Re: QR going national?

["Switched On" <yaropolk@hotmail.com>]

Bill Bolton <billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org> wrote in message
gL0BOAQ6l6K=NRNBf1w==lKxbdju@4ax.com">news:gL0BOAQ6l6K=NRNBf1w==lKxbdju@4ax.com...
> "Switched On" <yaropolk@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > 2) Qld run the most successful passenger trains in the country?
>
> By what measure?

Well, let me see... we run more of them, with more variety of service, over
greater distances, with a much higher passenger approval rating. But let's
compare apples with apples:

The Tilt Train compares only with the XPT services. Level of passenger
approval? On time-running? Both have been markedly better for the Tilt than
for XPT which hasn't been getting much good press at all lately (or haven't
you noticed?)

The Qlder compares only with the Indian Pacific, which is a longer journey
of about equal passenger comfort rating, but I believe more people travel on
the Qlder than the IP.

The GSPE compares with nothing.. it's in a class of its own, and far from
being isolated, it's the only train in the country which is independant of
rail guage.

The Sunlander et al also are the only middle-market passenger trains left in
the country since the end of the Brisbane Limited and Aurora services.

And guess what, they're all booked well in advance.

Hands down, QR wins. Take your bat and ball and go home, pal! :-)

> > 3) Qld run the most successful freight operation in the country?
>
> I thought the Pilbarra lines were "the most successful freight
> operation in the country".

"By what measure?" (sound familiar?) They aren't into freight, they're into
specialized mineral transport (by your own definition further down in the
next paragraph where you claim that no one can make money out of freight,
only minerals). QR can ship anything, not just ore.

> > especially when all the money to be made in this country
> > is in hauling primary produce like coal, wheat, cattle etc.
>
> Who is making money out of hauling cattle, or even wheat?  Minerals
> may be good money spinners, but not much else is in the primary
> produce arena is now a days.

That's about to change, let me inform you.

> > covers more territory and ships more heavy freight and passengers in
this
> > country than any other guage.
>
> Again, by what measures?

Simple... we have more kilometres of track than anyone else over a much
greater physical area. Therefore we cover more territory. We ship more coal,
cattle etc than any other railway because we have produce to ship which
can't be effectively moved any other way except rail.

Are these measures good enough for you?