Intercapital Daylight

Last updated

Inter-Capital Daylight
Exterior of Countrylink NDS 2268.JPG
RUB carriage at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in December 2012
Overview
Service typePassenger train
StatusCeased
First service26 March 1956
Last service31 August 1991
Former operator(s) State Rail Authority
V/Line
Route
Termini Sydney
Melbourne
Distance travelled956 kilometres
Service frequencydaily in each direction
Train number(s)SL65/SL66
Line(s) used Main South, NSW
North East, Victoria
Technical
Rolling stock RUB sets

The Inter-Capital Daylight was a passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne from March 1956 until August 1991.

Contents

History

Until April 1962, the line between Sydney and Albury was of a different gauges to that between Albury and Melbourne, requiring passengers to change trains.

On 26 March 1956, the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways introduced connecting daytime services named the Sydney–Melbourne (Melbourne–Sydney) Daylight Express. [1] From Sydney, a three times per week service was introduced, returning from Albury the following day. From Melbourne, a three times per week non-stop service operated in the morning, returning in the evening.

From 24 September 1956, both were extended to operate daily Monday to Saturday. Total journey time between the capitals was 13 hours 20 minutes. [2] [3] The New South Wales train consisted of a 42 class locomotive hauling a nine carriage air-conditioned RUB set. The Victorian portion had a B class locomotive hauling eight air-conditioned S and Z carriages including the round-ended car ex Spirit of Progress , formerly known as Parlor car and renamed to Lounge car but later Club car, attached to the rear. [3]

Following the completion of the standard gauge to Melbourne, the New South Wales train was extended to Melbourne from 16 April 1962. [2] Named Inter-Capital Daylight, the train was formed of a nine carriage New South Wales Government Railways RUB set later extended to eleven carriages. The trains were initially hauled by New South Wales 44 class and the Victorian S class locomotives. During the 1970s the 422 class became the rostered power in New South Wales while the X class shared the Victorian duties with the S class. [3] [4]

A typical consist in the late 1980s would be Locomotive-HFZ-VFK-VFK-ABS, or Locomotive-RS-BDS-SDS-SDS, with either a PHN or PHS power van attached. [5]

From 1982, through working was introduced with the 422 class rostered to operate the services throughout. [6] Class 442s occasionally operated the service in the mid-1980s during the time they were permitted to operate in Victoria. Other mainline locomotives were regularly used. Following a ban being placed by the Victorian branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen on non-air-conditioned locomotives in Victoria, from February 1990 the service was rostered for 81 class and G class locomotives. [3] The superior power of these locomotives was negated by them being limited to 100 km/h (vs 115 km/h) in Victoria due to the condition of the track. By this stage the journey time was 12 hours 30 minutes. [3]

The train length varied from 7 to 13 carriages, with V/Line Z type carriages also appearing from February 1990. [3] [4] A motorail facility was introduced in October 1987 but due to low loadings withdrawn in 1990 on the train. [4] [7]

Since mid-1990, the State Rail Authority and V/Line had been discussing the replacement of the stock with an XPT from 1993. However, with deregulation of the Australian airline industry, patronage dropped to around 30%. A decision was made to cancel the service with the last service operating on 31 August 1991. [3] Appropriately, the last services were hauled in New South Wales by 44 class 4458/27 on the Melbourne bound service and 4465/69 on the Sydney bound service, while X class X37 handled the Victorian duties. [8]

In December 1994, a daylight service between Sydney and Melbourne was reintroduced with New South Wales XPT trains, by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CountryLink</span> New South Wales government rail and road passenger operator

CountryLink was a passenger rail and road service brand that operated in regional areas of New South Wales, and to and from Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. Originally created as a business unit of the State Rail Authority of New South Wales, it later became a subsidiary of RailCorp. CountryLink operated rail services using XPT and Xplorer rolling stock, with connecting coach services operated under contract by private operators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Victoria</span> Overview of rail transport in Victoria, Australia

Rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. The network consists of 2,357 km of Victorian broad gauge lines, and 1,912 km of standard gauge freight and interstate lines; the latter increasing with gauge conversion of the former. Historically, a few experimental 762 mm gauge lines were built, along with various private logging, mining and industrial railways. The rail network radiates from the state capital, Melbourne, with main interstate links to Sydney and to Adelaide, as well as major lines running to regional centres, upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.

<i>The Overland</i> Australian passenger train between Adelaide and Melbourne

The Overland is an Australian passenger train service between the state capitals of Melbourne and Adelaide, a distance of 828 km (515 mi). It first ran in 1887 as the Adelaide Express, known by South Australians as the Melbourne Express. It was given its current name in 1936. Now operated by private company Journey Beyond, the train undertakes two return trips a week. Originally an overnight train that stopped at large intermediate stations, it now operates during the day, stopping less frequently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit of Progress</span> Victorian Railways express passenger train

The Spirit of Progress was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the New South Wales border at Albury, and later through to Sydney.

The North East railway line is a railway line in Victoria, Australia. The line runs from Southern Cross railway station on the western edge of the Melbourne central business district to Albury railway station in the border settlement of Albury-Wodonga, serving the cities of Wangaratta and Seymour, and smaller towns in northeastern Victoria.

The railways of New South Wales, Australia, use a large variety of passenger and freight rolling stock. The first railway in Sydney was opened in 1855 between Sydney and Granville, now a suburb of Sydney but then a major agricultural centre. The railway formed the basis of the New South Wales Government Railways. Passenger and freight services were operated from the beginning. By 1880, there was a half hourly service to Homebush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales XPT</span> Express passenger train in New South Wales, Australia

The New South Wales XPT is a class of diesel-powered passenger trains built by Comeng and ABB. Based on the British Rail-designed High Speed Train, each XPT set comprises two XP power cars in a push-pull configuration and, between them, between four and seven passenger carriages. The first sets entered service under the State Rail Authority in 1982 and now operate under NSW TrainLink, running on long-distance regional and interstate North Coast, Main Western and Main Southern lines throughout New South Wales and interstate into Victoria and Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRC railcar</span> Class of diesel rail car used in Australia

The DRC was a class of railmotor operated by the Victorian Railways on its country rail network in Victoria, Australia. The cars were built by Tulloch Limited in New South Wales, and featured aluminium and steel construction, air-conditioning, and twin diesel engines with hydraulic transmissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V/Line G class</span> Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia

The G Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater and Somerton for V/Line between 1984 and 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Aurora</span>

The Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 13 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury, eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albury V/Line rail service</span> Passenger rail service in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia

The Albury line is a regional passenger rail service operated by V/Line in Victoria, Australia. It serves passengers between the state capital of Melbourne and the regional cities of Benalla, Wangaratta, Wodonga, and the NSW border city of Albury.

The Sydney–Melbourne Express was an overnight intercapital passenger train service that operated between Australia's largest two cities, Sydney and Melbourne, between August 1986 and November 1993. Operated jointly by State Rail Authority and V/Line the name depended on the direction of travel, with the train nicknamed the 'Sex' or 'Mex'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales RUB type carriage stock</span>

The RUB type carriage stock was a type of steel bodied air conditioned passenger carriage operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from September 1949 until April 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverina Express</span> Australian passenger train (1949–1993)

The Riverina Express was a passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways between Sydney, Griffith and Albury from September 1949 until November 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Coast Daylight Express</span>

The South Coast Daylight Express was a limited stops passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between Sydney and Bomaderry from 1933 until January 1991.

The 1100 class railcar or Budd railcar were a type of diesel railcar built by Commonwealth Engineering for the Department of Railways New South Wales in 1961. They primarily operated on the South Coast Daylight Express until withdrawn in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 1200 class railcar</span>

The 1200 class railcar or Tulloch railcar were a type of diesel railcar built by Tulloch Limited for the New South Wales railways department between June 1970 and May 1972. They were built to operate the Riverina Express before being transferred to the South Coast Daylight Express.

The New South Wales stainless steel carriage stock was a type of passenger carriage operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from 1961 until 1993.

The R type carriages were a series of locomotive-hauled carriages proposed to be built for the Victorian country rail network in the early and mid 1980s.

References

  1. ↑ The Intercapital Daylight 1956–1991 Banger, Chris Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, June;July 2001 pp203–219;243–267
  2. 1 2 Leo J Harrigan (1962). Victorian Railways to '62. Public Relations and Betterment Board. p. 261.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Intercapital Daylight" Railway Digest November 1991 page 396
  4. 1 2 3 Julian Insall (October 1992). "A reflection on the Intercapital Daylight". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 316–319.
  5. ↑ Newsrail November 1990, pg190
  6. ↑ "ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 – Now". ARHS Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  7. ↑ "Motorail on Daylight" Railway Digest December 1987 page 393
  8. ↑ "The end of the Daylight" Railway Digest November 1991 page 402
  9. ↑ "Sydney–Melbourne Daylight XPT Commences This Month" Railway Digest December 1994 page 7
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.