gordonthemoron
Established Member
Will the 6 coach trains include a sleeper coach?
No just seats. Either Premium in 2+1 or Economy in 2+2. Premium will be reclining.Will the 6 coach trains include a sleeper coach?
Well, that's exactly what I was expecting. Will hopefully be doing Sydney-Melbourne both ways in July this yearNo just seats. Either Premium in 2+1 or Economy in 2+2. Premium will be reclining.
No just seats. Either Premium in 2+1 or Economy in 2+2. Premium will be reclining.
I think long distance train travel isn't popular, Sydney to Melbourne XPT is 1 sleeper coach, which is used a first class during the day. One first class coach, 1 coach half first class and half buffet, and 2 second class coaches.Is sleeper not popular? If it is, it seems a bit strange that they'd downgrade the service and potentially reduce income as a result.
An overnight journey in a seat in a rattly DMU isn't an appealing prospect! The airlines must be happy.
Firstly the new trains are bi-mode though I appreciate electric mileage osnt a huge proportion, secondly the timetable is being completely rewritten anyway - they may decide to remove the overnight runs.Is sleeper not popular? If it is, it seems a bit strange that they'd downgrade the service and potentially reduce income as a result.
An overnight journey in a seat in a rattly DMU isn't an appealing prospect! The airlines must be happy.
Understand the XPTs were originally to be replaced in 2023 but have had a reasonable stay of execution caused by reactions to virus! I hope this is true as I also want to get down there!Does anyone know when these new units will be introduced, or rather, when the last opportunity is likely to be to use the old XPT sets? I really must get down to Australia before they go...
Ah, the current standard excuse is being used on that project, is it? The simplest explanation is "It's CAF".Understand the XPTs were originally to be replaced in 2023 but have had a reasonable stay of execution caused by reactions to virus! I hope this is true as I also want to get down there!
Expect to do it in an XPT then. Industrial action has delayed the introduction of the new Inter City units.Well, that's exactly what I was expecting. Will hopefully be doing Sydney-Melbourne both ways in July this year
Expect to do it in an XPT then. Industrial action has delayed the introduction of the new Inter City units.
NSW government makes offer to end dispute with rail union over fleet left in storage
I'm not 100% sure this applies to the XPT replacement program, but I'm fairly certain that it hasn't happened yet...
Yeah, I thought it may have been different. NSW is quite a long way from here! I still don't think the CAF sets have entered service yet though.That story is about the NSW TrainLink D sets built by Hyundai Rotem, which are double decker EMUs. The Wikipedia entry has details of the dispute with the union.
I was under the impression that the new CAF sets would replace the Xplorer units which currently run to Canberra.I'm interested in the Sydney-Canberra service which could be ideal for the CAF sets, running on electric for the first chunk of the journey.
The current Xplorer DMU sets providing 3 round trips a day are not dissimilar to our class 158s in ambience, though with more spacious and reversible seating (plus catering).
The new CAF sets will replace the XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour sets. See the link in my previous post.I was under the impression that the new CAF sets would replace the Xplorer units which currently run to Canberra.
I rode the daytime XPT from Sydney to Melbourne at Easter 2009 and it was fully booked. I thought it was a comfortable ride and the meal (which we had to order then collect from the buffet car) was fine, as far as I remember. The 550 mile journey with 16 intermediate stops took 11 hours 10 minutes. The VR suburban line into Melbourne was still 5' 3" gauge then so there were no stops for the XPT after Benalla, more than two hours out. Since the gauge conversion, stops have been added at Seymour and Broadmeadows. I suppose speed is not that important as the train is never going to rival the plane in that respect. Ride quality will be important and CAF trains have not excelled themselves in Britain, although Northern Ireland Railways must be satisfied with theirs as they have gone back for more of the same type - but the routes operated are hardly comparable with Australia's.
There's been *no*
But nope, NSW govt just don't have *any* interest in regional rail at all. They've been wanting to axe it entirely since the 80s. The only reason it exists at all is because the Nationals are worried about loosing support in country NSW... so it stumbles along on life-support.... If more people used it, that'd mean more subsidises, so it must survive in order to burning the NSW Nationals "country credentials", yet be useless and awful enough so that no one actually uses it.
On busier days, a seat on this route can turn over two or three times, as centres like Wagga Wagga and Albury have quite a few joining or alighting.I think lon
I think long distance train travel isn't popular, Sydney to Melbourne XPT is 1 sleeper coach, which is used a first class during the day. One first class coach, 1 coach half first class and half buffet, and 2 second class coaches.
Plus there's broad gauge EMUs along it.The 'VR suburban line' is irrelevant (now Metro Trains Melbourne, mainland communist Chinese owned through pretends to be from Hong Kong). That broad gauge line parallels the standard gauge line as far north as Seymour and the now closed sttaion of Mangalore before veering off to the major city of Shepparton and continuing across into NSW at Tocumwal where there's a container terminal. The gauge conversion was of the parallel broad (1600mm) track from Seymour to Wodonga, so now it's double track (standard gauge) with single track over the Murray River at the state border Victoria to NSW. Between Melbourne and Broadmeadows, the standard gauge line burrows under Footscray sttaion, and then takes a longer route through Sunshine, so XPTs take 26-30 minutes to reach it. (the suburban route has a severe grade so it was never converted to standard gauge).
Depending on the time of year Melbourne-Sydney runs are either 5 or 7 cars.I think lon
I think long distance train travel isn't popular, Sydney to Melbourne XPT is 1 sleeper coach, which is used a first class during the day. One first class coach, 1 coach half first class and half buffet, and 2 second class coaches.
Does anyone have any information on the progress of this project and the expected introduction of the sets that will replace the XPTs?
The website was updated 10 days ago but seems to have an ominous absence of any date!
Depending on the time of year Melbourne-Sydney runs are either 5 or 7 cars.
Perhaps you could point to an example in a similar country* (wide open spaces, low population density, long distances between large settlements) where such a concept has been successful (i.e. not requiring huge sums of subsidy to keep going)? I am sure this would help the Australian authorities to come to the conclusion that it would be worth investing in.I really feel that the way forward here was to electrify the last of the intercity routes like Southern Highlands and Kiama to Bomaderry, and then use a new loco hauled fleet on the regionals. For day trains run them with 2+2 economy, 2+1 first class based on the QR "railbed" lie-flat seat, and buffet.
For night trains go specifically for the point to point overnight market with the 2+1 coaches used as standard class, a proper en-suite cabin sleeper for first class, buffet car, and MotoRail car carriers as well. This would actually make rail travel competitive with flying, since the night is "dead" time anyway, you get a proper sleep, and also have you car with you at the end, rather than being stuck at Tullamarine with no onward transport and just a ****ty bus connection.
Doesn't sound promising!Does anyone have any information on the progress of this project and the expected introduction of the sets that will replace the XPTs?
The website was updated 10 days ago but seems to have an ominous absence of any date!
If there is a delay I wouldn't be too unhappy about it. DMUs and the SG in Victoria don't agree with each of at the moment. The track is rough as guts.
It's between Seymour and Melbourne the issue. The Standard gauge VLocity fleet was pulled from service earlier this month because they were bottoming out.On XPT trips as recently as four months ago, it was notable how the track quality between Seymour and Wodonga had improved. The ride quality was good.
I guess it's a safe bet to assume the XPTs will still be running in a year's time, then?Doesn't sound promising!
NSW train fleet three years late due to contractual dispute
The delay means passengers will be stuck with travelling on decades-old trains much longer than planned, which also poses risks to the reliability of services.www.smh.com.au
I guess it's a safe bet to assume the XPTs will still be running in a year's time, then?