The quickest, and probably the cheapest way is to fly - Virgin, Rex and Qantaslink all offer regular and cheap flights.
So there is no current service. The Govt has promised there will be, soon as the track is done up. But in the mean time. Why isnt there a V/line bus service, straight down the calder? IE The fastest and most direct route. Going via Swan Hill and Ballarat, is the slow alternative.
This was once the case, but the costs of flying return to Mildura have been increasing. Once the airlines work our they have a captive market, up go the fares.
Rubbish - plenty of $74 fares online from QANTAS.
Virgin Blue are even better at $61 each way.
Plus Taxi fares "to and from and from and to"
whats that cost now?
I'm sorry to say like the other promises the state government made in regard to passenger rail, the Mildura passenger service will end up being a dead duck.
Changes in the train order status for Mildura would alson need to happen as at the moment it is an intermediate siding and trains can only arrive and lock away which means the the loco needs to be shut down. because the block section in mildura is Yatpool Block point Yelta section,
Current train order for the 9141/9142 is proceed to Mildura shund as required in the Yatpool block point Yelta section then Lock Away at Mildura.
Now with the removal of the Mildura Yard what impact is that going to have on stabling in the Mildura yard you will not be able to do it thus ending all dreams of a passenger train return to Mildura
Changes in the train order status for Mildura would alson need to happen as at the moment it is an intermediate siding and trains can only arrive and lock away which means the the loco needs to be shut down. because the block section in mildura is Yatpool Block point Yelta section,
Current train order for the 9141/9142 is proceed to Mildura shund as required in the Yatpool block point Yelta section then Lock Away at Mildura.
Now with the removal of the Mildura Yard what impact is that going to have on stabling in the Mildura yard you will not be able to do it thus ending all dreams of a passenger train return to Mildura
I agree that it's unlikely to happen - but the configuration of train order working or the state of Mildura yard would be the least of the reasons for it not happening. A little matter of a global financial crisis combined with lukewarm demand would be more of the issue.
Votes Votes Votes, Mildura-Melbourne is 600 k's
The towns between Mildura and Ballarat are the winners while the yuppies are the wingers.
Small towns will still be sustained whilst employment centres of Maryborough and Ballarat are easily accessible with a Velocity service.
The tickets won’t be anymore then the Overland so it’s a BIG vote winner in my book.
Petrol will be $2 a litre by 2010 and we will have the ETS also
Small towns will still be sustained whilst employment centres of Maryborough and Ballarat are easily accessible with a Velocity service.
Small towns will still be sustained whilst employment centres of Maryborough and Ballarat are easily accessible with a Velocity service.
And they're not with a bus? A bus can also travel faster than 80km/h.
If you want to go from Melbourne to Mildura, why not fly? Hell, it'd be quicker to go from Ballarat to Melbourne and fly from there to Mildura than take a train from Ballarat to Mildura.
To be honest, running near-empty trains to every two-bit town is a waste of good rollingstock. The existing services are crowded as it is.
Flying is more expensive then rail.
The roads are dangerous so Buses are rubbish!
What do you mean by two-bit towns?
when V/Line is already struggling to fill demand for its present services, it's stupid to consider introducing new rail services.
when V/Line is already struggling to fill demand for its present services, it's stupid to consider introducing new rail services.
There's something not quite right about saying that because there's excess demand we shouldnt supply.
But that aside, I suspect Mildura is a different beast to most Vline routes, and comparing it with Ballarat or Bendigo for instance doesn't help.
Think of it more like the Sydney to Armidale line in NSW, or perhaps Brisbane to Rockhampton, or even Melbourne to Adelaide. The demand and market is different from Melbourne to Ballarat. No commuters, more holidaymakers, less time sensitive, fewer locals more visitors, more inclined to stay longer more likely to do one-way trips, more seasonal etc.
I think there is more case for an operator like GSR or QR to run such a service - not so much Vline. Vline already provide a service via Swan Hill - let them stick to that.
Perhaps the gummen should approach GSR to provide say a once or twice weekly daylight service modelled on the Overland - charging fares higher than Vline - marketing it as a tourist service - provide a few luxuries - heck perhaps call it the Vinelander.
Yes it would need a subsidy, and no it wouldn't be fast nor frequent but if it was done well it could assist tourism and get votes.
When you think about it - this is a bit like what NSW have done for Broken Hill and Griffith.
But please don't run Vlocities up there - that's not what they're for.
There's something not quite right about saying that because there's excess demand we shouldnt supply.
But that aside, I suspect Mildura is a different beast to most Vline routes, and comparing it with Ballarat or Bendigo for instance doesn't help.
Think of it more like the Sydney to Armidale line in NSW, or perhaps Brisbane to Rockhampton, or even Melbourne to Adelaide. The demand and market is different from Melbourne to Ballarat. No commuters, more holidaymakers, less time sensitive, fewer locals more visitors, more inclined to stay longer more likely to do one-way trips, more seasonal etc.
I think there is more case for an operator like GSR or QR to run such a service - not so much Vline. Vline already provide a service via Swan Hill - let them stick to that.
Perhaps the gummen should approach GSR to provide say a once or twice weekly daylight service modelled on the Overland - charging fares higher than Vline - marketing it as a tourist service - provide a few luxuries - heck perhaps call it the Vinelander.
Yes it would need a subsidy, and no it wouldn't be fast nor frequent but if it was done well it could assist tourism and get votes.
Yes I agree this would be to only senceable rail service to and from Mildura When you think about it - this is a bit like what NSW have done for Broken Hill and Griffith.
But please don't run Vlocities up there - that's not what they're for.
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