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[quote user="ontheBNSF"] <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatSouthernRail?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/GreatSouthernRail?fref=ts</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreatSouthernRail?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Southern_Railway_(Australia)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Southern_Railway_(Australia)</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Southern_Railway_(Australia)"></a>Part of Australian rail network was privatized. Though one of its routes receives subsidies (the Overland) the rest of the network does not receive subsidies. Passenger trains don't necessarily need subsidies and corridors aren't necessarily where passenger trains are most needed. Overall long distance train are the most economically feasible. [/quote] I lived in Australia from 1999 to 2004, and I go back every year or two to catch up with some of my former work mates.  I was in Melbourne, Albury, and Sydney in February for two weeks.  A reference to the Aussie trains always catches my attention. I have ridden all of the Great Southern Rail trains, although the Gahn only ran from Adelaide to Alice Springs when I rode it. The Gahn, Indian Pacific, and Overland are moderately successful because in part they are scheduled to accommodate market demand.  They don't run to satisfy a political agenda. Great Southern Rail is heavily dependent on overseas tourists to fill its trains. Overseas tourism in Australia is under stress because of the high cost of the Aussie dollar.  When I lived in Australia all of Great Southern Railways (Rail) trains received some form of federal government subsidy, as well as some state subsidies, although they did not always flow through in the form of direct cash payments.  For example, retired Aussies get deep discounts on most state run or sponsored rail and transit services. The government covers the cost difference for these discounts and, in effective, is subsidizing them.   According to the Serco Group PLC Annual Report for 2012, the Great South Rail operation experienced significant financial challenges in 2012, although the company continues to invested in its Australian rail operations. However, the reference to Great South Rail is just one line in management's discussion of 2012 results. A complete segment report is not included in the annual report.  The Gahn only runs once a week, except from June to August, when two trains a week are scheduled. Darwin is a potential winter vacation spot for people in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.  Think upside down with respect to seasons and direction to get warm in the winter. The Indian Pacific is also down to one train a week between Perth and Sydney, except for September and October, when two trains are scheduled. The Overland's schedule has been reduced from three to two trains a week.  It runs from Melbourne to Adelaide.   The Southern Spirit has been discontinued for 2013.
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