What has all this endless stuff about guards and drivers got to do with the XPT or it's replacement?

It explains why the current regime - as inefficient as it is - was such an improvement over what we had 25 years ago.  

The main problem IMHO is little has been done on the productivity front since, and there has got to be a lot of low hanging fruit.  What I fear is the current inefficiencies are both a reason and justification to can the whole thing completely.  

But more to the point of this thread, unless these productivity issues can be addressed in a meaningful way, no government in it's right mind is going to pump capital into CountryLink.

IMHO fleet renewal could be a catalyst for this sort of productivity reform, and might add to the justification for fleet renewal rather than be a disincentive.

What has all this endless stuff about guards and drivers got to do with the XPT or it's replacement?

Simple!!!! read the garbage previously put out, by experts who know nothing about what really happened & decided to raise it in this thread.  In fact its what happens in every thread that is put up on this sort of topic.

What has all this endless stuff about guards and drivers got to do with the XPT or it's replacement?

Cost.
You replace a train, what type of train means how many crew, which is a big cost that could bare down on the type of train is purchased.
If the current government was going to replace the XPT, labour cost will have a big bearing on what they buy,

....But more to the point of this thread, unless these productivity issues can be addressed in a meaningful way, no government in it's right mind is going to pump capital into CountryLink....

....certainly not CountryLink alone. But as part of NSW Trains? Perhaps, perhaps not.

I have heard some scuttlebutt in recent times that bringing CountryLink under the same umbrella as the InterCity portion of CityRail will give CountryLink the opportunity to sink or swim. Tom Waterhouse probably would say the horse is off

....certainly not CountryLink alone. But as part of NSW Trains? Perhaps, perhaps not.

I have heard some scuttlebutt in recent times that bringing CountryLink under the same umbrella as the InterCity portion of CityRail will give CountryLink the opportunity to sink or swim. Tom Waterhouse probably would say the horse is off

I see no reason why the NSW govt wouldn't replace most if not all the CL services with new stock when the time comes. There will most likely be w review to look at different options as well as support and voter backlash/support as there is with most govt investments. The capital isn't huge in % terms of the NSW budget, actually quite small and less than what the former NSW govt wasted on the failed Metro. ie

It explains why the current regime - as inefficient as it is - was such an improvement over what we had 25 years ago.  

The main problem IMHO is little has been done on the productivity front since, and there has got to be a lot of low hanging fruit.  What I fear is the current inefficiencies are both a reason and justification to can the whole thing completely.  

But more to the point of this thread, unless these productivity issues can be addressed in a meaningful way, no government in it's right mind is going to pump capital into CountryLink.

IMHO fleet renewal could be a catalyst for this sort of productivity reform, and might add to the justification for fleet renewal rather than be a disincentive.

Have a little patience Peter...despite the thread heading off-track a bit, it explains the story of why we endured the industrial disputation through the 1980's etc.

Good work chaps and thanks for your insights.

I see no reason why the NSW govt wouldn't replace most if not all the CL services with new stock when the time comes. There will most likely be w review to look at different options as well as support and voter backlash/support as there is with most govt investments. The capital isn't huge in % terms of the NSW budget, actually quite small and less than what the former NSW govt wasted on the failed Metro. ie

What failed Metro???

Dillema was pushing for a metro for the NWL, the then opposition was totally against it, but now in power what is being built???