Re: Xplorers to Griffith

David Bromage (dbromage@metz.une.edu.au)
16 Feb 1998 22:42:22 GMT

David Proctor (daproc@bigfoot.com) wrote:
>
>
>David Bromage <dbromage@metz.une.edu.au> wrote in article
><6c7r2v$ucb$1@gruvel.une.edu.au>...
>
>> Does anybody know how average loadings on NT25/NT26 have been and if a
>> 4-car Xplorer would be inadequate?
>
>A friend of mine, who is a Sydney based PSS, thinks that a four car Xplorer
>would be more than adequate for the North Coast run - except during holiday
>periods, and

Seems to make economic sense, too. A near full 4-car Xplorer over a half
empty 2+7 XPT.

>Countrtylink doesn't provide sufficient capacity ANYWHERE
>during holiday periods, so why should the North Coast be any different?

The one advantage of running a 2+5 XPT (77 first/184 econ seats) to
Armidale is that there would be two spare XF cars at Meeks Road. It could
be built up to 2+6 (XP-XL-XBR-XF-XF-XF-XFH-XP, 77 first/242 econ seats)
during holiday times. It is probably the only run where spare capacity is
available AND the train could cope with the extra load.

Cheers
David