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Express trains

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      potatoinmymouth Chief Commissioner

    We all love a good express, right?

    I’m interested in the best express runs on different passenger systems across the country. Happy to accept nominations on time, distance, number of stations skipped, average speed... I don’t intend this as a competition.

    The longest overall would be the Indian Pacific which runs non-stop for 15 hours 50 minutes between Adelaide Parklands and Cook.

    V/Line’s longest by my count is the absolutely ludicrous 87 minutes of the weekday evening up Albury from Seymour to Broadmeadows. (The Seymour local leaving 35 minutes later does this in an hour. It even arrives at Southern Cross first.) However, the longest in Victoria is the Overland’s 122 minutes from Ararat to North Shore.

    Looking forward to other nominations!
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 10:41

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      8077 Chief Train Controller

    Location: Crossing the Rubicon
    What about Canberra to Sydney does this qualify or the Perth to Kalgoorlie?
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 14:28
      The Vinelander Minister for Railways

    Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
    The fastest point to point journey in Victoria is the 16:33 down Ballarat/Wendouree/Maryborough which averages 115Km/h from Sunshine to Ballan over 69 Km.
    This is all the more remarkable because the train has to ascend 400 metres from Bacchus Marsh to Ballan.

    The Overland aside, the other longer but less speedy express train is the 119 Km 16:57 down Epsom from Footscray to Castlemaine, at an average of 109Km/h.

    Mike.
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 15:17
      potatoinmymouth Chief Commissioner

    What about Canberra to Sydney does this qualify or the Perth to Kalgoorlie?
    8077

    I was talking specifically about express runs with no intermediate station stops.

    Couple of good nominations from Mike, what are the best point-to-point times in the rest of the country like?
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 15:33
      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    I will nominate Brisbane to Rockhampton Tilt Train




    3 hours and 40 mins express.
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 16:15
      petan Chief Commissioner

    Location: Waiting to see a zebra using a zebra crossing!
    6 January 1987 Inter Capital Daylight ex Spencer St hauled by 8177. I was in car 7 BHZ 2222. Did not come to a stop Sunshine to Albury although it slowed to a crawl for a per way area just south of Benalla. By ' did not come to a stop' I mean the train kept physically moving, as distinct to stopping for a pick up etc at a station.
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 17:53
      petan Chief Commissioner

    Location: Waiting to see a zebra using a zebra crossing!
    I will nominate Brisbane to Rockhampton Tilt Train




    3 hours and 40 mins express.
    bevans
    The Rocky tilt train will stop at several places named in the timetable, besides those listed above, if prebooked.
    https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/timetable
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 17:59
      justapassenger Chief Commissioner

    However, the longest in Victoria is the Overland’s 122 minutes from Ararat to North Shore.
    potatoinmymouth
    This can be longer, as 'turn up and go' is prohibited on the Overdue, allowing the train to run straight through at stations where no passengers are booked to board or alight.

    Regardless of whether the Overland exists in a year, this current Victorian mark will soon be blown out of the water when The Great Southern starts its first season in a few months.
    Posted: 25 Jun 2019 18:27
      The Vinelander Minister for Railways

    Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
    Theoretically, due to having an Ʌ next to the station timings, the Inlander can run 'express' from Mt Isa to Charters Towers and vice versa taking around 17.5 hours.

    https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Documents/Timetables/Inlander%20and%20Westlander.pdf

    Mike.
    Posted: 27 Jun 2019 10:40
      The Vinelander Minister for Railways

    Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
    I will nominate Brisbane to Rockhampton Tilt Train




    3 hours and 40 mins express.
    The Rocky tilt train will stop at several places named in the timetable, besides those listed above, if prebooked.
    https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/timetable
    petan


    The Rocky (I believe no longer) Tilt will stop at Caboolture, Nambour and Gympie North before arriving at Maryborough West.

    Mike.
    Posted: 27 Jun 2019 10:57
      Valvegear Dr Beeching

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    The longest overall would be the Indian Pacific which runs non-stop for 15 hours 50 minutes between Adelaide Parklands and Cook.
    "potatoinbmymouth"
    I'll stand correcting on this, but I believe that the IP stops at Port Augusta for a loco crew change.
    Posted: 27 Jun 2019 17:44
      petan Chief Commissioner

    Location: Waiting to see a zebra using a zebra crossing!
    The longest overall would be the Indian Pacific which runs non-stop for 15 hours 50 minutes between Adelaide Parklands and Cook.
    I'll stand correcting on this, but I believe that the IP stops at Port Augusta for a loco crew change.
    Valvegear
    I was wondering about that as almost 16 hours is a bit long for one crew of two drivers, unless the spare crew walk along the side of the NR class from a trailing crew carriage while the train is in motion. I am aware a loco crew member in QLD in recent years faced disciplinary action (no longer employed) for being outside the cab while train was in motion. He was caught when a video of it appeared on an internet group.
    Posted: 27 Jun 2019 20:01

    Last edited by petan on 27 Jun 2019 20:03; edited 1 time in total
      route14 Chief Commissioner

    I've read from others' trip reports that the Overdue stops in loops other than passenger stops to cross freight trains.
    Posted: 09 Dec 2019 17:42
      C2 Junior Train Controller

    The best express was the six O  something to Belgrave from Parliament and it had to be a Harris  (with  manual doors )We peasents  would leave Richmond for the  express run to Box Hill. sweating  in the  40 degree oven  as its all doors open  as the wind tunnel  starts up  and the Herald does a dance  around the faces  of the servants, then we bounce into Box Hill in a cloud of Aspestos  to be met  by a cloud of Tobacco. Ahh working class!
    Posted: 13 Dec 2019 06:43
      route14 Chief Commissioner

    This express pattern existed till early this century when Surrey Hill was upgraded to a premium station and added as a stop on express runs.
    Posted: 13 Dec 2019 11:49

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