Re: Countrylink GM Sacked

[Dion Williams <onamission@start.com.au>]

Dave Proctor wrote:

> Ideally, the Dubbo XPT should be replaced by a 3 car Xplorer (that is all it
> really needs most of the year), built up to 4 cars at peak periods, and use
> the XPT cars currently used on WT27/28 to reduce the total mileage run by
> the fleet.

An Xplorer also gives the option of replacing the loco-hauled service to
Broken Hill, dividing at Orange with say four cars to Dubbo (and back)
and three to Broken Hill every second day and return.

More cars mean more time for maintenance and greater reliability.
> They would then have 5 spare power cars - 19 to fill 14 rosters - and that
> would improve timekeeping no end.

Given the demands on the fleet interstate running has to take priority
for the XPTs. A refit of some of the Xplorers to share the load for
longer distance running is surely cheaper than the amount being spent on
trying to keep overworked XPTs in service fighting a losing battle
against their age.

Dion