An Interstate Adventure: Melbourne-Sydney By Rail And Air!

[@Taitset]

This video started out as 'just a few notes' on a family trip.. then it snowballed slightly. Hope you enjoyed it! Rory's review of the XPT sleeper: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaO7hplmhpyji68si=NzB3zsni9qLz-rjS RMtransit talking about the future of this route, with a little cameo from myself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f364lImVo92mjbssi=hzLFQ3XGi3K0BiKd If you enjoyed this and would like to support the channel, join me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/Taitset Music by Cian Bennet: hyperfollow.com/cianbennetmusic Special thanks to my family for this one, including Fancy and Twinkletoes.

[@CockatooTransit]

love how you mentioned the xpt diversions - there was literally one over the bridge a few days ago, did you hear?

[@MitchWall]

@@Taitset a question from a dad with kids of a similar age. If you were prepared with sleeping mats, could the kids sleep on the floor on the XPT?

[@Taitset]

@@MitchWall I think you could, somebody else in the comments here said they did that. It's probably technically against the rules, but I don't think they would enforce it in the sleeping car (they certainly do in the sitters). Once you draw the curtains you won't see the staff again until wake up time anyway, so should be fine.

[@MitchWall]

@@Taitset great, thank you!

[@maxjohkna]

“this situation really reminds me of a quote from the history of comeng, volume four” - never change

[@maxsonthonax1020]

Amazing. 😆

[@HouseholdDog]

I always laugh when I watch his videos.

[@krissp8712]

13:00 or so, for reference!

[@dadbase]

"Well, kids, it's like John Dunn, author of the history of comeng, always said..."

[@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042]

Yes I think a 12 to 20 car sleeper train would be the perfect solution. Keep the CAF trains for the day trips but a slow night train makes perfect sense. Also, it wouldn't even need to be that expensive

[@luked1291]

@@pwhnckexstflajizdryvombqug9042 I wonder if the existing (soon to be former) XPT cars could be refurbished to become a dedicated night rail sub-fleet that could be in turn hauled by ‘classic’ (freight style) locos?

[@nathandunnn]

@@luked1291 NSW would have to buy locos from somewhere, but that's actually quite a good idea. You'd have to be 100% sure that the XPT sleeper cars are reliable though. Realistically as all the cars would need a refurbishment for this anyway, a portion of any XPT cars including sitting cars could be rebuilt for this use as well as possibly a service to Brisbane too

[@DouglasDC10.30]

Maybe get something like the new Nightjet carriages or the Caledonian Sleeper Mark 5s.

[@FireFox_60]

I think that the CAF sets are more like xplorers than XPTs and that they should be replaced by CAF sets long before the XPT.

[@davidblowe9096]

@@nathandunnnapparently the AN’s are being put into storage, what they lack in speed is more than made up by HP, put with a 10-12 car set with a number of sleepers and some economy cars reserved for through passengers.

[@tangerinealarm]

While a lot of people might not have spent a night in a sleeper train, I'd guess that a larger amount may have experience with the Spirit of Tasmania, which has sleeping options. The Spirit of Tasmania's overnight sailing is 9-11 hours, and it has seat and cabin options. So while I've not done an overnight train in Australia I have done an overnight ferry several times, and one of the things I love is going onto the ship, and then going to sleep, and then you wake up and the ship is pulling into port.

[@Taitset]

Yes that's a very good point!

[@micaela711]

People shake their heads when I say I want to take the train to Melbourne. I should send them this video.

[@SYDTrainsFilms]

Same! Some people have no idea how nice it is on the sleeper (albeit ruinously expensive)

[@illiiilli24601]

With the sleeper soon to be history, I wonder how good it will be in the future

[@staryoshi06]

Did it a couple months ago. Worth it.

[@poino11]

Your comment about lateral "g" forces is correct..... When introduced (1981) the cant deficiency for XPT trains was increased above the existing NSW railway speed limits from 75mm to 110mm....In laymans terms this means an XPT can do about 5-10km/h higher on all curves (and crossovers for that matter) than standard NSW rolling stock. As engineers we set these limits based on comfort more than stability as some railways worldwide operate up to 270mm cant deficiency (tilt trains).... Oh and btw all rolling stock since the Millenium Train (inclusive) are approved engineering wise to operate at this 110mm cant deficiency. Thanks for the great video from a Sydney Track Engineer!

[@Taitset]

Thankyou, that's very interesting! I was aware of the different curve speeds, but interesting to see the actual numbers.

[@johnleonard2202]

@poino11 I'd like to add, that in my experience and my opinion, the lateral G's are only really an issue due to the transverse bed arrangement. It feels very unnatural having the force switching between pushing towards your head and your feet. Compared to the sleeping experience I've had on Amtrak, on both the Superliner and Viewliner rolling stock, with the roomettes having a longitudinal bed layout. The result is that same lateral force results in a rocking motion, that I have found to be much more comfortable.

[@classyknight9513]

Every time I see a new Taitset video I am overjoyed, keep it up! Love it.

[@nathandunnn]

Yep I literally quit the video I was watching the second I saw it

[@redthezz]

XPT = My mother says to me that the XPT was being referred to as "The Xpensive Political Toy" by my late father who used to work for StateRail in the early 80's.

[@tsguy-h3q]

In India (where I'm from), no reserved compartments operate seating overnight. All overnight trains coaches have a seat/sleep layout. This means they can be reconfigured (by the passengers themselves, no crew required) between sleeping and sitting. There are a couple of exceptions to this, but the rule largely works. It helps that a single berth can be booked overnight for as little as 20USD. The weird thing here is that children with families are so common that solo travellers usually complain about children making a ruckus in the train (myself included). About train capacity, I definitely agree with your point about getting longer trains. India takes it to eleven basically. Most intercity sleeper trains hold 50 people per car (in sleep/seating layout) and the trains are about 20 coaches long, basically giving you a moving city.

[@phillip1604]

I remember you mentioned in the Overland video why it's degraded not because of speed vs airlines, but the lack of sleeping cars now that allows someone to rest snd be at the destination the next day, and how the XPT simply does this in a simple and less touristy manner. Great vid!

[@BigBlueMan118]

We should have a combined dedicated network of sleeper train connections between Adelaide-Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane should be operated together by a cross-border organisation with pooled resources. Also, I think the sleeper service should have a solid marketing push upon launch. And most controversially, I think we should introduce a $10 surcharge on all domestic flights within each of the corridors I outlined to fund the sleeper train company.

[@Approvedhalalmemes]

It’s honestly so sad how awful NSW Trainlink is. Poor on-time running, last minute cancellations. And as a frequent user of the regional rail network, around 70% of all trips have been delayed because police had to be called (drugs, violence etc). I’ve even had detectives question me about a man who was on the train. There is so much prosperity for NSW Trainlink, there services are generally near capacity, they’re cheaper than air travel. They just need one thing before regional rail can see its full potential in NSW… A government who gives a dam!

[@diltonweany7003]

This turned out to be a really entertaining video! Love the personal touches

[@acde9355]

I was on one of the XPT fleets in early 2023, but I didn't book the sleeping ticket, so I had to sit in a second-class seat for the whole trip from Brisbane to Sydney and then back. I agree with your points and cited text, pointing out that the XPT is a high-performance train. Once the train departed from Casino station in Northern NSW, I immediately realised that the train had a decent amount of power to accelerate thanks to its 2 power locos and relatively fewer coaches than most trains worldwide. In other words, the XPT train is somehow overpowered, which is partially the reason for keeping it in service on the hilly Australian rail routes even after nearly 50 years of service. When sitting in the coach, I could feel the high quality of the design and manufacturing of this train set, and the maintenance work was also perfectly performed by the NSW TrainLink team. Good job. The hot meal provided in the dining car was also tasty and, most importantly, incredibly cheap compared to the average meal cost in a 2023 standard. Everything negative about this train was due to the fleet's age and the rail route's geographical disadvantages.

[@shrikelet]

I remember taking my first trip to Sydney on the Southern Aurora as a wee lad. If we ever get it back, I'm going to petition the government to name cars after Fancy and Twinkle-Toes

[@amandajane8227]

I loved seeing the footage of baby taitset taking the train. Please give thanks to your parents.

[@Taitset]

Haha will do! I was very lucky it was filmed by my uncle and survived all this time on a vhs tape.

[@Fullnoise]

Why am I not surprised that Twinkle Toes loved the Sydney night life, even though there ins't much of that any more. She probably would have loved the nightlife more if she borrowed Fancy's glasses.

[@antiussentiment]

You are an adorable treasure. Thanks so much for this video.

[@sylviaelse5086]

The new trains are diesel multiple units, which means they have diesel engines under the floor, with associated noise and vibration for the passengers. I question whether this is appropriate for 12 hour train journeys, much less for sleeper cars, even if they were introduced.

[@davidblowe9096]

My experience with the vlocity to regional Vic isn’t positive, having spent a significant amount of my working life in noisy environments they remind me of a busy workshop or loud music venue that’s what it’s like at about the 90 minute mark

[@Taitset]

Yes, I think this will be a problem.

[@jmckenzie962]

It really infuriates me how weirdly ignorant Australia seems to be of locomotive-hauled trains with cab cars or unpowered driving van trailers at the other end. In Europe and the UK they're not uncommon on intercity trains (see Austria's "railjets") and for routes that aren't electrified and require diesel power, they're a far better experience than DMUs for the reason that you mentioned (which on a side note only makes me more mad about TransPennine Express having to withdraw their practically brand new Nova 3 push-pull sets and replace them with existing Class 185 DMUs because CAF had a complete normal one when designing them - all my homies hate CAF, who guess fucking what also happen to be who's building the multiple units replacing the XPTs). Hell, even over here in New Zealand which normally is total shit when it comes to regional passenger trains, we got push-pull trains with cab cars 20 years ago in the form of the Auckland SA/SD sets, which are now used on the Auckland-Hamilton "Te Huia" service.

[@DouglasDC10.30]

I thought they were bi-mode like the Class 802 in the UK…

[@sylviaelse5086]

@@DouglasDC10.30 They are, but most of the track they will use is not electrified.

[@ComengProductions]

Wonderful video mate! Always love the animations you do! Its a shame the XPT will disappear in a couple of years.

[@ukraineball953]

They will probably stay a bit longer, especially if there are cracks found in the frames of the new trains xD

[@ComengProductions]

@@ukraineball953 Yeah!

[@mikldude9376]

No doubt we can thank our forward thinking politicians for that.

[@sarah.sarah.sarah.sarah.]

the rory shoutout made my heart swell. we love our aussie transport youtubers!!

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

I recall fondly the Southern Aurora (and Overland). There were real sleeping cars- and pleasant dining and lounge cars If you had a student card (or other half price entitlement) the price was about exactly the same as the air fare (this was in the days of the TAA/Ansett duopoly where fares were controlled) If you wanted cheap you caught the bus.

[@markwng]

I took the train to Perth about 1990. I was an adult travelling alone. I feel so old now. It's a trip I won't repeat because flying, driving, hitch hiking and motorcycling have all proved to be much better, though if travelling in a group that would change.

[@Revilok08]

always a good day when taitset uploads, and absolutley loved this video, such a shame the sleeper cabins are being removed from the new intercity trains

[@dugongdan]

What a wonderful video. I gotta use the sleeper compartment before it is discontinued!

[@freerangeeggs6442]

Your dry humour gets me every time

[@GeneralTrainGuy]

Martin this was such a cool story!

[@Taitset]

Thankyou, glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

[@GeneralTrainGuy]

@@Taitset yeah it was a cool experience :> (THE GOAT REPLIED!!!!)

[@no-no-noku]

I like this style of video.

[@thetrainguy1]

As an American Viewer. Sometimes when you talk about train travel, you get a range of responses. I always defend train travel. Train travel is the most civilized way to travel. And hopefully in the US, as Amtrak gets newer equipment, upgrades tracks and experiences. Hopefully night trains will become even more popular.

[@Sacto1654]

Which is great if time is not an issue. Even in the golden age of passenger trains in the late 1930's, it took nearly _three_ days to travel from New York City to Los Angeles And that's using the fastest and most expensive trains, New York Central's _20th Century Limited_ and Santa Fe's _Super Chief_ . Small wonder why when American Airlines introduced DC-3 service between Los Angeles and New York City using the DC-3 with the travel time of under 18 hours, it was an immediate hit. Even more so after World War II when the Lockheed Constellation reduce that to only 9 hours non-stop.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

There's a bit difference between night trains and long-distance trains. Night trains only travel during one night, with a travel time of about 10 to 14 hours (about 800-1400km), so a couple hours in the evening, a couple in the morning and the rest of the time the are asleep anyway. So it occupies very little of their time. That's very different from long distance trains that take several days and cover much longer distances, occupying a huge amount of passengers' time

[@thetrainguy1]

@@OntarioTrafficMan Yup. There are many city pairs in the US that if connected with a train that leaves at 7/8pm and arrives in the next city the following morning at 8am. Would be a game changer.

[@gbf111]

@@Sacto1654 ok ignore ny to la and think ny, philly, washington, boston

[@michlo3393]

@@gbf111 LA - San Francisco would be perfect for a "night train" the run is already slow due to the geography and there is plenty of market share between those two cities. NY, Philly, DC, and Boston -- being on the NEC -- it might be harder to convince as many people to slow the journey way down for an overnight train. Perhaps DC to Boston, since that is already pretty lengthy even at 100 + mph. But even then the service would have to be at least twice as slow.

[@nedlukies6940]

My 8yo came for Fancy and Twinkle Toes, stayed for the trains.

[@Taitset]

Great to hear!

[@TheAussieBusman]

When ever I take a sleeper on the XPT, What I do is pack either a roll up camp mat or self inflatable mat that fits in my bag or easily carried. That way with kids in tow I can unroll it and lay it on the floor, Leaving the beds for the adults and no chance of the kids rolling out of the top bunk. Then when ever it’s just the 2 adults like Me and My Disabled Mum, I pull the mattress down off the top bunk onto the floor and use the top bunk as storage for luggage. Then an hour or two before We’re due into Central, We put the mattress back up top and fold the bottom bunk up back to seats leaving the top bunk down. That way We can sit upright for Breakfast and get our selves ready for the arrival into Sydney, Given the choice I’d take the XPT then drive and as an absolute last resort fly. As who wants to spend $170+ per person each way for an hour or more flight cramped on a QANTASLINK Dash 8 Q300 or Q400 to do a 400km hop between Port Macquarie and Sydney, When since I’m also My Mums disabled Carer i can get the overnight sleeper from Wauchope to Sydney and day sitter cabin for $120 return. So for me the XPT is the perfect choice it’s just shy of 7 hours and saves $200+ on the round trip per person, Last time We did it Me and Mum got the return fare for $240 sleeper down day sitter back compared to $980 flying return with QANTAS plus all the extras like airport train surcharge etc. so it’s literally a quarter of the price.

[@melStephens1994]

Great video! The kids are right, the train is much better than flying! When I have to travel to Sydney with my Guide dog, we usually catch the train overnight and we find that it is much more effective waking up in Sydney at the beginning of our first day rather than having to travel up by air the day before. As a vision impaired person, travelling with a service animal, there are several benefits to catching the train one of which being that it is cheaper because I have access to discounted travel. The dog and I get booked in a cabin on our own because of needing the extra space for the dog. Sounds like you had a good trip, your kids enjoyed it and that is the main thing. Well done on bringing such amazing content to us once again.

[@Taitset]

Glad you enjoyed it! That's great that they let you book out a cabin with your dog.

[@monkeyvampire]

Great video, thanks! One thing that would be a nice addition to a (sadly distant) future dedicated overnight/sleeper train would be a dining car. Loved having breakfast when I travelled on the Southern Aurora as a kid! I was amazed by how fancy it felt, even though I was just having baked beans on toast … but with a tablecloth and real plate and metal cutlery! It's sad that we've forgotten so much of how to travel well by train… or perhaps just prioritised cost-cutting over a pleasant experience. I don't think it would have to cost all that much to make the experience comfortable and memorable. I've always found the staff on the XPT to be friendly and helpful, the seats comfortable and the views of the countryside very relaxing.

[@Taitset]

Yes absolutely, a proper dining car makes a big difference!

[@user-fed-yum]

Nicely done, great to come on holidays with you, never make the kids stop laughing at you 🧸🚂🪁🪀

[@pythfennYT]

Great video, Wasn't expecting a kind of family adeventure vlog like this but was pleasantly surprised by this video. Would love to see more like it!

[@VaughanMcAlley]

One of our family legends is about when my parents took the overnight train on a sleeper to Adelaide with me and my sister as preschoolers. We were extremely excited and our parents despaired of us sleeping, so they got the conductor with his official-looking hat to stick his head in and tell us it was time to go to sleep. It worked like a charm… Also, one of our kids has a relative of Fancy, named Vanilla.

[@Soccera0]

I've done this trip before (without kids) with myself and dad. To avoid paying too much in a cost of living crisis, we decided to not book a hotel. The objective of the trip was to see the trains in Sydney. To keep our sanity, we booked first class both ways. However, this meant that we were sitting on a train for about 16 of the next 36 hours, on a ferry for about 2 (I fell asleep on the ferry due to a lack of sleep the previous night on the train), and about 1 hour sitting down at stations waiting for trains.

[@b0nesyy]

youve successfully talked me out of a flight to casino to see my father

[@theautistictransitfan]

I swear every time I think “hm I hope a new taitset video comes soon” a new vid comes the next day

[@anthonywalsh2164]

14:14 I agree. A similar journey length in Europe using High Speed Trains from London to Berlin , admittedly two train changes, is only about 45 mins quicker.

[@qjtvaddict]

Keyword HIGH SPEED

[@Sacto1654]

Actually, I believe it's only one. If you can ride from London all the way to Amsterdam on Eurostar, you could change to another high-speed trainset from Amsterdam to Berlin, which I believe is a Deutsche Bahn (DB) service.

[@anthonywalsh2164]

@@Sacto1654 oh ok, when I did it, it was before the Amsterdam service. I went Brussels, Cologne then Berlin: Eurostar - ICE - ICE.

[@jessica23claire]

I went to Sydney in June by plane, but this is really convincing me to make my next trip by train. I have the advantage of no tiny humans with me, but I really enjoyed hearing your experience with them!

[@lollymarbles]

My grandparents used to take me and my brother on the XPT to get between their place and ours. We were pretty good kids so we made do with sleeping in first class seats and it was still so much easier than flying when you live in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was always a treat getting up in time to see the sunrise and buying some raisin toast from the dining car. It's nice to hear that the sleepers provide complimentary coffee and a wakeup call. As an adult I would probably drop the extra money for a sleeper, its pretty negligible compared to an extra night of accommodation if you wanted to fly.

[@thebats5270]

Great video! As someone who both maintains a large section of track and has ridden the sleeper carriage it was an interesting experience. I've done the sleeper train twice, both times from Sydney to Melbourne. The first time we got kicked off at Seymour, which meant I had to do the trip again! The Second time we got all the way through. Honestly, I'm surprised a private night train hasn't started up and if I ever win the Lotto, that's the business I'm starting. Thanks again for the great content!

[@Taitset]

Glad you enjoyed it! As much as I usually think these sorts of things should be government run, I would be very interested to see a private operation give it a go, especially if it could demonstrate to the government that it's worth doing! Hopefully you do win the lotto then we can find out. :)

[@DouglasDC10.30]

Stop everything you’re doing everyone, there’s a new Taitset video.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Going to Sydney just for Transport is something I know all too well

[@michaelformaini7053]

Thanks again for a well scripted commentary on your family's travel experience to/from Sydney. I have fond memories of my own sleeping car experiences back last century when I was active in the rail industry and enjoyed many privileges (even scoring the Commissioner's berth on the "Southern Aurora" several times courtesy of grateful management for tasks well done). As a single person now in my early 70s, it's sometimes difficult to appreciate the challenges a young family with pre-school children has when travelling long distances, particularly in the current social environment. Congratulations on your achievement, particularly navigating the customer ambivalent booking systems one now has to endure for the simplest of itineraries. And thank you again for an enjoyable sharing of your experiences. 🙂🙂🙂

[@patricksuiter]

I have no prospect of having kids any time soon but still found myself so interested with what you had to say. Your videos are just so engaging. Great stuff!

[@Cullerin112]

I definitely recommend reading the entire coming series, it is amazing

[@TazzieT]

Very Interesting & Nice video! Having travelled on both the day and the night train in the economy section, it has been a very useful service. On my last trip on the xpt, I got off at Junee for the night, allowing me to check out local trains & things like the chocolate factory, the middle towns provide both a good connection for locals and a opportunity for tourism which doesn’t get well utilised like it could.

[@caelansmith]

This is a brilliant video. It would be interesting to see if a public private partnership could operate sleeper trains on BNE/SYD, SYD/MEL, and MEL/ADL. I often use the XPTs sleepers and absolutely love them!

[@brucefsanders]

Really enjoyed this video. I do like train travel and I feel inspired to checkout train travel in NSW . Thank you for this informative video ..

[@chrisanderson8889]

When my brother and I were probably similar ages to your kids (this was in the late 1980's), we did a family trip from Melbourne to Sydney around Christmas - my Dad was working in Sydney over the Christmas-New Year period so we all tagged along to have a family Christmas in Sydney. We actually drove from Melbourne to Sydney, which I think lands somewhere in between your plane and train experience - when you're driving you're strapped into a seat and can't do much, but you also have the freedom to stop and stretch your legs wherever you like. The return trip to Melbourne was the interesting one though - because Dad had to stay in Sydney for work, and Mum didn't fancy driving alone with 2 kids under 5 all the way from Sydney to Melbourne, my parents actually put the car on a train and we caught the sleeper train back overnight to Melbourne. My memory is that the car was on the same train we were, but thinking about it now as an adult I'm not sure that would have been a thing. I'll have to ask my parents about it and find out how they actually arranged it. But my memory of the train experience I think was similar to your kids - it was an adventure and I much preferred being able to move around the train and explore a bit. To the present day - I think the Vic and NSW governments should absolutely look at more sleeper train options for the MEL-SYD route. Also MEL-ADL for that matter, and probably SYD-BNE as well. If I'm travelling to Sydney for work, the plane is pretty much always going to win as time is off the essence (I've done a number of day trips to Sydney for work). But travelling for a holiday, an overnight train would be a tempting option for all the reasons you pointed out. This turned into a really long comment, but thanks for an interesting video!

[@Taitset]

The car probably was on the same train - there used to be a thing called Motorail where a car carrying wagon or two would be attached to sleeper trains. It was still done on the Overland until about 10 years ago, and is still done on the Ghan and Indian Pacific. But if you google 'motorail Australia' you'll see lots of examples.

[@DeltaDarbyLiberator]

Another Taitset video. I knew it would be interesting, but I didn't expect it to be this good, which is clearly tautological with your channel.

[@thfreakinacage]

"Not always in the direction you want them to go" Can relate! 😂

[@damienberry7679]

Over the last week I’ve watched many of Rory Ding’s long distance train videos so it was an amazing coincidence that your latest video covers the same territory. Glad you enjoyed the trip and you have definitely created more interest for me in doing so, especially compared to flying which I’m not the biggest fan of doing.

[@Alexander_Dunn]

It's always a great day when I get to sit down and watch a nice Taitset production. I've never seen an XP power car with the coupler out like at 7:03. Very cool.

[@Taitset]

Yes I've seen them a few times with missing coupling hatches like that!

[@FrostyFrostySnow]

I've thought about taking the overnight train a few times so it's really great to see your experience

[@palderson]

Brilliant mini holiday review. More of this please!

[@SimonS44]

Feels like you guys need couchettes, the middle class between seats and sleepers on European night trains. I feel like seats are rougher than on this XPT train here. Couchettes have 4 or 6 bunks which can be 6 seats during the day. They are always cheaper than the proper sleeper beds. Also, ÖBB Nightjets now have mini cabins, another interesting option I think.

[@Taitset]

Yes I think those would be good to have here!

[@thechristoff78]

this was a really good video! Thanks!

[@brucelord3052]

when i was young we had family over multiple countries so i am used to very long flights. my parents told me a story where a woman asked to move seats as she did not want to be close to a baby (me) however the seat she moved to was closer to another screaming baby while i stayed relatively silent throughout the flight

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Some great info and good history there, thanks.

[@geoffreyhansen8543]

I've got great memories of traveling in sleeping carriages as a child in the late 1980s. I love overnight travel.

[@evermorestation]

I grew up in India during a time where most people simply couldn't afford air travel including my family, and overnight train was always the way to go. Despite the trains being barebones next to even the XPT, it was still a real adventure for me getting to explore the bunk beds, watching all the rail paraphernalia go by and memorising all the stations on our regular route. Even as an adult I would prefer the overnight train going interstate. It's a shame not many people in Australia (at least millennials like myself and Taitset) have experienced it!

[@frankbanks7549]

That was unexpected and simply brilliant. I am now a Grandpa, have done a lot of sleeper trips in the past and many many many flights. If I could take my car from Adelaide to Melbourne and have my 3 tiny super spoilt dogs in my sleeping cabin, I'd never drive to Melbourne again

[@andrewl3655]

One of your best videos yet. Thanks for taking the time to produce it.

[@Taitset]

Thankyou, very glad you enjoyed it!

[@coxsj]

Brilliant! Excellent coverage and analysis paired with nice visuals. Always a pleasure to see a new Taitset vid in my feed!! Hope all goes well for you. Cheers, Steven

[@Taitset]

Thanks Steven, hope you are well! Literally just had some of your maple syrup on pancakes for breakfast. :)

[@coxsj]

@@Taitset Haha! Great! Hope the kids enjoyed it too. I didnt bring you very much. I’ll have to get back when I can and bring some more!!

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

You should do a video on the Long island steel train, I've noticed that alot of people dont realise that the steel coils are actually shipped down from Port Kembla and then moved onto broad gauge to get to h Hastings

[@kjh23gk]

What a wonderfully thorough and informative video!

[@TheMusicalElitist]

Another awesome video! I love your voice too. Much love from the UK!

[@BigBlueMan118]

One thing I think is also often missed with the sleeper train idea is that you could also have 1-2 sleeper carriages that detatch off the main Melbourne-Sydney sleeper train at Goulburn and gets shunted down to Canberra by another loco and the same in reverse order each night to Melbourne, which would give you a direct Melbourne-Canberra sleeper connection too which just increases the demand for this service much more. Adelaide-Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane should be a network of sleeper trains run together with shared resources. Also, I think the sleeper service should have a solid marketing push to launch. And most controversially, I think we should introduce a $10 surcharge on all domestic flights within each of the corridors I outlined to fund the sleeper train company.

[@Taitset]

Yep, they used to do that exact thing too!

[@BigBlueMan118]

@@Taitset Really? The Southern Aurora again? I wonder if the Melbourne-Canberra service could be around 10-11 hours too.

[@Taitset]

@kyletopfer7818 I think it might have been attached to the Spirit in later years.. I've forgotten where I read about it now, will have to try to find it. Might have been a fairly short lived thing.

[@BigBlueMan118]

@@Taitset I think it would be successful now for sure, there is CLEARLY demand on this corridor for a proper modern sleeper service with all the modern comforts. In the video (nice video by the way!) you talked about the capacity of the sleeper carriages but I will just say this: I caught a sleeper train last month in Croatia where they have some carriages with compartments/cabins configured for 6x bunks, 4x bunks, 3x bunks and 2x bunks which although some would complain was actually fine for a budget traveller like me and it would be a significant increase to capacity over the compartments/cabins available currently. Possibly double or triple the capacity for the cheaper seats. As you said a 12-car train would be possible, Sydney and Melbourne have platforms long enough for even longer trains should they need it.

[@Taitset]

@@BigBlueMan118 Yes absolutely! I found a short reference, search for 'Canberra' on this page and there's a bit about a sleeper Z car being attached to the SoP for Canberra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_Z_type_carriage

[@LucyJrts]

Queensland DIT: We've made fares 50c across the whole network, vastly increasing patronage as the train becomes a cost effective method of transport for more users, and alleviating some of the cost of living crisis for many low-income citizens. Victoria DIT: We've made V/Line fares the same price as a metro fare, bringing regional Victoria into the fold of efficient and affordable public transport and improving mobility throughout the state. New South Wales DIT: What the f**k is a sleeper train?

[@johnlang4198]

A lot of the public don't get that another benefit of overnight train travel is that you save on accommodation costs.

[@Cullerin112]

I think that when the new xpt's enter service they should keep the current xpt and convert all the carriages to sleepers and run that exclusively as the night train

[@Cullerin112]

The first time I caught the xpt I was about 8 and I literally got my arm stuck in that gap you were talking about

[@newsgetsold]

Would have booked it, but it was booked out on the date I needed. So I booked the plane.

[@dklm2023]

I love when I see it. I see it sometimes when I do something

[@dklm2023]

Collides with my road

[@kclassproductions]

I will take this information knowing I would have taken the train anyway. Great video mate

[@JuliansTrainsandGames]

There is a chance that the XPT will be retained after the new trains enter service. Maybe some of the standard carriages will be converted into sleeper cars or something like that. Demand has increased significantly in the sleeping cabins so hopefully the XPT stays.

[@BigBlueMan118]

Need new power units though, those are completely done on the current trains and getting more and more unreliable.

[@qjtvaddict]

Get new tilt trains and build new tracks

[@BigBlueMan118]

@@qjtvaddict tilt trains are a certainty that we will never get new alignments

[@JuliansTrainsandGames]

@@qjtvaddict Tilt trains are fine because they can go around corners at higher speeds. No need for new tracks unless the old ones are wearing out, which would just require a sleeper replacement or something.

[@BreannaVK3BBS]

Tilt trains would (and in QLD do) make the best of our slow alignments. Real improvements in service capacity will require new alignments with more double track and designed from the off for higher operating speeds. The extensive amount of single track drastically limits the number of services that can use the routes we do have as well.

[@mikevale3620]

Excellent video...and not just because I always prefer to take the train to Sydney.

[@simonrussell734]

Totally agree that there's a market for a new sleeper train service (possibly run using old refurbished trains), similar to what's happening in Europe. It doesn't have to be a government operator, I just wish there was someone willing to try doing it in Australia.

[@Wdeane1957]

Yes, but definitely not as a Gold Class train like the Indian Pacific and Ghan are.

[@simonrussell734]

@@Wdeane1957 Yes indeed, they're useless as public transport. Just a standard, decently priced offering; it's a model that's working overseas already.

[@0800rochelle]

Love the XPT for regional travel. When I was in uni I would book a student ticket from Melbourne to Albury and then another full fare ticket from Albury to my hometown in regional NSW. Sometimes the XPT staff would notice and would make it so I only paid a student fare the whole way. One time they upgraded me to the first class cabin and I was so happy bc it had power outlets so I could plug my laptop in and play the Sims. V/Line is cheaper these days and has more running times but XPT is usually an hour faster and has better food options.

[@piploo]

My fiance is from rural NSW and he would often take the XPT regularly to travel to and from Melbourne before he moved here perminently! Now we use it maybe once a year and the trains are quite dated and there are large sections where you would ordinarily have reception but dont because the train is basically a moving faraday cage lol. Im glad the fleet is getting updated but it will suck to see the sleeper cabins go for the many reasons youve stated however what I dont see mentioned often is that the XPT really is a lifeline connecting the regions if NSW. For years my fiance's mum didnt have her drivers license and the XPT and connecting bus services kept her connected with her family in melbourne when she otherwise wouldnt have had any way to get thete without someone else driving her. I do love seeing people talk positively about the trains though I do rather enjoy them even if it can be a little boring

[@yogurtfluff1]

Sydney to Brisbane is also an extremely busy domestic flight corridor along with northbound flights. Flight noise is a big problem in Brisbane due to again, under investment in rail.

[@silvesterpeel5379]

It's criminal how neglected rail networks have been managed by government agencies and the subsequent private sector.

[@lachlanbaker2031]

NSW TrainLink is a government agency and ARTC (the people that maintain the track between Sydney and Melbourne) is a federal government corporation. Most mainline track in Australia is owned by the public sector

[@gibbo_303]

basically even right now intercity rail has so much potential, with new trains and upgrades to parts of track, it could be much much better

[@clabood]

I love interstate train trips actually any train trips haha.

[@cabbagepatch8947]

For the long Melbourne to Sydney trip there are new units available with an engine at one end and duplicated driving controls at the other. These are in the UK and elsewhere and the advantage is no rumbling and smelly diesel under each carriage.

[@jellysam]

Have done the day trip from Sydney to Melbourne a couple of years ago was an enjoyable trip we did lose a bit of time with someone getting kicked off at Campbelltown but something I would recommend to anyone even if just for the experience of doing so

[@basstrip73]

Very nice, and informative, video! Greetings from Canada.

[@vincentgrinn2665]

its wild just how bad the track is on that route 72 full 360 degree rotations along the route, insane

[@sachinh1635]

Wow, there's been a few XPT videos coming out recently, coincidentally I rode the overnight to Sydney for the first time on the 26th last month, rode with an economy saver ticket for $76, the ride was great and relaxing on the whole, besides what I believe was a particularly gnarly and stiff set of gangway connection seals, they were making an almost comical racket around especially tight and slow bends. Sounded like an exercise ball being stomped through a playplace slide. Was *only* 27 minutes late after waiting for freight traffic coming down from the highlands into Sydney. Btw I'm so jealous of your full set of COMENG books, mind if I ask where you found yours? I've been searching the internet and book sales at train shows for a couple years now and have only been able to read small parts from the state libraries copies which you cannot borrow. Even an ebook copy or scans would satisfy me at this point. So wish I knew about them and had the money when they were in print.

[@Taitset]

Yes those gangways can get pretty noisy! I bought two or three of the Comeng books when they were still in print, then spent ages trying to get the others - ended up spending a fair bit on ebay, and some of them are pretty worn out (the one in this video is an ex-Geelong library copy). Can confirm its very satisfying to have the whole set! They do come up second hand every now and then, but some are more common than others.

[@sachinh1635]

@@Taitset Seems I'm not alone with the struggle, thank you anyway, I saw volume 1 on eBay for about $200 plus postage a couple months back and haven't seen anything since, even looked at commissioning scans from the state library but it's a shocking rip off per page and would be thousands to do the whole set.

[@shinkicker404]

Kind of surprised there isn't a fold up railing on the top bunk. The damn soviet era train I trundled around on in eastern Europe back in the early '00s even had one, lol.

[@DavidJones-pi8rl]

My wife, our 4 children (ranging from about 18 months to 7) caught the train from Melbourne to Sydney and back in about 1989, with our car! The cost of bringing the car meant sleepers were off the agenda and was obviously prior to the XPT trains. It was all pretty much the return journey from hell! My son then did the trip a few times in the mid-2010's when he was in a long-distance relationship and a studentThis bemused me greatly as he was the 18 months old and the main cause of our journeys from hell!

[@bigdude101ohyeah]

I'm honestly almost impressed how the NSW government can't seem to learn anything from their mistakes. You'd think they'd look at how they originally configured the XPTs to be daytime only. Then again, they were the ones who bought more CAF Urboses, despite their existing ones being recalled for cracks. Then again, it's not like us in VIC can talk, having the Pakenham and Sunbury lines run by a separate operator probably has Jeff rubbing his hands with glee.

[@msg5507]

The Parramatta trams had already been ordered when the cracking issues came to light. And they are a later model than the Urbos 3s.

[@davejuyongshin4545]

Best channel

[@lorm_]

I flew to Sydney and caught the night train back a few months ago by myself and i have to say sitting for 11 hours is not a fun experience. Because I was alone and in a window seat if i wanted to get up for a walk i had to push past the person trying to sleep next to me, so i ended up just sitting for most of the trip. i absolutely would catch the train again, but i think i would do a day trip and bring a laptop with a big old battery bank, or go with a friend in a sleeper.

[@Aprilsraven629]

Great video thanks for the info...glad you pointed out the sleeper issues, bookings are virtually impossible to get at night but during the day there empty Yes! the sleeper is still part of the rolling set and if you can afford the exorbitant price you get a nice quiet private trip don't forget to request forward facing seats....you forgot to mention the bathrooms at each end of the cabin ... its like winning the lottery getting a sleeper but at night the only way to travel, 1st class and economy are really awful at night, I was partial to breaking the no sleeping on the floor rule or no feet on the set rule its a long, crowded, noisy, smelly journey and the worse part you can't get into a motel till 2 pm ahh park benches or the park lawn are great for that overnight train lag

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

You could get some MK5 coach sleepers to do the sleepers as they are designed for sleeper work.

[@darksnakenerdmaster]

Honestly, I was surprised that you are a married man with young kids, but in hindsight I really shouldn't be surprised. Trains are such a stereotypical "dad hobby" that it shouldn't be unusual. But the advice you gave was definitely very useful, and I may consider the train much more if I ever need to go to Sydney or Adelaide. As for your proposal for a mega sleeper train, that's just a bloody good idea. You wouldn't even need that many, perhaps four sets and associated spares at most, use a double-length platform at Southern Cross, and the other end in Sydney. Just a great idea overall, and a trip I'd definitely take

[@XavierXonora]

Maybe refurbishing the XPT as a full sleeper instead of retiring the whole fleet, keep two of them in service for each direction, a spare for covering any issues, and the rest for parts.

[@shaunclarke94]

Accessible/wheelchair spaces, just like the sleepers can only be booked by phone. And there's only two spaces per service. I believe the XPT service also accepts the companion card, unlike any air options.