Re: ABC News and the Overland >> the end is nigh.!

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <sthyer-3003980947580001@anatpc40.anatomy.unimelb.edu.au> sthyer@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au (Stuart Thyer) writes:
>From: sthyer@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au (Stuart Thyer)
>Subject: Re: ABC News and the Overland >> the end is nigh.!
>Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 09:47:58 +1000

>I think what is happening is a bit of posturing on behalf of GSR.  They
>currently pay Vic Track 1.6M  per year to run, and look at what they run
>on.  80km/h from Melb-Ararat, with restrictions in between.  If you drive
>a car at an average of 40km/h from Melb-Ararat via Ballarat, leaving when
>the Overland does, you will get to Ararat when the train does.  That is so
>weak.
>GSR is more than likely putting the squeeze on the powers that be to drop
>their charges or lift their services, so they can run faster and attract
>more passengers.

>.

If the figure of $1.6 million is correct then GSR are being ripped off 
enormously.
This represents a access charge of in between 1 and 2 cents per ntk ,just to 
run the train in Victoria,it doesnt include the track access charge in SA.
Even if the track was perfect , ie 115 km/h running all the way , the charge 
is still 3 to 6 times higher than what AN used to charge and 12 to 20 times 
higher than what a bus operator has to pay.
No rail operator has a hope in hell of making any money out of the Overland 
with these charges.
Even if GSR owned their own locos and had their own crews they would still be 
struggling.

cheers
MD