Re: Booked out Melb XPTs

["WhaleOilBeefHooked" <daproc@sd5.mailbank.com>]

jumbojim@my-deja.com wrote in message <7n5ie6$ai5$1@nnrp1.deja.com>...

>DP, you deserved that. You were wrong and impolite in the face of a good
>argument. North XPTs can often load 150-200 at Strathfield during busy
>times. The trains sometimes leave Sydney with only a handful.

Rubbish. I often have to wait at Strathfield from 1625 until 1645. I see NT1
coming through quite often. This is one of the heaviest loading XPT's. Even
at the busiest times, you do not get 200 people boarding there. (I rang a
friend who is a Sydney based PSS and he confirms it).

>Another string of this thread was about the cost of the service. If you
>take a look at Strathfield you'll find that there are already a lot of
>staff there very busy dealing with luggage and the trains are often
>delayed there loading the van. This already costs. Your process would
>cost still more and would not necessarily improve the service.

But better utilisation of seats (by using seats more efficiently) will
generate more revenue. Keeping groups together (instead of spread throughout
the train) will also generate more revenue, as there are some families that
will look for other modes of travel if they cannot stay together. As I said
before, I have worked in the airline and coach industries, in reservations
and despatch roles, and I am aware of how quickly a properly trained person
can get through a despatch procedure, even with the most untrained
passengers. I could despatch three coachloads of passengers in 30 minutes,
and that is with people turning up at the last minute. AND this includes
tagging bags and handling luggage (something that would not have to be done
with rail). There is no reason why this could not be done with Countrylink,
and it WOULD result in better yield management through seat utilisation and
group satisfaction.

>The real problem exists where free PTV holders will book at busy times
>'in-case' and then no-show. This is rampant and was the reason for the
>introduction of the $10 charge a while back. But now they're free again
>and it is back. They further then have the gall to apply to have their
>voucher re-instated because they haven't travelled. Worse, the train
>goes with empty seats and a waiting list.

I think they should get cattle class rather than first class. As for getting
their vouchers back, if the train was not fully booked, then I have no
problem with that. If the train was fully booked out, tough luck, they
should lose it. They have denied someone a seat by booking - the fact that
they chose not to utilise that seat is not Countrylink's fault.

DaveP