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Service Cuts to Overland - GSR Press Announcement

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      Seldom_21 Junior Train Controller

    Location: South Australia
    Don, I really think pensioners are the target audience - when I traveled from Melbourne to Adelaide in early Jan of this year, I traveled 1st class, in which I would say 80% if of people were eligible for the pension. Thus, cutting pension discounts could kill it off even more, it is rare that people travel from ADL to MEL (vice versa) to go to a meeting/work commitments and come home; that's not the fault of the train, rather the tyranny of distance makes it easier, and ultimately, cheaper to fly. Therefore, you are going to attract those with time of their hands, re. pensioners.

    Cheers,

    Seldom
    Posted: 06 Jun 2013 13:07

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      The Vinelander Minister for Railways

    Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
    An update on The Overland schedule from a person in the know...

    I was told yesterday by a very reliable source that the Overland reduced its service to twice weekly due to PN increasing the track access charge to GSR by 30%.

    GSR are apparently quite happy with the patronage of the train and if it wasn't for the steep increase, they would have retained the thrice weekly service.

    Mike.
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 15:28
      MD Chief Commissioner

    Location: Canbera
    PN dont levy track access charges.
    Thats what ARTC do.
    Id suggest your source has no idea.
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 15:41
      Aaron The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: University of Adelaide SA
    I don't think that could be correct. PN don't sell track access, that's ARTC's department.
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 15:44
      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    There could be a possibility of there being some truth in the source's befuddled utterings - if The Vinelander's source had heard from a friend whose secretary's sister had overheard a rumour that PN had raised their charges for operating the "hook and pull" service, or passed on increased track access fees originally charged to them by ARTC (last I checked PN wasn't a charity).

    But that level of Chinese whispers would indicate that, while it's possible that there is some truth in it, such a source is not a reliable source.
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 16:40

    Last edited by justapassenger on 28 Oct 2013 16:42; edited 1 time in total
      donttellmywife Chief Commissioner

    Location: Antofagasta
    Track access charges for the Melbourne to Adelaide part of the ARTC network for various categories of rail traffic are publicly available from the ARTC website.  

    The increase in rates effective July 1 2013 was only 2.5% more than those applicable for the previous twelve month period (i.e. no change in real terms) for passenger services.

    Unless that service previously receiving some sort of discount that has now come to an end, it doesn't seem that track access charges could be responsible for the asserted cost increase.
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 17:38
      Pressman Spirit of the Vine

    Location: Wherever the Tin Chook or Qantas takes me
    Track access charges for the Melbourne to Adelaide part of the ARTC network for various categories of rail traffic are publicly available from the ARTC website.  

    The increase in rates effective July 1 2013 was only 2.5% more than those applicable for the previous twelve month period (i.e. no change in real terms) for passenger services.

    Unless that service previously receiving some sort of discount that has now come to an end, it doesn't seem that track access charges could be responsible for the asserted cost increase.
    "donttellmywife"


    And GSR's Hook and Pull agreement is contracted, so it's cost would not suddenly rise without notice!  
    GSR's press release, dated May 2013, about the reduction also stated that capacity (passenger and motorail) would be increased on the remaining two services to cater for the reduction caused by axing the third.
    https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/news/change_of_schedule_the_overland.jsp
    Posted: 28 Oct 2013 18:17