Thanks for the help in advance

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Postby jakekg18 » Wed May 14, 2014 10:55 am
Postby dalai47 » Wed May 14, 2014 12:38 pm
Postby TTar » Wed May 14, 2014 2:51 pm
Postby zero » Wed May 14, 2014 3:49 pm
Postby zero » Wed May 14, 2014 3:52 pm
TTar wrote:I don't know if it's the Syd/Melb train, but I occasionally see the XPT trudging along in Sydney and it's always only two or three mostly empty carriages. Such a pathetic sight -- talk about the romance of rail.
The one time many years ago I rode the XPT it was an unforgettably bad experience and I'm told it hasn't improved since. Even so, being able to ride to your nearest train station and carry your fully assembled bike on a metro train to the nearest XPT stop, roll your bike onto the XPT and roll it off at the other end in a city centre would compensate for the service's many failings. There would likely be a surge in cyclists patronising the service if they had the imagination to simply hitch a bicycle specific car to train to accommodate assembled bikes. But that's expecting too much, I suspect.
Sadly, dalai's comments about it being only slightly more expensive to fly if you can avoid paying extra for a bike is true. You might even be able to do it cheaper than the cheapest $110 XPT fare if you book ahead or find a good deal. Given the choice, if I have to break down my bike for either mode of travel, I'd be flying every time -- the XPT is unfortunately not a great train journey, so I'd rather endure the one hour of airborne discomfort rather than 13hours worth on the ground.
Postby il padrone » Wed May 14, 2014 6:24 pm
zero wrote:I agree its a pointless service if you consider it as a melbourne service, too far and too slow.
North Coast XPTs are often fairly full after Hornsby and fairly empty between strathfield and central. I think there is a low frequency service to Orange using 1 power car, and thats probably the one you see.
Postby Mulger bill » Wed May 14, 2014 7:49 pm
Postby zero » Thu May 15, 2014 5:35 pm
il padrone wrote:zero wrote:I agree its a pointless service if you consider it as a melbourne service, too far and too slow.
North Coast XPTs are often fairly full after Hornsby and fairly empty between strathfield and central. I think there is a low frequency service to Orange using 1 power car, and thats probably the one you see.
You want to know about pointless, slow services try the XPT to/from Lismore. I rode on it about 16 years ago and it was a toddling, winding slow-train. Some sections I reckon we were travelling at less than 50kmh. The Melbourne run was a high speed express by comparison. Maybe things have changed but I doubt it. Much of the run to Melbourne is quite flat, open line where the XPT can charge along at top speed.
Postby sankari » Fri May 16, 2014 1:19 am
Postby kPrdfHTb » Fri May 16, 2014 3:25 am
Postby barefoot » Fri May 16, 2014 8:35 am
TTar wrote:Even so, being able to ride to your nearest train station and carry your fully assembled bike on a metro train to the nearest XPT stop, roll your bike onto the XPT and roll it off at the other end in a city centre would compensate for the service's many failings.
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