I do see an XPT (likely 8/9 car + at least 2 power cars) being preserved for heritage purposes.  Trailers are cheap to maintain in a decent condition.  Even now the Carriages aren't in a bad state, they have simply being superseded.  You could do a decent refurb of them and could get away with it like they have done in the UK with the mark 3 carriages, but for the money you may as well buy new.  

What I do see happening is some XPT sets being used as track inspection trains, effectively replacing the AK car's.

That would be great, too. I imagine that may be preserved after it finishes its job. It would have basically the same job as the S/AK sets do now. As I said before, I predict the power car (if not the whole train) that broke the speed record would be in with a good chance of preservation.

My initial assumption is that NSW government is less than enthusiastic in passenger rail.

See Newcastle railway and Murwillumbah lines.

Regarding road improvements, I remember going up this appalling steep windy road to Murwillumbah and seeing a sign saying something like "This road will be bypassed in (I forget which year)"

I heard they tested them at 183km/h when new but they have been re engined, who knows what they can do now?
That's why the Government needs to find a better corridor to Melbourne and Brisbane.
Why does the replacement need to be self propelled and loco hauled is dead when Victoria finds it still viable?
Maybe NSW Trains will keep one but I can't see heritage mobs interested in maintaining one.
The state Government must be in surplus, she wants to spend a couple of billion on footy stadium revamps.
The priorities are way off.

Surely you are not using Victoria as the benchmark? Our Locos are at a least 35 years old and we have nearly 80 carriages that are over 55 years old, some of which are converted old EMU's in which the ride is terrible. In other words they are crap.

Michael

Those particular cars you are referring to undertake short haul services of at most 100Km round trips.

The other older cars you refer to ride very well on Comeng bogies and would be a delight to travel in if the original seats were re-installed.

Our loco's may be 35 years old, but last time I looked, no pax were travelling in them.

Mike.

I heard they tested them at 183km/h when new but they have been re engined, who knows what they can do now?
That's why the Government needs to find a better corridor to Melbourne and Brisbane.
Why does the replacement need to be self propelled and loco hauled is dead when Victoria finds it still viable?
Maybe NSW Trains will keep one but I can't see heritage mobs interested in maintaining one.
The state Government must be in surplus, she wants to spend a couple of billion on footy stadium revamps.
The priorities are way off.

Surely you are not using Victoria as the benchmark? Our Locos are at a least 35 years old and we have nearly 80 carriages that are over 55 years old, some of which are converted old EMU's in which the ride is terrible. In other words they are crap.

Michael

Those particular cars you are referring to undertake short haul services of at most 100Km round trips.

The other older cars you refer to ride very well on Comeng bogies and would be a delight to travel in if the original seats were re-installed.

Our loco's may be 35 years old, but last time I looked, no pax were travelling in them.

Mike.

Old crap short hauled Inter-urbans which should be electrically hauled using modern EMU's, 35 Year old locos and carriages that are at least 35 and some nearer 60 years old. All adds up to a system that is so far short of world class.

Michael