The Overland

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https://twitter.com/7NewsAdelaide/status/1185826782198431744

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https://twitter.com/railmaps/status/1186776185142775809

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Thread by @ozbob13: "Railway transport: 'Overland' - a great resource in the @SLSA collections collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+588... crossing the viaduct at [...]" #SaveTheOverland

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Vic pulling funding.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156753262022717&id=138209607716

The South Australian Government says it has no plans to start funding the Overland rail service again, with the passenger train due to stop operating at the end of the month.

The SA Government ended its financial support for the Overland last year but the service, which runs between Adelaide and Melbourne, has continued operating with money from Victoria.

Victoria's funding arrangement will finish by the end of the month, but the state's public transport minister Melissa Horne is hopeful the service can still be saved.

Have you taken the Overland journey?
Would you like to see it continue?

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Victoria may yet continue the funding ...

[Gazza]

Is the funding for the train as a whole, or just subsidised v line seats from Victorian stations like Horsham?

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Is the funding for the train as a whole, or just subsidised v line seats from Victorian stations like Horsham?

Entire journey.

[SurfRail]

You know what I'd do if I was Victoria?  As part of sorting out uprated standard gauge VLocity sets for Albury services, I'd include a few extra sets and use those to run a service from Bordertown to Portland via Ararat.  That would connect with the existing V/Line Ararat service and expand V/Line service somewhere it doesn't presently cover (which is also one of the markets for Victorian intrastate flights).  You'd drop the bit from Ararat to Geelong because it could be covered just as adequately by transferring to a Melbourne-Geelong train at Sunshine.

Then, if SA wanted to pay to run it all the way to Adelaide, they could contribute.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1208615338272669696

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The Wimmera Mail Times --> Victorian government offers to extend Overland passenger train service

THE only passenger train servicing the Wimmera will continue to run for at least the next three months.

On Friday, a Victorian government spokesman told the Mail-Times it had offered to extend the Overland train until the end of March 2020 "to give holidaymakers certainty".

"Given the South Australian Liberal Government's cut to the service, Victoria will use the next three months to continue discussions with Journey Beyond about the future of the Overland," he said.

"This gives the South Australian Liberal Government three months to reassess its cut in funding for the service - which is primarily used by South Australians."

The train runs twice weekly between Melbourne and Adelaide, stopping in Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell and Ararat.

It is operated by the private company Great Southern Rail, which relies on state government subsidies to run the service at an affordable cost.

At the end of 2018, the state government committed $3.78 million to fully fund the service for another year, after the South Australian Government pulled out of the joint funding arrangement between the two governments.

When the Melbourne-bound train arrived at Horsham station on Friday, seven people got on the train while six alighted.

Among those departing Horsham was former resident Jimmy Nicholas, taking the Overland for the first time. Now living in Melbourne, Mr Nicholas drove to Horsham with his sister to spend Christmas with their parents.

"I would definitely use the train again if it was available," he said. "It makes things easier. I've got all these bags and I don't want to be getting on and off a bus, this way I can get straight to Southern Cross Station."

Horsham resident Eric Smith was also on the platform, not to travel but to observe the train. A casual trainspotter, Mr Smith said he had used the service several times in the past six years.

"There should be a service to Melbourne from the border daily," he said. "Some people with health issues can't get on and off buses but can get on a train OK.

"I'd be disappointed if the Overland doesn't continue, but the government cuts services if people don't use them enough. It shouldn't be a matter of whether it pays it way though, it's a service."

On Monday, Member for Lowan Emma Kealy called on the government to invest money in improving other public transport services across Western Victoria if it would not support the Overland's future.

"I am once again calling on (Victorian Premier) Daniel Andrews to make good on his commitment to 'deliver for all Victorians' by committing to bring back passenger rail services to Hamilton and Horsham and improving local coach connections," she said.

Ms Kealy said 17,000 passengers used the Overland every year.

https://twitter.com/Wim_Mail_Times/status/1210435928935862272

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1210441694316883968

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https://twitter.com/9NewsAdel/status/1210469752189149184

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The Age --> Overland train between Melbourne and Adelaide given three-month lifeline

The Overland train service connecting Melbourne and Adelaide for more than 130 years has been guaranteed to the end of March after being thrown a lifeline by the Andrews government.

But the route's future beyond that remains unclear amid dwindling passenger numbers and a long-running funding dispute between the Victorian and South Australian governments.

The Andrews government announced on Friday it would help the operator, Journey Beyond Rail, keep the service running for the next three months "to give holidaymakers certainty".

"Given the South Australian Liberal government's cut to the service, Victoria will use the next three months to continue discussions with Journey Beyond about the future of the Overland," a spokeswoman said.

"This gives the South Australian Liberal government three months to reassess its cut in funding for the service - which is primarily used by South Australians."

The Premier's office would not provide the dollar figure behind the deal because it was yet to be signed off, a spokesman said. However, a year-long lifeline provided in December last year cost Victorian taxpayers $3.78 million.

"We've stepped in because the Overland provides an important connection to South Australia and for people in Western Victoria, and because it's an Australian rail treasure," Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said at the time.

The Overland ran more than five times weekly in each direction in the 1990s, carrying about 100,000 passengers a year. That has since dropped to two services each way per week and about 17,000 annual passengers.

The South Australian Liberal government cited that drop-off at the end of last year when it announced it would withdraw its annual funding of about $330,000.

The Overland rail service has connected the Victorian and South Australian capitals since 1887 and stops at eight regional stations along an 828-kilometre journey.

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The Advertiser --> The Overland gets last-minute lifeline to continue into 2020 – for now

The Overland has been thrown a last-minute lifeline that will allow the in-doubt train service to stay on track into 2020.

The Victorian Government has announced it will continue covering a funding shortfall – left by the South Australian Government when it cut its subsidy for the service – until the end of March next year.

Without the eleventh-hour reprieve, The Overland, which runs between Adelaide and Melbourne, was set to cease operating on Tuesday.

The last Adelaide-to-Melbourne trip was scheduled to depart on Monday while the final Melbourne-to-Adelaide journey was to occur on December 31.

However, the service will now begin taking bookings for 2020 as long-term funding negotiations continue.

The Overland's operator Journey Beyond, formerly Great Southern Rail, has consistently stated it needs Government funding to subsidise its operational costs to keep ticket prices affordable.

A Victorian Government spokesman today confirmed Victorian taxpayers would chip in extra money to keep The Overland running until the end of March 2020 "to give holiday-makers certainty".

The spokesman would not reveal how much the funding deal was worth.

"Given the South Australian Liberal Government's cut to the service, Victoria will use the next three months to continue discussions with Journey Beyond about the future of the Overland," he told The Advertiser.

"This gives the South Australian Liberal Government three months to reassess its cut in funding for the service – which is primarily used by South Australians."

The future of The Overland had been under a cloud as Journey Beyond and the Victorian Government attempted to negotiate a deal that would enable the service to carry on in 2020.

It came after the SA Government cut its subsidy for The Overland in November last year.

It cited low patronage, with passenger numbers down from more than 100,000 a year 20 years ago to about 17,000 annually, as well as the availability of other, cheaper transport options, such as buses and planes, as reasons for its decision.

The cut was, at the time, expected to force The Overland to cease operating at the end of 2018. However, the Victorian Government responded by contributing an additional $200,000 to the service, while Journey Beyond put in an extra $130,000 to keep the service running until the end of this year.

The three-month funding announcement came after State Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas today wrote to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews asking him to step in.

"On behalf of the thousands of South Australians who rely on this service I hope the Victorian

Labor Government will again find the capacity to fund this service to ensure that The Overland can again operate in 2020 and into a 133rd year of continuous operation," he wrote.

Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser the Opposition had been working with the Victorian Government "to try and save this iconic service because we know that once these trains services go, we never get them back".

"If the Marshall Liberal Government would reinstate its ... funding of this important service it would ensure this train service could continue to operate in 2020," he said.

A State Government spokesman said the Government would not help fund The Overland because "is a privately owned and operated tourism service and therefore its continuity is a matter for (Journey Beyond)".

The Overland offered a twice-weekly service with tickets starting at $114 one way, per person.

[Gazza]

Under 350 pax a week, what a joke.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1210710240531869696

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1210710967631269888

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Under 350 pax a week, what a joke.

Still more than the Westlander!

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Booked on The Overland Saturday 4th January 2020 - Southern Cross to Ararat.

Departure 8.05am  arrive at Ararat 11.38am.

Back to Melbourne on 4.10pm Vliner out of Ararat.

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^

The Overland departing from Ararat 4th January 2020

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Some photographs of The Overland - Southern Cross to Ararat















Photographs R Dow 4th January 2020

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https://twitter.com/PMalinauskasMP/status/1217913802739466240

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https://twitter.com/JustinHansonMLC/status/1233142208708009989

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Rail Express --> Last minute calls for funding to save Overland

A Victorian MP is urging the state government to commit further funding to the Overland rail service that will stop running on March 31.

The South Australian government withdrew its funding in 2019 and for the past three months the Victorian government took over subsiding the service.

The 828km long service between Adelaide and Melbourne has been running since 1887.

Stuart Grimley, Victorian leader of Derryn Hinch's Justice Party stated in a speech to parliament that Overland should be jointly funded by both Victorian and SA state governments.

However, if SA doesn't agree to joint funding then the Victorian government should consider long term funding to guarantee the longevity of the service.

"Rail is vital for rural and regional towns," Grimley said.

He is calling on the Minister for Public Transport, Melissia Horne to back the service to rectify perceived differences in funding between regional and metro projects, following investments in the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project, countless level crossing removals and forward planning on the Suburban Rail Loop.

"No-one argues that these projects are not of significant importance, but we must be conscious of striking a better balance between funding for metropolitan and rural rail projects," Grimley said.

"With airports few and far between in the Wimmera area and buses not accessible for all those with physical impairments, a long-term rail transport option should be guaranteed."

Grimley said he understands that there are a number of demands on the state budget in terms of rail already, however, they should not come at the expense to services in regional areas.

"Given this, the action that I seek is for the transport infrastructure minister to commit to long-term funding for the Overland train service to continue," he said.

A spokesperson from Journey Beyond said last year that Overland has consistently required government support, which has heavily subsidised significant ­operational costs to ensure ­affordability for commuters.

Edwin Michell, an aerospace engineer, told IN Daily that for $50 million or less, commissioning new, state-of-the-art tilting trains such as the Spanish-made Talgo XXI could save the line, as at present the service is too slow.

Talgo's dual gauge capability will allow seamless operations on the broad-gauge suburban networks of Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as on the standard-gauge interstate railway, meaning no changes to the track would be required.

Michell said the current railway is well maintained and its concrete sleepers and heavy, continuously welded rail is well suited for high speed operations.

"Using the dual-gauge system to take the shorter broad-gauge route via Ballarat, instead of the current standard-gauge route via Geelong, would save a further half-hour," Michell said to the IN Daily.

"Assuming a 25 per cent speed increase on the highly curved sections through the Adelaide Hills and on approach to Melbourne, and a 160km/h cruise speed through the long, flat and mostly straight run between Murray Bridge and Ararat, about 3.5 hours would be cut from the journey."

Michell is calling on private sectors to take advantage of the Overland as a business opportunity.

He estimated to the IN Daily that annual revenue would be $33 million from an average fare level of $150 and financing costs of 5 per cent, interest on capital would be $2.5m and if track access were charged according to the ARTC's present price schedule, such charges would come to about $1.8m per year.

"Therefore, the break-even level of direct operation and maintenance costs would be $28.6m, or roughly $0.17 per passenger-kilometre, O&M costs would need to be kept below $0.11 per passenger-km." Michell said

"This should be achievable, even with no subsidy."

At this stage, the Overland is set to retire by the end of the month.

[Gazza]

Why not spend that subsidy just extending the Ararat trains to Horsham and give the middle finger to the South Australians?

[SurfRail]

^ Wrong gauge.  Standard gauge west of Ararat.  The Overland uses the standard gauge line via Geelong to reach the same point.

They could run a service from near the border to Ararat and then onto Portland or somewhere else not currently on the country passenger rail network with some suitable Vlocities.  You'd only lose the connection from Geelong to Ararat and you would have to change but that would give you potentially a few trains a day instead of one or less.

[ozbob]

Yes, should The Overland be finished (looking likely) the best option is a standard gauge Vliner service from Ararat to the border.  At least twice a day to connect with broad gauge VLiners at Ararat.  For servicing etc. the std gauge rolling stock can run back into Melbourne via North Geelong as needed.

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Murray Valley Standard --> Uncertainty over train service

It is unclear whether the last Overland train trip has been completed, with its operator temporarily suspending all services due to COVID-19 precautions.

The train travels from Adelaide to Melbourne and stops in Murray Bridge, giving people another travel option when heading between the two states.

Merely days before it was originally meant to cease operation in December last year, the Victorian government agreed to continue its subsidy to the service for another three months before wrapping up on March 31.

But on Monday, March 23, Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, which operates The Overland along with The Ghan and Indian Pacific, said in a post on Facebook that it would be suspending all three trains' services until May 31. This was due to various governments' new restrictions, including state border closures and the ceasing of non-essential travel and activities.

"We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and the impending border closures of some states and territories," the post said.

"We recognise that this will be incredibly disappointing news for guests booked to travel between now and May 31, but trust they will understand our decision."

On Wednesday, a Victorian government spokesman said the state had extended the continuation of the subsidy until June 30.

"We're aware Journey Beyond has decided to suspend its Overland service until the end of May following the South Australian Government's decision to close its state's border," he said.

"Separately to this, Victoria had agreed to continue funding The Overland until the end of June, following the South Australian Government's decision to cut its share of funding."

Journey Beyond Rail said the company was continuing talks with the Victorian government.

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ABC News --> Overland train between Adelaide and Melbourne fights for survival after border closure

Key points:

Virtual summit to be launched Friday afternoon to save The Overland train
The SA Government has axed its subsidy for the passenger service
There is uncertainty if the train will resume services after border closures forced it to stop

A "forcible foursome" fearing a silent end of the Overland train under border closures have launched a summit to keep the 133-year-old service running.

The passenger railway service between Adelaide and Melbourne has been under pressure since the SA Government announced in 2018 that it would cut its annual $330,000 subsidy.

Victoria stepped in with an additional $200,000 to keep the train on track until June 30 this year, but it has not run since March 24 due to coronavirus border closures.

"Nobody knows what's going to happen to it now," said John Wilson, a railway historian and recently retired medical specialist.

"There's been no statement, no commitment, and the general opinion is if nothing is done, it's not going to run again."

Train service much-loved
Mr Wilson has been mustering support to keep the train running, joining forces with Murray Bridge councillor Mat O'Brien, Horsham Mayor Mark Radford and Nhill community leader Margaret Millington.

What he described as a "forcible foursome" will today be among the panellists, including Labor's Clare Scriven and federal MP Tony Zappia, at the Serviceton Summit, a virtual roundtable about how to keep the train running and the merits of establishing a Friends of the Overland group.

"I invited the operators, Journey Beyond Railway Expeditions ... but they said there are ongoing negotiations with the Victorian Government and they are unable to comment," Mr Wilson said.

Mr O'Brien said the Murray Bridge Council had written to SA Liberal MP Adrian Pederick, who reiterated the Government was not going to spend the money.

"I've taken it up now as a personal issue," Mr O'Brien said.

"The Overland is still a very highly rated service — on major trip rating sites it has around 87 per cent rating it as excellent or very good.

"We've got a bit of support politically for the summit, but I don't think we managed to get anyone from the State Government — but I'm sure they'll be watching."

'It would be terrible to see it go'
Before borders were closed, the train ran twice a week, carrying about 17,000 passengers a year.

It stopped at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong, and was a key transport option for regional residents on both sides of the border.

For more than 20 years, however, it has relied on a funding deal between SA and Victoria to keep running, with airfares between the cities becoming cheaper.

The journey takes more than 10 hours to complete, although engineers have reported that time could be reduced to 6.5 hours using a state-of-the-art tilting train with dual-gauge capabilities.

Mr O'Brien said he considered $330,000 to be a relatively small amount to keep the only passenger railway service between SA and Victoria running as it did before the pandemic.

"It's bringing tourism directly into Adelaide and all the places it passes through, and it's doing the same for Victoria, and it would be a terrible thing to see it go, given the amount of money is not a big amount."

He said his goal was to raise awareness of the service, admitting that it could be marketed "a little better to expand its reach".

"What we really need to do, if we can get it back on track, is get people on it, experiencing it, and get the weight of numbers to support our case," Mr O'Brien said.

"We need to give it the attention it deserves and maintain a piece of SA history that still brings tourism and jobs while keeping less cars on the highways."

A link to access the summit can be found on the Facebook page for the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.

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https://twitter.com/seanwales01/status/1277770590745575424

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https://twitter.com/abcadelaide/status/1277782012019961856

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Rail Express --> Overland to resume with 3 year funding confirmed

The Overland train service between Melbourne and Adelaide will run for three more years, with the Victorian government committing funding to the service.

The interstate rail service, operated by Journey Beyond, was thought to have run its last service earlier in 2020 as South Australia withdrew funding and the Victorian government was yet to renew funding beyond June 30, 2020. The service has not been running since March due to coronavirus (COVID-19) border closures.

Regional communities along the route had been lobbying for funding to be committed to the route to be able to access services in Melbourne and Adelaide.

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said that the decision was a testament to the community's support of the service.

"This news is testament to the amazing community support for the campaign to get this crucial service funded. It has been a long, hard road to get to this point, and I am so thrilled that the people of our region will continue to have access to this much-needed rail service, as they deserve to," Kealy said.

"I am proud to stand with the communities who have campaigned so hard to ensure this railway icon, and western Victoria's only passenger rail service, continues for years to come."

A summit was held by supporters of the route on June 19, with support from local government and convened by the National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide.

Reports suggest that the Victorian government has provided $3.8 million in funding for the service to continue.

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Ararat Avertiser --> State government open to funding more frequent Overland service

Victoria's new public transport minister has left the door open to supporting more frequent Overland services.

On Tuesday, Ben Carroll announced the Overland would receive $11.4 million to continue until June 2023, $3.8 million a year.

Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, the train's private operator, has announced it will run services again from September 14.

Mr Carroll said the government would work with to look at how to maximise the Overland's success in Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola and Nhill.

"They have committed to working closely with us, their top priority is to take bookings next month if they can," he said.

"We would work with them (if they wanted to run the service more frequently), and we would see that as incredible potential. We would support an increase in services certainly, because we would then know more people are hitting those regional towns."

The Overland has transported an average of 17,000 passengers in its last three years of operation.

Mr Carroll said the state government would promote the Overland as a tourist attraction, and that his government department would work with those covering Regional Victoria and Tourism in this regard.

"We believe while we are coming through the pandemic, regional tourism will take off," he said. "Country Victoria, including the Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera region, was making a real presence before the pandemic, and we believe the Overland service will compliment some of the great work going on on the ground.

"Businesses interested in consulting about the opportunities should work with my office and that of (Regional Development Minister) Jaclyn Symes."

Nine days into the job after a cabinet reshuffle prompted by the demise of former Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek, Mr Carroll said messages calling for the saving of the Overland clogged his inbox after taking over the public transport portfolio from Melissa Horne.

He did not say whether the government would consider supporting more regular passenger rail services to the Wimmera, as Member for Lowan Emma Kealy called for in the wake of Tuesday's announcement.

"We will work with the local communities to ensure we do understand fully their current situation and the travelling needs and preferences they have," he said.

In a statement, Journey Beyond Chief Operating Officer Luke Walker said it was a significant day.

"The Overland has been bringing people between Adelaide and Melbourne for more than 130 years and it is a significant part of Australia's rail history. It brings us great joy to know that it will also play a part in the future of Australian rail," he said.

"We welcome the move to a three-year approach as it will give renewed security of tenure and time review and potentially improve our operating model and service capabilities."

In relation to the September 14 restart date, Mr Walker said: "It also links well with The Ghan and the Indian Pacific with The Overland from Melbourne arriving into Adelaide on a Saturday ahead of The Ghan's Sunday departure. The Overland's second arrival into Adelaide is a Tuesday, giving guests a two-night overlay before joining the Indian Pacific across the Nullarbor to Perth."

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They could improve this line so much with electrification and new alignments where needed.