Haven’t been on the CountryLink exploders for about 20 years. Used to take them up to Moree to visit the artesian bore bath holes. These days they allow everyone to bathe together. The train announcer sounded so flamboyant and passionate. The menu very la de da. Back in the day we had a pie or sausage roll and shut up and enjoy the view.
Consider yourself lucky to get a power point next to your seat, only about 6 seats on the entire train have one, I book seat E01 every time for that reason. The staff tell me that it’s unsafe to use while the train is in motion and can surge and kill your devices, but hasn’t happened to me yet 😂 Also, they don’t mention Campbelltown on the itinerary as it’s only a pickup stop. If you try to book the Xplorer from Central to Campbelltown it won’t even let you because the journey is too short. Great video, subscribed
Yes fully agree Mark, the work around Sydney's Central Station sure has been very beneficial for transport users - especially the new lifts & escalators to the suburban platforms. Soon the new Metro platforms will be opening. My son & I caught the Explorer from Broken Hill to Sydney - a very enjoyable journey. The Exploeres & the over 40-year-old XPTs will be replaced with new trains fully imported from Spain & built by CAF, by 2025 (were supposed to by 2023 but let's not go there). Fast trains would be great given the vast distances between major cities but costs are the major issue. Also unfortunately there is no 'passenger lounges' or 'freebies' for first-class passengers. Campbelltown is only a passenger 'pick-up' station - hence why it is not listed as a destination. I did this train trip many years ago & it is a relaxing way to travel. We enjoyed the scones on board. It's a pity that we don't have a national passenger train operator like Amtrak!
I used to go through there every day, and am surprised how nice it is. Australia definitely needs some investment in long distance and high speed rail, but i'm not sure i'd wish for Amtrak. Those Spanish trains will be welcome, if they arrive. Thanks for the info on Campbelltown. I was not aware it was a pickup only station. Sort of how Amtrak works i. New Jersey
Having taken this train a few times, I can say that Campbelltown does not come up on the stops list from Central as it’s a pick up point only, and cannot be sold as a fare.
HSR between Sydney and Canberra seems very very unlikely. Even electrifying and speeding up the line seems a long way off. A lot of new track would be required along with a station in (probably under) Civic. The current station in Canberra is useless for anything except a crawl speed line. Trap for new players, Opal is not accepted in Canberra and there is no way of buying a MyWay (Transport Canberra) pass at the station, MyWay cannot be used via an app, and Canberra's buses do not accept cash or credit cards. People do get caught out by this.
Actually, HSR is a major investment wherever it is built, usually requiring major track and station investments. Thanks for the tip on Opal cards. I was not aware.
@@TravelwithMark Yeah, HSR just won't happen unfortunately. Simply making it a useable service (instead of an hour slower than by bus and only three times a day although with Murrays not having cheap bus fares for a long time now, its almost price competitive) seems unlikely enough. And expensive on its own - electrifying would add more cost on top of that but open up steeper gradients, decrease running costs, etc, instead of following what is essentially the steam era line.
Canberra is impossible unless you drive. All that planning is there's very little thought put into proper public transportation. I rode that line several years ago. My entire face and mouth experienced contortions the moment you showed that act of blasphemy against Goddess Caffeinetta. I tried that coffee and it was one of the worst tasting things I have ever put in my mouth. 😆
@@TravelwithMark I had a look. Born Illinois. I recorded myself trying that coffee, only to shove a handful of snake lollies in my mouth the fix the taste in my mouth. lol
Haven’t been on the CountryLink exploders for about 20 years. Used to take them up to Moree to visit the artesian bore bath holes. These days they allow everyone to bathe together. The train announcer sounded so flamboyant and passionate. The menu very la de da. Back in the day we had a pie or sausage roll and shut up and enjoy the view.
The view's the same, and they are definitely "almost heritage" as the crew puts it. A pity the route cannot be modernised.
Consider yourself lucky to get a power point next to your seat, only about 6 seats on the entire train have one, I book seat E01 every time for that reason. The staff tell me that it’s unsafe to use while the train is in motion and can surge and kill your devices, but hasn’t happened to me yet 😂
Also, they don’t mention Campbelltown on the itinerary as it’s only a pickup stop. If you try to book the Xplorer from Central to Campbelltown it won’t even let you because the journey is too short. Great video, subscribed
Thanks for both those data points, and thanks also for subscribing
Yes fully agree Mark, the work around Sydney's Central Station sure has been very beneficial for transport users - especially the new lifts & escalators to the suburban platforms. Soon the new Metro platforms will be opening. My son & I caught the Explorer from Broken Hill to Sydney - a very enjoyable journey. The Exploeres & the over 40-year-old XPTs will be replaced with new trains fully imported from Spain & built by CAF, by 2025 (were supposed to by 2023 but let's not go there). Fast trains would be great given the vast distances between major cities but costs are the major issue. Also unfortunately there is no 'passenger lounges' or 'freebies' for first-class passengers. Campbelltown is only a passenger 'pick-up' station - hence why it is not listed as a destination. I did this train trip many years ago & it is a relaxing way to travel. We enjoyed the scones on board. It's a pity that we don't have a national passenger train operator like Amtrak!
I used to go through there every day, and am surprised how nice it is.
Australia definitely needs some investment in long distance and high speed rail, but i'm not sure i'd wish for Amtrak. Those Spanish trains will be welcome, if they arrive.
Thanks for the info on Campbelltown. I was not aware it was a pickup only station. Sort of how Amtrak works i. New Jersey
Having taken this train a few times, I can say that Campbelltown does not come up on the stops list from Central as it’s a pick up point only, and cannot be sold as a fare.
That is correct, you can't buy a ticket to Campbelltown from Central on this train
Same sockets in New Zealand
how much is one way ticket to canberra?
It's about A$50, there's a small difference between Premium and Economy
@@TravelwithMark thanks!!
For a second I read Sydney to Cambodia..
haha, now that would be an awesome train trip
HSR between Sydney and Canberra seems very very unlikely. Even electrifying and speeding up the line seems a long way off. A lot of new track would be required along with a station in (probably under) Civic. The current station in Canberra is useless for anything except a crawl speed line.
Trap for new players, Opal is not accepted in Canberra and there is no way of buying a MyWay (Transport Canberra) pass at the station, MyWay cannot be used via an app, and Canberra's buses do not accept cash or credit cards. People do get caught out by this.
Actually, HSR is a major investment wherever it is built, usually requiring major track and station investments.
Thanks for the tip on Opal cards. I was not aware.
@@TravelwithMark Yeah, HSR just won't happen unfortunately. Simply making it a useable service (instead of an hour slower than by bus and only three times a day although with Murrays not having cheap bus fares for a long time now, its almost price competitive) seems unlikely enough. And expensive on its own - electrifying would add more cost on top of that but open up steeper gradients, decrease running costs, etc, instead of following what is essentially the steam era line.
Give up then build maglev transrapid
@@TheGreatLordDufusok just give up on rail then
Canberra is impossible unless you drive. All that planning is there's very little thought put into proper public transportation.
I rode that line several years ago. My entire face and mouth experienced contortions the moment you showed that act of blasphemy against Goddess Caffeinetta. I tried that coffee and it was one of the worst tasting things I have ever put in my mouth. 😆
Canberra was designed by an American wasn't it? He probably assumed everyone wanted to drive (around in circles).
Yes, that coffee is not the best.
@@TravelwithMark I had a look. Born Illinois.
I recorded myself trying that coffee, only to shove a handful of snake lollies in my mouth the fix the taste in my mouth. lol
@TheNakedWombatandCharlene 😀
Dont bother XPT is dreadful slow ...noisy... last refurb in 2008.. no money but mention a tunnel to NSW politician yeas please