Re: Booked out Melb XPTs

[Hunslet <hunslet@cia.com.au>]

Jennifer Richmond wrote:

> I have noticed that almost every Melbourne - Sydney/Sydney - Melbourne
> overnight (and many day services) are booked out.
>
> Would it be possible, to run an extra service overnight, between Sydney
> and Melb? I know that there aren't enough XPT sets, but how about a loco
> hauled train?
> Does Countrylink own/have access to enough long distance cars (possibly
> sleepers as well) for this to happen? (it would require 2 full sets, a
> Northbound and a Southbound).

No.   Countrylink's loco-hauled passenger fleet consists of six passenger
carriages and a couple of power vans.   Two cars and a power van are in
constant use on the Broken Hill & Griffith trains, except on Mondays.
Countrylink does not have any sleeping car stock and does not own any
locomotives, apart from shunter 7301.



>
>
> Or, alternatively, is there room for competition? Could GSR start up a
> Melbourne - Sydney overnight service? With all of the complaints
> regarding Countrylink, competition may be just what is required to draw
> even more passengers back to rail.

That would be a commercial decision for GSR.   There has been talk about one
of the two Sydney-Perth IP trains being diverted to operate via Melbourne,
but as we all know, nothing has happened to date.


Hunslet.