Is it possible to return from SE Asia to East Coast AUS on day flights?

[dajop]

It's a new EOI, as there's been quite a lot of criticism about how the new railcar sets for longer distances (Sydney to Melbourne/Brisbane/Casino etc.) lack a sleeping car.

Have wondered if there was a place for a Nightjet like service in Australia. Maybe they could call it the Southern Aurora

But surely there has to be a happy medium between luxurious "rail cruises" as operated by Journey Beyond and seat only services.

 

[Melburnian1]

Have you got a link to that? I wonder what they have in mind… hopefully individual cabins!

Here is one link:

https://buy.nsw.gov.au/prcOpportunity/7BCE0722-862E-442D-95BC4600BBAA6BB3

 

[Melburnian1]

Have wondered if there was a place for a Nightjet like service in Australia. Maybe they could call it the Southern Aurora

But surely there has to be a happy medium between luxurious "rail cruises" as operated by Journey Beyond and seat only services.

Completely agree, especially since NightJet and competitor European Sleeper, plus other EuroNight overnight trains with sleeping cars operated by railways such as in Hungary and Czechia to name two, are popular. Plus since 1993 when the last train with sleeping cars operated between Sydney and Melbourne, the population of these two cities has dramatically increased. I was just in Europe again and like all my numerous visits there, typically use sleeping car trains. Much easier to sleep in a compartment on a train (assuming the tracks are OK) than in business class on an aircraft.

But governments have no interest. Few politicians use rail here, and when they go to Europe or Asia, most (stupidly) fly between even cities that are relatively close together, and where railways with overnight or day trains exist.

 

[SYD]

So not related to Asia (Mods please split if appropriate), but hypothetically, if there were o/night train services between SYD<>MEL/BNE, that were better than the current services, I wonder if any business travellers would consider using them?

I mean, boarding at say 9pm, arriving at 7am, having a proper bed, meal, potentially even showers etc. I'd consider it, it might beat waking up at 4am to make a 6am flight then having to do a full days work after all that.

Perhaps here

Thread 'Melbourne to Sydney by overnight XPT train'

May 26, 2018

This week I had an opportunity to travel on the overnight XPT train from Melbourne to Sydney. I often travel by train between Canberra and Sydney, but would normally fly between Melbourne and Sydney. Just once, though, I wanted to try out the train and in this case taking the train was a fairly efficient use of my time. It leaves from Melbourne's Southern Cross station at 7.50pm, arriving at Sydney Central station at 6.58am the next morning. Although the trip takes 11 hours, I slept for around half that time.

I finished work in Melbourne's CBD at 7pm and made it to Southern Cross station...

• Mattg
• Replies: 146
• Forum: Train Travel

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[moa999]

Here is one link:

Note that's for a "minimum viable product"
Ie. How cheaply can we alter the current sleeper cars and tow them with the new EMU sets.