I have been following this closely. Let me offer this background:
The NSW transport minister had announced some time ago that he was calling upon the STA and other transport providers to show that the NSW public is geting value for money out of their subsidies. Reading between the lines i see the following pattern emerging similar to our services in Brisbane- corporatisation, then maybe, tendering out. How does the STA situation reflect on Countrylink?-the same formula i would think.
It is obvious the NSW treasury is going broke and unfortunately, transport is always a casualty- Canberra Xplorers gone by stealth- majority of XPT services average performers with clapped out equipment- bring on the coaches!
It is so sad to see . I loved going to Sydney central after 400pm to watch the parade of pax trains in the evening- now it is but a shadow of its former self- very simliar to say a Dallas or FortWorth in the leadup to Amtrak!
Forgive those who do not travel by train for they will not inherit the earth!
