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Yass Junction - overnight XPT to Southern Cross

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      Caulfieldman Beginner

    I did this trip a while back when the Greyhound bus went through in the early evening. I was the only passenger awaiting the train; I waited near the bolted office and was hailed from the Sydney end of the train to board there, despite the carriage number on my ticket. It was a bit of run to get on.

    Checking today, the Greyhound bus doesn't work,  arrives in Yass about 14.30, so the 982 Transborder bus is the winner and gets in at 18.36, about 5 1/2 hours before the train.

    I guess I can amuse myself checking out the Yass Town station, try and trace the street railtracks, get to Woolworths by 10PM, and then taxi off to the station for a couple of hours close to the CCTV.

    I drove down the Hume in January, as always the Yass Junction station was closed, deserted with one car in the car park. In excellent condition overall.

    Any suggestions as to general Yass safety etc. I'll be travelling solo.

    Thanks for your interest

    UPDATE - it is safer to travel Canberra - Goulburn - Melbourne.

    I have since discovered that a Murrays bus from Jolimont Canberra arrives at about 19.30 at Goulburn Station. The station is staffed until the departure of the XPT and is located one block from the Goulburn main street. Sorry Yass.
    Posted: 16 Feb 2017 16:40

    Last edited by Caulfieldman on 16 Feb 2017 17:50; edited 3 times in total

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      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Richmond Vic
    I think your preference for Goulburn is a very sound idea. I travel by myself, and have the same safety concerns that you do.
    Posted: 17 Feb 2017 16:54
      Radioman Chief Train Controller

    Hello All,

    It is quite some years since I travelled to Canberra , so you now have to travel in the wrong direction to catch the train in the right direction to travel to Melboure ?

    Is this not a bit bizarre, or am I just weird for thinking that the general idea of travelling in the direction one is intending to arrive at is the sensible thing to do ?

    And why would waiting at Yass station be dangerous ? I know it is a small town and the railway is some distance from Yass Town but does that part of NSW have some dangerous individuals that one does not meet elsewhere ?

    Curious and best wishes to all, Radioman.
    Posted: 25 Feb 2017 03:42
      railblogger Chief Commissioner

    Location: At the back of the train, quitely doing exactly what you'd expect.
    @Caulfieldman @Valvegear Why not travel Canberra-Albury-Melbourne?
    Posted: 25 Feb 2017 15:36
      Trainplanner Chief Commissioner

    Location: Along the Line
    Was in Yass Junction on the weekend.   You'd be pretty safe, but even so take railblogger's suggestion and do the Canberra to Albury road coach and then catch the train all via V/Line.   Sad thing is you'll miss some of the nicer aspects of riding the XPT in southern NSW if you are travelling in daylight!!!
    Posted: 27 Feb 2017 08:15
      CS2905 Junior Train Controller

    Location: Canberra, ACT
    Some of the replies seem to have missed that Caulfieldman is intending to catch the Sydney to Melbourne overnight XPT, ie; Yass Junction at 12.17 am.

    If I was travelling alone, I'd probably have concerns about being in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night too.
    Posted: 27 Feb 2017 18:36
      duttonbay Minister for Railways

    Some of the replies seem to have missed that Caulfieldman is intending to catch the Sydney to Melbourne overnight XPT, ie; Yass Junction at 12.17 am.

    If I was travelling alone, I'd probably have concerns about being in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night too.
    CS2905
    Yes, I think that has been the case too. I would much prefer to go to Goulburn, not necessarily because it might feel safer in any way, but because the time spent waiting for the train is so much less. And shops, etc, are much closer to Goulburn station than to Yass Junction, so time could easily be spent in a restaurant.
    Posted: 27 Feb 2017 19:26
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Richmond Vic
    And why would waiting at Yass station be dangerous ?
    "Radioman"
    On your own at midnight, no help readily available if needed, and an ever-increasing number of ice-heads out there. Would that be a good reason?
    Posted: 04 Mar 2017 16:21
      Radioman Chief Train Controller

    Dear Valvegear,

    Yes , the presence of ice heads does make one consider a safer Plan B , thanks for the update,

    Regards, Radioman
    Posted: 04 Mar 2017 21:47
      YM-Mundrabilla Minister for Railways

    Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
    No one is safe anywhere anymore.
    You might just be a bit less unsafe in some places than others.
    Posted: 04 Mar 2017 21:51
      xke9600hp Train Controller

    Dear Valvegear,

    Yes , the presence of ice heads does make one consider a safer Plan B , thanks for the update,

    Regards, Radioman
    Radioman
    I think you'd be more likely to suffer from loneliness at Yass Jct than be attacked by anyone - station is miles out of town.  Goulburn will be similarly deserted but at least the police station is across the road.  If anyone attacked you, you'd be able to  burst through the police station door and email/file your distress on the computer terminal they have there for such emergencies.
    Posted: 05 Mar 2017 04:55
      theanimal Chief Commissioner

    And why would waiting at Yass station be dangerous ?
    On your own at midnight, no help readily available if needed, and an ever-increasing number of ice-heads out there. Would that be a good reason?
    Valvegear
    Surely getting on the train exposes you to iceheads?
    Posted: 05 Mar 2017 20:43

    Last edited by theanimal on 05 Mar 2017 20:43; edited 1 time in total
      billybaxter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Bosnia Park, Fairfield
    OP hasn't been back since the first post, so the trip's done or he doesn't care for our advice. Anyway, Greyhound has a direct overnight bus, so you'd really have to love the train to choose the via Goulburn option over that. I'd understand choosing the train for a daylight trip, but at night, in the dark, when you probably want a snooze anyway ...
    Posted: 06 Mar 2017 04:41
      theanimal Chief Commissioner

    OP hasn't been back since the first post, so the trip's done or he doesn't care for our advice. Anyway, Greyhound has a direct overnight bus, so you'd really have to love the train to choose the via Goulburn option over that. I'd understand choosing the train for a daylight trip, but at night, in the dark, when you probably want a snooze anyway ...
    billybaxter
    or the iceheads got him?
    Posted: 06 Mar 2017 20:44
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Richmond Vic
    Surely getting on the train exposes you to iceheads?
    "theanimal"
    Of course it does, but, on the train, you're not on your own in the middle of the night with no help at hand.
    Posted: 07 Mar 2017 08:39
      theanimal Chief Commissioner

    Surely getting on the train exposes you to iceheads?
    Of course it does, but, on the train, you're not on your own in the middle of the night with no help at hand.
    Valvegear
    you reckon?
    Posted: 07 Mar 2017 21:57
      caulfieldman1 Beginner

    Hi all and thanks for all your suggestions (yep this is the OP with a slightly different handle), all comments gratefully received

    Confirming that Canberra - Goulburn - SouthernCross was a pleasant trip

    As for going backwards to go forwards - true - but the reality is I got to Spencer Street at the same time, and avoided having to sit on a deserted platform at Yass for hours.

    As for buses, don't like them much; I find train travel very pleasant (and the XPT travellers were a perfectly respectable lot)

    For what it's worth I have explored every possible way to travel Canberra to Melbourne bar cycle and hitching:

    Vline bus to Albury and then a train
    Vline bus to Bairnsdale and then a train
    Murrays to Central Station and then the XPT back
    Greyhound to Southern Cross via Wagga Wagga  (that was a good trip; 2PM departure from Canberra, in Southern Cross about 11PM)
    QF to Sydney and then Melbourne
    QF direct,  Deanes bus to the ACT airport, then Skybus or the 901 bus to Broadmeadows and then on the Metro train
    Bus to Yass then XPT overnight
    Bus to Goulburn and then XPT overnight
    Driving

    I reckon the Greyhound bus to Goulburn and then XPT overnight  was the most visually interesting
    Oddly the Vline option is always cheapest

    Overall must admit to embarrassment that our Capital City has no fast train links to Melbourne and Sydney (and astounded that a rail easement / potential link between ACT's  Kingston station and the City (Civic) was vandalised and rendered irrecoverable years ago

    Alright, now off to work (by tram)
    Posted: 25 May 2017 09:58
      simstrain Chief Commissioner

    Overall must admit to embarrassment that our Capital City has no fast train links to Melbourne and Sydney (and astounded that a rail easement / potential link between ACT's  Kingston station and the City (Civic) was vandalised and rendered irrecoverable years ago

    Alright, now off to work (by tram)
    caulfieldman1

    Canberra actually has 3 train services a day in each direction to Sydney. Canberra is a small city and a vhst is in no way viable but with some line straightening and track upgrading between Goulburn and Canberra a faster service to Sydney should be possible.
    Posted: 25 May 2017 15:43
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Richmond Vic
    Overall must admit to embarrassment that our Capital City has no fast train links to Melbourne and Sydney
    "caulfieldman1"
    We only need fast trains for one direction - away from Canberra. Nobody wants to go there in a hurry.
    Posted: 26 May 2017 07:40
      sambo Station Master

    Very mature...Good One
    Posted: 26 May 2017 09:53
      simstrain Chief Commissioner

    I know this is not rail friendly but Canberra does have an airport. If there is a viable alternative then why waste time and money building something else.
    Posted: 26 May 2017 11:50

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