proctor wrote in message
> <767pve$mnk$1@reader1.reader.news.ozemail.net>...
> 
> >I had an article published in Railway Digest a few years back showing how
> >you can run two trains to BNE and one to MWH per day, while actually
> >increasing servicing time somewhat - I will redo it and post it to a
> website
> >in the next day or two (watch this space!)
> 
> I have done a very rough and ready version of the seven-car XPT timetable I
> proposed (and actually got into a meeting with Kim Finnimore, Roger Mica,
> and a few others - as well as the shadow minister for transport) - they all
> liked it, but nothing came of it - what does everyone else think?
> 
> It is at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~daproc/newxpt.html
> 
> I did not program crosses, etc in, and it will need some work, but I was
> interested only in the concept.
> 
> And before anyone says anything, I have DELIBERATELY scheduled ST2 to arrive
> in to Sydney after the departure of WT27 - the Dubbo XPT leaves too early
> for there to be a reliable connection, and it is best to eliminate it
> entirely.
> 
> Dave P.

This is a good timetable as it adds the extra Brisbane service and aslo
allows NT26 to connect with ST1, something that is not currently
possible. However, would it be possible to run one of these Brisbane
services as a limited stops. Having travelled on the XPT once to Sydney
from Brisbane, it makes alot of stops. If NT26 was to reduce its stops
to maybe Casino, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Broadmeadow and Sydney, time
could be saved. 

This would allow NT1 to arrive later in Brisbane. Its arrival time in
Brisbane is not very suitable. If it were to arrive at 7:00am (6:00am in
Summer) and leave at 8:30 with limited stops, it could make up the time
by Sydney.  

By the way, why are no economy sleepers on the XPT, and what would be
the chances of adding extra carriages to the XPT (say one econ sleeper
and buffet car) to make a 11 car train?