XPT to Sydney and back for QLD pensioners

[BribieG]

Whilst QLD offers a discount for interstate pensioners, I can't find anything about NSW offering us a reciprocal deal. Wouldn't mind the Roma St to Sydney XPT in July when we visit the rellies, but the only references on the Countrylink site are for NSW pensioners who also get vouchers like we do here.

Anybody know what the situation is? Looking like Virgin Blue at the moment 

[BribieG]

Finally spoke to a human being at QR and yes there is a discount for pensioners: For anyone interested,

Regular class: $65.15
First class: $91.65
Leave Roma Street 7am and get in to Sydney Central 9 pm-ish

Sounds like a deal compared to the airport hassles, long-term parking for the Mazda plus the plane dumps you half way to Botany Bay usually after circling for half an hour. So the one hour flight gets padded out both ends to something like 5 or 6 hours anyway. 

[somebody]

Finally spoke to a human being at QR and yes there is a discount for pensioners: For anyone interested,

Regular class: $65.15
First class: $91.65
Leave Roma Street 7am and get in to Sydney Central 9 pm-ish

Sounds like a deal compared to the airport hassles, long-term parking for the Mazda plus the plane dumps you half way to Botany Bay usually after circling for half an hour. So the one hour flight gets padded out both ends to something like 5 or 6 hours anyway. 

I guess it depends on where you are going in Sydney.  If to Wyong (not really Sydney), it can certainly work out to do it by XPT, especially if you are able to sleep on the train.

[BribieG]

Rellies are at Beacon Hill (Warringah Mall, Curl Curl) so fairly handy to the CBD, but a fair hike from the Airport.

[somebody]

Rellies are at Beacon Hill (Warringah Mall, Curl Curl) so fairly handy to the CBD, but a fair hike from the Airport.

A fair hike from Hornsby or Strathfield also.  Central would be closer, which is only about 10 minutes on the train from the airport.

[ButFli]

So the one hour flight gets padded out both ends to something like 5 or 6 hours anyway. 

5 or 6 hours? You're doing it wrong. 3 hours max.

In the time it takes the XPT to get to Sydney I could fly down, do a days work and fly back. All for the same price or less. Sad but true. Rail will never be competitive while that is possible.

[somebody]

So the one hour flight gets padded out both ends to something like 5 or 6 hours anyway. 

5 or 6 hours? You're doing it wrong. 3 hours max.

In the time it takes the XPT to get to Sydney I could fly down, do a days work and fly back. All for the same price or less. Sad but true. Rail will never be competitive while that is possible.

Takes me about 5 hours door to door.
45 mins to BNE airport
1 hour waiting
1.5 hours flying
~15mins to Central
~1 hour from Central to my Sydney location

Ok, that adds up to 4.5 hours.  But it does depend.  Last time I waited about 1.5 hours at BNE airport.

CBD-CBD could be 3 hours.

[BribieG]

I'm just going on the Sister who regularly flies up, dropping her off at the Airport mid afternoon she usually doesn't get home to Beacon Hill till around mid evening, add an hour from Bribie Island. Also add $100 for long term parking as opposed to bus stop at the end of our street to Roma Street right at the platform for $3.50 seniors. 

[Mr X]

You need to consider the time taken in 'padding' for train as well though, you don't get to and from a train automatically lol

[somebody]

You need to consider the time taken in 'padding' for train as well though, you don't get to and from a train automatically lol

At the Sydney end you can get off the train at Hornsby or Strathfield.  Somewhere on the Central Coast as well I think.

[mufreight]

Definately quicker and more reliable than flying Tiger this week.

[Golliwog]

Definately quicker and more reliable than flying Tiger this week.

Or even normally. My brother booked a return flight with them, only to have to flight down cancelled the night before they were meant to leave, then on the return flight the plane didn't take off until 15 minutes after it was meant to be back in Brisbane.

[somebody]

the return flight the plane didn't take off until 15 minutes after it was meant to be back in Brisbane.

These things aren't that unusual.  Got annoyed with DJ one time for delaying a 6:30am flight until around 8am ex-Sydney and not advising me.  Apparently the crew had to fly down from Brisbane.

[BribieG]

Booked the XPT for first week in August. It worked out around $90 first class   - I've never had anything to do with the XPT, it was just a name to me, but I've been Google Earthing the track - Man that's one awesome hunk of engineering, especially where it goes over the border ranges - how's this for a corkscrew / tunnel arrangement:



I'm really glad I'm travelling during the day, really looking forward to seeing new country. Like we used to say in the UK, in cars you see the worst of the countryside and the best of the city, with trains it's the other way around  

I assume the track is mostly used for goods trains heading for Port of Brisbane? Given that it goes out to Greenbank and Beaudesert is there any reason (apart from dollars and electrification and third rail for narrow gauge) that it couldn't be used to provide commuter services out to those areas, which are becoming a major suburban growth area?

Edit: I'm getting off at Newcastle to visit mates and have a look round, staying a couple of nights then going into Sydney on normal network. With a pensioner or seniors card you can travel anywhere between Newcastle and Wollongong and out to Goulburn on any train, bus or public ferry - as many trips as you want for $2.50 a day. 
QR take note, not that they will.

[somebody]

You left out stations, and the lack of duplication.  That was the subject of an E-Petition last year IIRC.

[BribieG]

Yes stations would be the killer as well, how many millions for a reasonable station nowadays? 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Depends on the DDA, security and area requirements that make it cheap or expensive.

[BribieG]

Bump, incredible trip there and back. In perfect weather as well 
like my old man used to say, by car you see the best of the towns and the worst of the countryside, with trains it's the other way round. Nearly all the way down it was just one eye-candy scene followed by another, especially over the Scenic Rim, and New South Wales was stunning. Line goes through places you'd never go to by car such as Wauchope -



XPT rocks, although next time I'll do sleeper on the way home for the overnighter.
Food prices great as well: $17 buys you:



Patronage is down a lot since budget airlines, but I suspect its better days are ahead of it, if and when GFC mk 2 takes its toll.

[WTN]

Wow, I'm impressed enough I'm tempted to try this one day. Hopefully when work sends me off to Sydney I get the option of the train (I doubt).