The NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass

[PineappleSkip]

The services across the Vic border, such as Broken Hill-Mildura, aren’t operating at the moment according to NSW Transportinfo.

We like catching the trains, and plan Euro visits around them. But very mixed experiences with trainlink. Brisbane to Sydney would be a goer but for the track capacity limitations on Merivale Bridge resulting in the absurd timing of the XPT, 04.53 arrival into Roma St and 05.55 departure. Oh and an hour earlier during daylight saving . The other train Sydney to Casino and the bus connection is a more sensible option.

Did the XPT from Spencer Street (I’m a traditionalist) to Sydney a few years back and it was fine. Did the Xplorer from Moree to Sydney return, and the trip down was fine, but the trip back was not fine. They cancelled the Moree portion with no notice, with an involuntary downgrade on the Armidale carriages, followed by an asthmatic bus with a broken speedo from Werris Ck to Moree. Regulars told us that this no notice cancellation happens ‘all the time’ on the Moree portion, and the Armidale portion is more reliable. Staff, whose care factor was zero, told us we’d get an email about claiming a partial refund for the downgrade but it never happened.

So I would be wary of catching the secondary portions of trains and if we do it again we’d catch the Armidale portion. Or the Casino XPT.

cheers skip

 

[toowongman]

A while ago I commuted Maitland - Sydney and return a few days a week. Used to rush like mad to wind up and get the Brisbane XPT from Central to Maitland - beats the coughkansen then the railcars to Maitland. Two points of interest - one, the coffee from the buffet is a coffee bag in a cup of hot water. Two - windows in the XPT are tinted with a metallic film which kills mobile reception. I used to close my eyes and think of the old British Rail silver service dinners on the HST to help pass the time

 

[Melburnian1]

The services across the Vic border, such as Broken Hill-Mildura, aren’t operating at the moment according to NSW Transportinfo....cheers skip

But the Broken Hill to Adelaide road coach - twice a week each way - is (not that it goes into Victoria, but SA has not of late been 'welcoming' to NSW visitors.

Apparently due to the lack of transport links between Adelaide and 'the Hill', it's regarded as an essential service.

 

[Mattg]

Did the XPT from Spencer Street (I’m a traditionalist) to Sydney a few years back and it was fine. Did the Xplorer from Moree to Sydney return, and the trip down was fine, but the trip back was not fine. They cancelled the Moree portion with no notice, with an involuntary downgrade on the Armidale carriages, followed by an asthmatic bus with a broken speedo from Werris Ck to Moree. Regulars told us that this no notice cancellation happens ‘all the time’ on the Moree portion, and the Armidale portion is more reliable. Staff, whose care factor was zero, told us we’d get an email about claiming a partial refund for the downgrade but it never happened.

So I would be wary of catching the secondary portions of trains and if we do it again we’d catch the Armidale portion. Or the Casino XPT.

I took the train out to Griffith on the weekend, which I guess you could say is the "secondary portion" of the Canberra Xplorer (it splits in Goulburn and only two cars continue to Griffith). It ran on time and I had no problems whatsoever. In fact, it was a very pleasant trip.

But yes, there are some reliability issues that crop up from time to time. I've had the occasional train cancelled due to trackwork or mechanical issues, which usually means being shafted onto replacement coaches (and not arriving on time). I see that today the Sydney-Casino XPTs are not running between Broadmeadow and Taree due to flooding around Newcastle.

 

[Melburnian1]

..But yes, there are some reliability issues that crop up from time to time. I've had the occasional train cancelled due to trackwork or mechanical issues, which usually means being shafted onto replacement coaches (and not arriving on time). I see that today the Sydney-Casino XPTs are not running between Broadmeadow and Taree due to flooding around Newcastle.

Usually trackwork is arranged in advance, so one can look it up online via that NSW Transport site.

I haven't ever been affected (partly good luck) but the Armidale/Moree train tends to be the most affected as the rail line from Maitland to Muswellbrook and Narrabri/Moree is busy with heavy coal (and in season, provided a good harvest like we may have this summer, grain and cotton trains).

That translates into a need for some day time maintenance due to the huge tonnages moved. From memory some coal trains are about 6000 tonnes gross (not including the weight of locomotives).

IIRC, the area around Hexham (between Waratah and Maitland, where there are four rail tracks) is 'low lying', a bit like parts of South Melbourne in the southern capital.

 

[PineappleSkip]

They don't call it Hexham swamp for nothing!

In my case we were told the cancellation (which was no notice) was because a driver called in sick and no replacement.

 

[Melburnian1]

...my case we were told the cancellation (which was no notice) was because a driver called in sick and no replacement.

Yes, just like QFd, no drivers/pilots respectively based in places like Moree, so in the occasional event of the staff member coming down with a virus overnight in the motel, one is up the creek without a paddle.

Even ZL doesn't have staff members in every rural NSW locality where its flights terminate for the night.

 

[RB]

A while ago I commuted Maitland - Sydney and return a few days a week. Used to rush like mad to wind up and get the Brisbane XPT from Central to Maitland - beats the coughkansen then the railcars to Maitland. Two points of interest - one, the coffee from the buffet is a coffee bag in a cup of hot water. Two - windows in the XPT are tinted with a metallic film which kills mobile reception. I used to close my eyes and think of the old British Rail silver service dinners on the HST to help pass the time

Mobile reception is erratic but I am not sure it is because of the window film? Not sure about the coffee but the beer is cold and the food has been fine when I have used the XPT

 

[Melburnian1]

Mobile reception is erratic but I am not sure it is because of the window film? Not sure about the coffee but the beer is cold and the food has been fine when I have used the XPT

I am far from an expert, but have been told over the years it's a combination of the film on the windows, the amount of steel in the train, possibly the double glazing and in past years lack of nearby phone towers.

As with many rail lines worldwide, it is not always close to the nearest major road (in this case the Pacific Highway/Freeway or close to Sydney the M3). This may also affect coverage as in some places like Bulliac the railway line is fairly remote if I recall. (Scenery is great though).

The Hornsby - Broadmeadow and Maitland - Brisbane sections have a huge number of curves as it was built, like so many railways, in the steam age when avoiding gradients was key. Had it been built today, more powerful diesel-electric locomotives would be able to cope with heavier grades and curvature reduction would be a key aim.

I too find the food on the XPT and cousins the XPlorer railcars acceptable, although the c.$9-10 meals are airline style and one doesn't get a lot for that price. The beer has been cold and there's a good range of snacks and railway oddities like Devonshire Teas served hot (scones with jam and cream plus tea or coffee for those unfamiliar).

There's a much greater pitch per seat in first on the XPTs/XPlorers than in whY on a domestic airline and the seats are far more comfortable than in J on a B738 or A320.

 

[Mattg]

I have been able to get mobile reception on the XPTs. I don’t think the tinted windows make a difference.

 

[MyAustralia]

This thread is for discussion about the NSW TrainLink Discovery Pass: Six Months of Unlimited First Class Train Travel in NSW for $550

The Discovery Pass comes with unlimited train travel within NSW, as well as to Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. With this pass you can get six months of unlimited First Class train travel for $550.

I often use Trainlink from Melbourne and Sydney to regional centres. Excellent value, cafe style hot meals open all times. Yes getting tired , but inside cars extreemly clean and soon to be replaced. Staff are friendly smartly dressed and its lovely to see in comfort our lovely country.

The services across the Vic border, such as Broken Hill-Mildura, aren’t operating at the moment according to NSW Transportinfo.

We like catching the trains, and plan Euro visits around them. But very mixed experiences with trainlink. Brisbane to Sydney would be a goer but for the track capacity limitations on Merivale Bridge resulting in the absurd timing of the XPT, 04.53 arrival into Roma St and 05.55 departure. Oh and an hour earlier during daylight saving . The other train Sydney to Casino and the bus connection is a more sensible option.

Did the XPT from Spencer Street (I’m a traditionalist) to Sydney a few years back and it was fine. Did the Xplorer from Moree to Sydney return, and the trip down was fine, but the trip back was not fine. They cancelled the Moree portion with no notice, with an involuntary downgrade on the Armidale carriages, followed by an asthmatic bus with a broken speedo from Werris Ck to Moree. Regulars told us that this no notice cancellation happens ‘all the time’ on the Moree portion, and the Armidale portion is more reliable. Staff, whose care factor was zero, told us we’d get an email about claiming a partial refund for the downgrade but it never happened.

So I would be wary of catching the secondary portions of trains and if we do it again we’d catch the Armidale portion. Or the Casino XPT.

cheers skip

You can always get a refund if you call Feedback and explain. You have to blame translink in BNE for arrival time as they wont allow Trainlink in as they say it blocks their peak hour traffic. There is always a reason. Trainlink told me the only option is to run train to Casino and coach it from there.

 

[PineappleSkip]

You have to blame translink in BNE for arrival time as they wont allow Trainlink in as they say it blocks their peak hour traffic

Correct, and well known. Hopefully when Cross River Rail takes the pressure off Merivale bridge things might change.

As for NSW and ‘always get a refund’, just google ‘Opal card refund’ and you will find lots of people who were unable to get a refund. Off topic but a sore point, Mrs Pineapple has personally been denied a refund on an opal seniors card. Our happy experiences with QR and PTV starkly contrast.

cheers skip.

 

[Mattg]

This week I travelled from Adelaide back to Canberra. With very few flights running (and the limited flights that were available costing $$$) I decided to use my Discovery Pass. I took the NSW TrainLink bus from Adelaide to Broken Hill on Sunday, spent 2 nights in Broken Hill and then took the train from there to Sydney on Tuesday (I wrote a mini-trip report about this here). Then it was just 4 more hours from Sydney to Canberra. Total travel time was 24 hours, but I did it over 4 days and it was a pleasant journey.

Interestingly, I was the only passenger on the bus from Adelaide to Broken Hill. That particular service is still running twice per week despite the border closure as it's deemed an essential service (Broken Hill residents use it to get to hospital in Adelaide). But the driver didn't think it would last much longer if the border remained closed.

For some reason, the departure and arrival times for the Adelaide-Broken Hill bus were listed on the NSW TrainLink website - and on my ticket - in AEST. Both Adelaide and Broken Hill use CST, which is 30 minutes behind. There was no mention anywhere of the fact that the times listed on the ticket were not in the local time zone - lucky I arrived early!

 

[Buzzard]

With currently over 350 destinations, Mildura might be getting added to the list.

 

[Melburnian1]

With currently over 350 destinations, Mildura might be getting added to the list.

Are you referring to how 'border towns/cities' will see people able to move between these again soon? Wouldn't that only be for 'locals?'

 

[Buzzard]

Are you referring to how 'border towns/cities' will see people able to move between these again soon? Wouldn't that only be for 'locals?'

I hear that it will be a regular offering, current restrictions not withstanding.

 

[MyAustralia]

With currently over 350 destinations, Mildura might be getting added to the list.

Mildura to Broken Hill Trainlink coach when non covid already exists.

With currently over 350 destinations, Mildura might be getting added to the list.

NSW train link alteady oprrayes Mildura

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm curious if the rail pass could be used for NSW train services within Sydney (i.e. Metro service, T9 service between Hornsby and Epping, etc.) or is it limited to intercity travel? If the latter, would one be able to use the pass to catch intercity trains within the greater Sydney. For instance, could I use the pass to hop on the Newcastle line between Hornsby and Epping?

-RooFlyer88

 

[toowongman]

I'm curious if the rail pass could be used for NSW train services within Sydney (i.e. Metro service, T9 service between Hornsby and Epping, etc.) or is it limited to intercity travel? If the latter, would one be able to use the pass to catch intercity trains within the greater Sydney. For instance, could I use the pass to hop on the Newcastle line between Hornsby and Epping?

-RooFlyer88

No. Discopass is NSW Trainlink trains only, not Sydney Trains. I understand your logic but it isn't possible.

 

[Mattg]

I'm curious if the rail pass could be used for NSW train services within Sydney (i.e. Metro service, T9 service between Hornsby and Epping, etc.) or is it limited to intercity travel? If the latter, would one be able to use the pass to catch intercity trains within the greater Sydney. For instance, could I use the pass to hop on the Newcastle line between Hornsby and Epping?

-RooFlyer88

Only in conjunction with a regional ticket (which you can book free of charge with a Discovery Pass).

For example you could book the XPT from Broadmeadow to Hornsby, then get a connecting local train from Hornsby to Epping as part of that regional ticket.