Re: Victorian election

["Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au>]

>> Well folks me thinks we can start getting cocky because it looks like an
>abalone diver from Cabbage Tree Creek independent is going to get across
the
>line in East Gippsland(has been Country/National for 110years).
>East Gippsland takes in Bairnsdale,and any party wishing to rule will need
>the support of the independents (West Gippsland inc Wonthaggi up to Drouin/
>Mildura,part of his election platform was return passenger train to
>Ouyen/Mildura,and of course East Gippsland,We want our train back)
>Things are starting to hot up....
>
They don't have much of a say do they? The passenger trains are owned by
National Express, I would imagine it would be up to them which services if
any were introduced. I would have thought there'd be a bigger market in
commuter traffic to/from Melbourne so fast commuter trains would be a better
chance for improvements than extending trains to the outposts ala Echuca. I
would have thought a DMU service (NX have promised most services will be run
by DMUs soon) would better suit commuter trains than longer distance stuff
too (no snack bar in any Sprinter I've seen), Bluebirds excepted (perhaps
they should get some retired Redhens or unused Jumbos from Adelaide, I
presume they cope alright with stop start rail services).