Volcano ash from Chile

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its possible but its also hard to get everyone to agree and to sign off on it before asking who is going to foot the bill for something that's not affecting and grounding all air travel on the mainland.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Volcanic ash hits domestic flights again

[ozbob]

Brsibanetimes --> Ash cloud causes flight chaos - again

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Ash cloud grounds Sydney, Canberra flights

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Ash: travel chaos worsens

[ozbob]

NSW 422 class, 42211, in Candy livery, hauls the up Inter Capital Daylight from Sydney to Melbourne through Kilmore East FEB89.

[ozbob]

On 3 August 1986 the last Spirit of Progress departed Albury New South Wales, bound for Melbourne. It was hauled by diesel-electric loco S301, in remembrance of the famed S class steam engines which hauled the train prior to dieselisation. This clip shows the train at Heathcote Junction, Victoria.
The Spirit of Progress was an all-steel-carriage train introduced to service in 1937 to run the 317 km Melbourne to Albury section of the Sydney-bound train. Steam engines S300 to S303 were built between 1928 and 1930 and were capable of hauling the train non-stop over the distance. The Spirit ran for 48 years and nine months before ceasing operation.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Qantas cancels all flights from Melbourne as ash-cloud disruptions loom until Friday

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> $100m hit to airlines

[ozbob]

Reported on ABC Radio that Country Link have managed to add some extra carriages to their interstate runs.

Bus operators have scheduled extra buses as well.

This is a clear early warning that it is time to bring back well resourced interstate passenger rail services.  There is only one way that airline pricing and availability is going IMHO.

[Golliwog]

Are they running more services as well or at different times? One went through Park Rd heading south at about 7.45am this morning, which I've don't think I've seen before. Could have just been my train being early though.

[ozbob]

http://www.countrylink.info/

Service status

Due to airline issues, CountryLink has provided extra seat availability and supplementary coach services.

Other than a few extra carriages here and there unable to do much at all ... such is the sad state of long haul passenger rail in the southern states.

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Ash means three-day wait for some

[ButFli]

Are they running more services as well or at different times? One went through Park Rd heading south at about 7.45am this morning, which I've don't think I've seen before. Could have just been my train being early though.

The XPT is timetabled to leave Roma Street at 7:30AM so 7:45AM at Park Road would be roughly on time.

[Golliwog]

Ok, cheers. I think my usual bus was just running a little late yesterday.

[ozbob]

I saw that XPT at Roma St when I passed through early yesterday morning, it seemed to have a couple of extra carriages on it, although I was not able to actually count them.

[frereOP]

zzzzzzzzzzz Trains are being marshalled at Thirlmere.  Retired diesel electric veterans are being fuelled,  and some steam locomotives are being provisioned with coal and water.  Some immaculate carriages from the Southern Aurora, the Spirit of Progress, the Intercapital Daylight are being given a quick clean and provision.  Yes, tomorrow morning extra trains will be running to Melbourne from Central Station Sydney ...   zzzzzzzzzz  

OMG.

I used to travel regularly :-( on the Intercapital Daylight Express (Sydney-Melbourne day train owned by the NSW Government) when I was going to university in Sydney because my parents would only fork out 1 airfare a year.

Seven hours of hell between Central and Wagga at an average speed of 37mph (60kph)!.  I much preferred the Spirit (the night train between Melbourne and Sydney and owned by the Vic Government) which even though it passed through Wagga at 12:30am, and got to Sydney about 7:00 am was much smoother and an all round better train. I never rode the Southern Aurora because it was a non-stop overnight sleeper service but I heard it was excellent!

[Golliwog]

It's not volcanic ash related, but its having a similar effect. Tiger Airways have been grounded for all their dometic flights for a week starting today. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/aviation-watchdog-grounds-tiger-airways-20110702-1gvny.html

[ozbob]

It's not volcanic ash related, but its having a similar effect. Tiger Airways have been grounded for all their dometic flights for a week starting today. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/aviation-watchdog-grounds-tiger-airways-20110702-1gvny.html

Yep, my youngest Sister turned up for a Tiger Flight at Melbourne this morning to find a sign to the effect that all TT flights cancelled. Managed to get on a Jetstar at some cost and inconvenience ..

[frereOP]

On 3 August 1986 the last Spirit of Progress departed Albury New South Wales, bound for Melbourne. It was hauled by diesel-electric loco S301, in remembrance of the famed S class steam engines which hauled the train prior to dieselisation. This clip shows the train at Heathcote Junction, Victoria.
The Spirit of Progress was an all-steel-carriage train introduced to service in 1937 to run the 317 km Melbourne to Albury section of the Sydney-bound train. Steam engines S300 to S303 were built between 1928 and 1930 and were capable of hauling the train non-stop over the distance. The Spirit ran for 48 years and nine months before ceasing operation.

No, the two Spirits (one went Melbourne - Sydney and the other went Sydney - Melbourne each night) were blue trains with wooden interiors and a mixture of standard seating carriages and 'dog box' (6 seat) cabins.  It always had a couple of the all steel sleeper carriages from the Southern Aurora but it wasn't an "all steel" train.

[ozbob]

I think the quote was referring to the original Spirit, which ran Melbourne to Albury on the 5'3" and was all steel.

After the standard gauge opened from Albury to Melbourne the Spirit was a mixture ...