Training it up to Sydney

The poor state of public transport in this country revealed itself on the slow train to Sydney. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Just after Easter I tried something different. I took the train to Sydney. It took 12 hours. But the time the trip took was not unexpected. The price was reasonable too. $120 to get from the heart of Melbourne to the centre of Sydney is about in line with what airlines are charging. And train travel is much more convenient than airline travel - as the Europeans know well. Even the Americans under Biden seem to be looking at greatly expanding their rail systems.

The XPT between Melbourne and Sydney is nearly 40 years old now, and it's feeling and looking its age. There is just no comparison between it and the new, fast and clean services of Asia and Europe.

The First Problem

When I got to Southern Cross Station, there was not a train waiting. Instead I was greeted by a sign directing me to the bus terminal. That's right, the Victorian leg of my trip was to be by bus. Not exactly the ideal start.

In the 1930s a steam train could do the Melbourne to Albury run in 3 and a half hours. It took the bus the exact same amount of time. So much for progress.

The ability to run trains should be the minimum standard for a rail company I would have thought, but apparently not in this country.

The Fast Bit

From Albury to Cootamundra the XPT shows the potential of fast train travel. It is a smooth, fast service, with God's own country flying past the window, and the ability to walk around the train at your own leisure. None of this 'stay in your seat' business like they have on airlines.

This is inter-city train travel at its best.

Apart from the food. Somehow train food is on par with airline food. But at least you get to go and get it when you're ready for it, unlike air travel.

The Slow Climb Through the Mountains

Australia has a surprising geographic problem: The Great Dividing Range. Mountains and train travel don't mix. Sure, these mountains don't have the height of the ranges of Asia and Europe - but they are vast, and steep.

So the train crawls. Slowly up the ranges and through the middle, passing old towns that are now merely nameboards and old platforms. Avoiding Canberra, becuase this line is older than that city. And the slowly down the other side, through the Southern Highlands as night falls and annoucements tell passengers that dinner is now being served.

Into Sydney

After the hours of travel we once again crawl, or stop start our way through the Western and Southern suburbs of Sydney. No priority for the train once known as the Sydney Express. But then, as we limp into Central Station the great benefit of train travel reveals itself. I grab my bags, which I always had with me, and simply walk off the train, out of the station and straight into central Sydney.

No baggage carosels, no long walks from the gate to arrivals, no long transfers to the city; just a 50m walk straight onto a tram.

Just the way travel should be.

What can be done?

High Speed Rail is a must in this country. A Melbourne to Sydney trip should take only around 3 and a half hours at a conservative estimate. And that's with greater comfort than an airline could provide, with comparable speed.

It will be expensive, but it will be worth it.