Trains 'n' Trains 'n' Trains.

Approaching Bungendore station from Queanbeyan

My recent trip to Sydney was by train - the first time since November 2004 that I had travelled by CountryLink and that trip back then was the first train-trip since 1984, when I used to commute by rail into Sydney from Springwood, in the Blue Mountains.
So I was interested to see what, if anything at all, may have changed in nine years.

Well, not much, in fact.
Not that I was disappointed, because being a "new" senior citizen I was able to take advantage of the concessional fare and travelled return first class for the princely sum of $24!
I can't fill my (small, frugal and most enjoyable) car up for less than $47, when petrol sits at $1.57 per litre for 91-octane.

The train was clean, departed Canberra on time, was comfortable and arrived 90 seconds early at Central.
The refreshments were fine - the old Railway Refreshment Rooms (RRR) that I was used to back in the 1960s have long faded but they did serve a bloody good pie, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy in their dining room at Central. The modern food is of the "fast" variety, heated in a microwave and served on plastic plates with plastic utensils. But it was hot and tasted good.

When in Sydney I had occasion to travel by suburban trains between Central and Chatswood and they were also a whole world beyond what I was used to back in the 60s and 70s, when the "Red Rattlers" ruled and were later being supplanted by the double-decker air-conditioned suburbans - many of which are still in operation today.


An original double-deck set at Campbelltown - still in use



Vestibule of the current Sydney suburban train.

These new trains (Tangara or Oscar) are bright, colourful, comfortable and a very pleasant mode of public transport.
In the photo below you can see one of these new items in the background, having pulled into one of the suburban platforms at Central.

Now, some photos of the CountryLink Xplorer and XPT trains, taken whilst they sat at platforms 3, 4 and 5 at Central ready to depart to their various destinations (mine was the Xplorer, bound for Canberra at 6:58 AM).

XPT bound for Dubbo, on the Central West line

Xplorer bound for Canberra, on the Southern/Canberra line

In background, XPT on Platform 3, bound for the North Coast line

Below is the front of my train, 2502, which consisted of just three cars.
The XPTs were made up of eight cars.

2502 ready to leave Central, departure being 6:58 AM

The return trip was just as enjoyable as the "up" journey three days previously.
I had a continental breakfast of hot buttered croissant with jam and a cup of coffee, but could well have chosen a breakfast of bacon & egg roll. The morning paper was also available.
All this is at additional cost to the fare, but that has always been the case.

Looking from Central station north to the clock tower and city buildings.
(Photo taken the previous day)

 

And so we departed on time, heading west then south, down the suburban corridor to Campbelltown, thence the Southern Highlands towns of Mittagong, Bowral, Bundanoon and Moss Vale.......

Near Bowral, in the Southern Highlands

 ......before arriving at Goulburn, then Tarago, Queanbeyan and finally Canberra.

Near Tarago, between Goulburn and Queanbeyan

The train pulled into Canberra station 2 minutes late, arriving at 11:25 AM rather than 11:23 AM.
But it wasn't the operator's fault - there was a slight delay at Bungendore whilst some work was being finished and a truck had to move away from the line.

A very pleasant journey and one which I will do again.