QF Suspends WGA-MEL Route

[servicerequired]

22/07/22

Wagga’s business and civic leaders have expressed disappointment at this week’s announcement that Qantas will suspend all direct flights between Wagga and Melbourne from next month.
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Currently Qantas operates three return services per week from Wagga to Melbourne, but these will be suspended from August 1 and will not resume until March next year.
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A QantasLink spokeswoman said that the service was being suspended due to a lack of available aircraft.
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[Zanzara]

Flying from WGA to SYD to get to MEL is a little bit nuts. Good for Status I guess. Probably takes nearly as long to get the XPT from WGA to Spencer ST!

 

[jase05]

Flying from WGA to SYD to get to MEL is a little bit nuts. Good for Status I guess. Probably takes nearly as long to get the XPT from WGA to Spencer ST!

My parents get the train occasionally but it’s about 4 and a half hours from Wagga to Melbourne and they can drive there in a similar time. The train is woefully slow.
If they are going to the footy in Melbourne they prefer to fly with BFOD but obviously they will be stuck with Rex now

 

[Quickstatus]

Did ZL put out a press release?

 

[RichardMEL]

Bonza!

 

[dylarr]

Another MEL QLINK route announcement - Melbourne to Mount Gambier has been canned. Unlike MEL-WGA which is suspended until March next year, MGB has been axed completely.

Qantas announces final boarding call for Melbourne-Mount Gambier after just 16 months

www.railpage.com.au

Qantas cancels Melbourne-Mount Gambier route

QANTAS has cancelled its route between Mount Gambier and Melbourne just 16 months after introducing the service. The airline announced [...]

borderwatch.com.au

 

[dajop]

Flying from WGA to SYD to get to MEL is a little bit nuts. Good for Status I guess. Probably takes nearly as long to get the XPT from WGA to Spencer ST!

I’ve certainly done MEL to WGA day trip via SYD in both directions. Admittedly this was in early October 2001 and those familiar with the history of Australian aviation would know why going via SYD was necessary.

XPTs are OK but not well timed for day trips.

 

[Mattg]

The BNE-CFS route is also going (not sure if temporarily or permanently) after this week. (I was booked to fly it on Monday, now rebooked via SYD.)

What's happening with QantasLink's CFS-BNE route?

It looks like QantasLink has just cancelled all CFS-BNE flights from the end of July until the end of October. Anyone know if this route is being cancelled permanently, or is it just "on pause" for the next few months? I don't recall seeing any announcement from Qantas.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I wonder how many of Qantas' new regional routes that they launched over the last couple of years will stick around long term?

 

[Quickstatus]

Are we assuming these routes are unprofitable or could we also speculate that there may be a lack of flying crew - pilots/cabin.

 

[dajop]

Are we assuming these routes are unprofitable or could we also speculate that there may be a lack of flying crew - pilots/cabin.

It sounds like MEL-MGB was unprofitable. Difficult to gain the premiums out of 3x weekly (essentially leisure) service that I imagine QF usually commands.

 

[jase05]

It sounds like MEL-MGB was unprofitable. Difficult to gain the premiums out of 3x weekly (essentially leisure) service that I imagine QF usually commands.

I think that route was always going to struggle unfortunately but freight loads were going ok but obviously not enough to pay the bills

 

[jakeseven7]

Did ZL put out a press release?

ITS VIRGINS FAULT!!!!
quote - John Sharp

 

[Melburnian1]

My parents get the train occasionally but it’s about 4 and a half hours from Wagga to Melbourne and they can drive there in a similar time. The train is woefully slow.
If they are going to the footy in Melbourne they prefer to fly with BFOD but obviously they will be stuck with Rex now

The XPT train, when it runs on time, is not 'woefully slow'.

Between Wagga Wagga and Albury, although it makes three intermediate stops if required at The Rock, Henty and Culcairn, it travels at up to 160kmh. Not impressive by European and Asian high speed rail standards, but the equal fastest in Oz.

Between Wodonga and Broadmeadows its top allowable speed is 130kmh.

From Broadmeadows it travels the standard gauge 1962-built circuitous route via Albion, Sunshine and under Footscray station that takes about half an hour, which slows the median speed a bit.

Despite that, it covers the Wagga Wagga to Melbourne route, using the daily afternoon train as an example, at an average speed of about 95kmh. Given it stops also at Albury, Wangaratta, Benalla and if required Seymour, plus Broadmeadows for the frequent route 901 SmartBus to the airport, or other SmartBuses/regular route buses, it's not too bad at all.

Since the buffet car is typically open until just before Broadmeadows, one doesn't have to stop for refreshments (or a toilet break) as those travelling by car might.

Suburban train and tram connections are easy at Southern Cross. A lot easier than battling the traffic on the horrible Western Ring Road or CityLink, including B-Double trucks.

NSW TrainLink sells 'Discovery Passes' that for first class unlimited trips for six months on any route - go where you like as far as Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Byron Bay/Gold Coast and Bourke/Lightning Ridge to name a few destinations - are just $550 (adults - no reduction for seniors or pensioners). The only extra cost is sleeping berths if you want one (not available Wagga Wagga - Melbourne, but are available WGA - Sydney Central) at $88 per traveller for what the airlines call a 'single sector'.

 

[jase05]

The train, when it runs on time, is not 'woefully slow'.

Between Wagga Wagga and Albury, although it makes three intermediate stops if required at The Rock, Henty and Culcairn, it travels at up to 160kmh. Not impressive by European and Asian high speed rail standards, but the equal fastest in Oz.

Between Wodonga and Broadmeadows its top allowable speed is 130kmh.

From Broadmeadows it travels the standard gauge 1962-built circuitous route via Albion, Sunshine and under Footscray station that takes about half an hour, which slows the median speed a bit.

Despite that, it covers the Wagga Wagga to Melbourne route, using the daily afternoon train as an example, at an average speed of about 95kmh. Given it stops also at Albury, Wangaratta, Benalla and if required Seymour, plus Broadmeadows for the frequent route 901 SmartBus to the airport, or other SmartBuses/regular route buses, it's not too bad at all.

Since the buffet car is typically open until just before Broadmeadows, one doesn't have to stop for refreshments (or a toilet break) as those travelling by car might.

Suburban train and tram connections are easy at Southern Cross.

NSW TrainLink sells 'Discovery Passes' that for first class unlimited trips for six months on any route - go where you like as far as Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Byron Bay/Gold Coast and Bourke/Lightning Ridge to name a few destinations - are just $550 (adults - no reduction for seniors or pensioners). The only extra cost is sleeping berths if you want one (not available Wagga Wagga - Melbourne, but are available WGA - Sydney Central) at $88 per train.

I mean slow in the sense of time it takes to get to Melbourne not what speeds it is capable of. I probably should’ve worded it better but when you can drive somewhere in virtually the same time as what the train takes then it’s pretty ordinary IMO

 

[Melburnian1]

I mean slow in the sense of time it takes to get to Melbourne not what speeds it is capable of. I probably should’ve worded it better but when you can drive somewhere in virtually the same time as what the train takes then it’s pretty ordinary IMO

No comparison in stress levels though: will that B-Double monster truck tailgate a driver for much longer?

How many times have you used the XPT anywhere on the NSW TrainLInk network, or its cousins the Endeavour railcars that operate to Tamworth/Armidale, Canberra, Griffith and (currently closed north of Narrabri until October) Moree?

 

[jase05]

No comparison in stress levels though: will that B-Double monster truck tailgate a driver for much longer?

How many times have you used the XPT anywhere on the NSW TrainLInk network, or its cousins the Endeavour railcars that operate to Tamworth/Armidale, Canberra, Griffith and (currently closed north of Narrabri until October) Moree?

I don’t use it often at all as I prefer driving if we are not flying. I rarely use any trains in Australia. My parents have however lived in the region for the best part of the last 20 years and have lived in the Armidale area many year ago. They have been semi frequent users (maybe a 8-10 times per year) but still prefer to drive. Obviously they are approaching the age where driving may start becoming difficult so the train will become more frequent.

 

[Zanzara]

The XPT train, when it runs on time, is not 'woefully slow'.

Between Wagga Wagga and Albury, although it makes three intermediate stops if required at The Rock, Henty and Culcairn, it travels at up to 160kmh. Not impressive by European and Asian high speed rail standards, but the equal fastest in Oz.

Between Wodonga and Broadmeadows its top allowable speed is 130kmh.

From Broadmeadows it travels the standard gauge 1962-built circuitous route via Albion, Sunshine and under Footscray station that takes about half an hour, which slows the median speed a bit.

Despite that, it covers the Wagga Wagga to Melbourne route, using the daily afternoon train as an example, at an average speed of about 95kmh. Given it stops also at Albury, Wangaratta, Benalla and if required Seymour, plus Broadmeadows for the frequent route 901 SmartBus to the airport, or other SmartBuses/regular route buses, it's not too bad at all.

Since the buffet car is typically open until just before Broadmeadows, one doesn't have to stop for refreshments (or a toilet break) as those travelling by car might.

Suburban train and tram connections are easy at Southern Cross. A lot easier than battling the traffic on the horrible Western Ring Road or CityLink, including B-Double trucks.

NSW TrainLink sells 'Discovery Passes' that for first class unlimited trips for six months on any route - go where you like as far as Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Byron Bay/Gold Coast and Bourke/Lightning Ridge to name a few destinations - are just $550 (adults - no reduction for seniors or pensioners). The only extra cost is sleeping berths if you want one (not available Wagga Wagga - Melbourne, but are available WGA - Sydney Central) at $88 per traveller for what the airlines call a 'single sector'.

Great assessment. The sleeping berth option is being removed when the new rolling stock start. Part of the ‘enhancement‘ of the service. Its apparently commencing next year. https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/regional-rail

 

[Zanzara]

I think that route was always going to struggle unfortunately but freight loads were going ok but obviously not enough to pay the bills

The route was launched by QF concurrent to Rex‘s announced services using ex VA 737s…to BNE/SYD/MEL

 

[docjames]

Re driving v rail, the rail option if good if your destination is near one of the stops or the Melbourne CBD.

If you have to get to suburban Melbourne, driving becomes faster due to the time lost in connections, even allowing for any traffic delays.

Another approach is drive to an outer suburban / closer regional rail interchange and train from there.

 

[jb747]

All of these routes were going to suffer the same fate. Rex has now pulled out of Albury-Melbourne, but what remains on the QLink side does not fill anyone’s requirements. It’s only a matter of time, and it will go too.

As for the train…yep, there’s nothing quite like sitting in the XPT, trying not to listen to the moron in the next row, having a loud conversation on speakerphone, whilst the cars on the freeway pass you.