Re: Booked out Melb XPTs

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

Hunslet wrote:

> 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.

Reason being that Country Link some years ago decided to run a fixed consist
service statewide and bugger the heavy traffic days, you can go by bus, car or
fly but we don't want you.

David.