Edited 07 Jul 2019 22:40, 2 years ago, edited by Transtopic

The aspect in all of this is what linkage does the Bullet as the MV services come under, Sydney trains or whoever runs the Interurbans to NCL, Lithgow and to Kiama now?

Bathurst prior to the Bullet would only have a coach connection service to Lithgow, and again under whose brand?, The same set up or who ran the services in the past were considered as part of the Country network trains, as such were bounded by Lithgow, Campbeltown and Sutherland pre Electrification. Newcastle sort of similar as it was part of the interurban services to Gosford which changed when the wires went up to NCL

The only commuter service as such that Moss Vale had was the one down evening service that stopped all stations from Campbelltown, followed by the Southern Highlands exp which dropped carriages off at MV for the morning up service from MV. The down SHE, was more the return commuter service though even though it went to Goulburn with the up service not arriving in Central until around 1000 IIRC.

The bullet as such is promised by the Government to help regional cities, as such they should fall under a country type set up and needs based. As such the only real stops that should be made on it should be Bathurst, Raglan, Wang, Lithgow, Mt Vict, Katoomba, Penrith Parramatta, Strathfield Central, based on what stations survive outside of the metro area, I do not include Blacktown as in country services in the past were non stoppers there, besides if it stops one could guarantee the locals would make it a sardine service.

Someone mentioned Raglan, not sure if the station is there anymore but that was a station that only had one stopping service at it during the Steam days but it was demoted to holiday times only.

I doubt there is any servicing areas left at Bx these days but would one of the DMU's make the return trip without the need to refuel, if so that it could stable at Bx in a secure enclosure. There are no train crews at Bx nor Orange anymore. & I think the Dubbo Xpt is worked by Dubbo crews at least the driver is.

When the new fleet arrives, I would think its possible that the bullet as such could start from Dubbo and run to Sydney, likewise the 2nd service that is in the plans, provides the way of getting the trains to Dubbo for maintenance also.

Bathurst is considered to be part of the NSW Trainlink Intercity service (previously CityRail), as distinct from the Regional services.  The Bullet is therefore an Intercity service, the same as the DMU from Bomaderry to Kiama and Moss Vale to Macarthur/Campbelltown, although the latter don't run through to Sydney.  Not sure about Goulburn, which is a similar distance from Sydney as Bathurst and has a daily return Explorer service.  Bathurst is much larger than Goulburn, so perhaps it should have a through Explorer service as well.

I don't see the need for a stop at Raglan, if the station still exists, as it's only 5 mins drive from Bathurst Station.  Tarana and Rydal are already stops on request for the Dubbo XPT and these locations would be more appropriate for the Bullet, leaving the XPT and its future replacement as non-stopping express services between Bathurst and Lithgow.  Nor do I see the need for the Bullet to stop at both Mt Victoria and Katoomba.  It should be one or the other.

I understand the argument raised about having the Bullet as a more frequent shuttle service throughout the day, rather than an express through service in peak hours.  However, a shuttle service connecting with the EMU at Lithgow, especially in peak hours, is going to be a slower trip.  The whole attraction of the Bullet is that it's a faster through express service to and from Sydney without the need to change.  It's going to be faster than the EMU because it stops at fewer stations.  A separate limited stop express EMU from Lithgow isn't warranted.  The EMU Intercity service is to cater for Blue Mountains' commuters.

Edited 07 Jul 2019 21:59, 2 years ago, edited by Transtopic

The aspect in all of this is what linkage does the Bullet as the MV services come under, Sydney trains or whoever runs the Interurbans to NCL, Lithgow and to Kiama now?

Bathurst prior to the Bullet would only have a coach connection service to Lithgow, and again under whose brand?, The same set up or who ran the services in the past were considered as part of the Country network trains, as such were bounded by Lithgow, Campbeltown and Sutherland pre Electrification. Newcastle sort of similar as it was part of the interurban services to Gosford which changed when the wires went up to NCL

The only commuter service as such that Moss Vale had was the one down evening service that stopped all stations from Campbelltown, followed by the Southern Highlands exp which dropped carriages off at MV for the morning up service from MV. The down SHE, was more the return commuter service though even though it went to Goulburn with the up service not arriving in Central until around 1000 IIRC.

The bullet as such is promised by the Government to help regional cities, as such they should fall under a country type set up and needs based. As such the only real stops that should be made on it should be Bathurst, Raglan, Wang, Lithgow, Mt Vict, Katoomba, Penrith Parramatta, Strathfield Central, based on what stations survive outside of the metro area, I do not include Blacktown as in country services in the past were non stoppers there, besides if it stops one could guarantee the locals would make it a sardine service.

Someone mentioned Raglan, not sure if the station is there anymore but that was a station that only had one stopping service at it during the Steam days but it was demoted to holiday times only.

I doubt there is any servicing areas left at Bx these days but would one of the DMU's make the return trip without the need to refuel, if so that it could stable at Bx in a secure enclosure. There are no train crews at Bx nor Orange anymore. & I think the Dubbo Xpt is worked by Dubbo crews at least the driver is.

When the new fleet arrives, I would think its possible that the bullet as such could start from Dubbo and run to Sydney, likewise the 2nd service that is in the plans, provides the way of getting the trains to Dubbo for maintenance also.

Bathurst is considered to be part of the NSW Trainlink Intercity service (previously CityRail), as distinct from the Regional services.  The Bullet is therefore an Intercity service, the same as the DMU from Bomaderry to Kiama and Moss Vale to Macarthur/Campbelltown, although the latter don't run through to Sydney.  Not sure about Goulburn, which is a similar distance from Sydney as Bathurst and has a daily return Explorer service.  Bathurst is much larger than Goulburn, so perhaps it should have a through Explorer service as well.

I don't see the need for a stop at Raglan, if the station still exists, as it's only 5 mins drive from Bathurst Station.  Tarana and Rydal are already stops on request for the Dubbo XPT and these locations would be more appropriate for the Bullet, leaving the XPT and its future replacement as non-stopping express services between Bathurst and Lithgow.  Nor do I see the need for the Bullet to stop at both Mt Victoria and Katoomba.  It should be one or the other.

I understand the argument raised about having the Bullet as a more frequent shuttle service throughout the day, rather than an express through service in peak hours.