Re: QR Moree extension

[daproc@bigfoot.com]

In article <1998062310063500.GAA17235@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
  crookesp@aol.com (Crookesp) wrote:

> I notice inmcidentally that there is no daytime trip to Taree (Port
> Macquarie/Kempsey) from Sydney or Brisbane.
>
> Meaning trains leaving after 0700. McCafferty's and other services are justr
as
> nocturnal.

Come again? Check out the timetables for this line!
http://www.railpage.org.au/tt/brisbane.html is a good place to start - you
will find the following:

NT3 departs Sydney at 0705, arriving Taree at 1217, Wauchope (for Port
Macquarie) at 1321 and Kempsey at 1358 - a nice day trip! This continues on to
Murwillumbah, with a Brisbane connection, arrival Brisbane 2250 (a bit late I
grant you, but not too drastic!)

NT25 departs Sydney at 1135, arriving Taree at 1655, Wauchope at 1759, Kempsey
at 1836 - not at all nocturnal.

Coming the other way, NT2 departs Brisbane at 0730, Kempsey 1428, Wauchope
1505, Taree 1615, Sydney 2135.

NT26 is even better for travelling to Sydney on - Kempsey 0928, Wauchope 1005,
Taree 1106, Sydney 1634 - all very civilised.

Just on this topic, it has me beat why they dont swap the Brisbane and
Murwillumbah services around - have a day train to Brisbane, returning
overnight, and a night train to Murwillumbah, returning during the day. It
would enable a later (around 1800) departure from Sydney, making it more
attractive to people leaving after school or work, would mean instead of
changing from train to bus at Casino at 0320 to travel to the Gold Coast, you
would be changing from bus to train in the UP direction at about 0030 (far
more civilised!), would create an evening departure and arrival in Brisbane
(great during daylight saving, when everything is an hour earlier) and
eliminates pathing difficulties with QR suburban EMU's whilst crossing the
Brisbane River, as it will not be departing in the middle of peak hour at
0730! The only drawback I can see is the bus departure time from Brisbane in
the morning to connect with the Murwillumbah XPT!

I actually suggested this to Kim Finnimore when he was General Manager of
Countrylink, and he said that they couldn't do it because people would miss
out on the scenery around Border Loop!

Hope this helps,

David "The Doctor" Proctor

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