Re: Gt Southern Passenger Timetable.

["David Proctor" <daproc@spam_this.umpires.com>]

Michael Walker wrote in message <923461175.134764@woody.hotkey.net.au>...

>1. Is the Ghan going to stop at Broken Hill or does the omission of a time
>indicate that GSR won't be providing a service there (seems odd if the IP
>stops and Ghan doesn't)?

It has to stop for car provisioning (water) and crew purposes. The Ghan is
subject to booking restrictions between Sydney and Broken Hill - bookings
can only be made 14 days prior to travel, whereas the IP can be booked
months ahead.

>2. If the people of Broken Hill already receive a train service from GSR,
>why the big political deal about Countrylink providing a service there

The IP (and the Ghan) are subject to late running, provide a limited number
of seats, is often fully booked several weeks in advance (particularly in
coach class), operates at inconvenient times for places like Condobolin,
Ivanhoe and Menindee (granted WL34 is not that much better).

>when
>the resources probably could be used for better return elsewhere (eg an
>extra Sydney - Brisbane or Sydney - Melbourne train or else trains through
>other political seats held with small majorities)?

This could be done anyway - but the real truth is that Countrylink does not
want to run trains.

>I am sure the people of
>Broken Hill (the few that don't drive or fly to where they want to go)
would
>prefer to use the GSR service in preference to the Countrylink service

Depends on what is suitable - the IP is not much good for anyone that has to
do something in Broken Hill on the Thursday - WL34 is - similiarly on other
days that the IP/Ghan will not be operating.


>simply because the IP (and soon Ghan) would provide a better service and
>facilities.

Granted - but they are too infrequent to matter - as it is now, there are
services to Sydney from Broken Hill on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and
Thursday (direct) and every day (via Dubbo) - this seems like a satisfactory
service to me.

DaveP