Re: The more things change.......

[David Langley <del@ancc.com.au>]

WhaleOilBeefHooked wrote:

> the more they stay the same.
>
> Several years ago, there were four different computer reservations systems
> across the country - Qld, NSW and WA all had their own systems, and Voctoria
> and AN co-operated to produce the one system.

And the Victorian system worked the best. Carriages diagrams were displayed on
the screen and were also in the direction of travel. Seats available were
highlighted. It was almost impossible to get a wrong direction facing seat and a
window seat was easily indicated. Booking clerks would always offer the early
birds the best seats going and my booking clerk in Seymour would always give me
the seat number requested, having already done some homework on my favorite
seats in the various cars in use. When I first experienced the NSW system, I
travelled on the 0708 Kempsey XPT (yes way back in the early days) and duly paid
my surcharge to travel. On entering the carriage, I found eight or so other
travellers already there. All of us on departure were seated not facing the
direction of travel and I thought that we must pick up a lot of passengers at
Strathfield and Hornsby. But no, noone got on and I assumed that the computer
system was unable to give forward or reverse facing seats correctly. Perhaps it
didn't know which way round the train was or something. I managed to get a look
at the screen at Kempsey and it appeared impossible to read. The Victorian
system with its diagrams was so much better.

David Langley.