{"id":220770,"date":"2025-05-22T15:33:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T05:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=220770"},"modified":"2025-06-17T19:24:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T09:24:01","slug":"riding-the-overland-train-in-premium-red-on-16-18th-may-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=220770","title":{"rendered":"Riding the Overland Train in Premium Red on 16-18th May 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>I checked in my bag and whist waiting was observing  at trains movement  in Southern Cross: <\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> Albury Standard Gauge VoLcity shuffle in <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A crowd building for the Overland operated via <strong> Journeys Beyond<\/strong> <strong>Rail<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>as at the same time crowd waiting for the XPT to Sydney  by another rail operator: <strong>NSW Train link<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"> I came in early I noticed the train was not shunted in  yet compared with my other ride at March and the later on the  advice came out via crew:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><br>&nbsp;<strong>30min late due to yard issues<\/strong> <strong>and minor technical issues with the locomotive<\/strong><br><br><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>It was  rectified promptly by maintenance crew NR13 Pacific  National ,is often seen pulling the freights and passenger trains across the country. <\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>The train consist was as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4x BJs Standard Red <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1x RBJ Buffet <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2x BJs Premium Red <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1x PCO4 Overland Power Van<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1x Indian Pacfic or Ghan Powervan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NR13 locomotive pulling<\/strong> <strong>the train<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.57.16-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-222124\" style=\"width:234px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.57.16-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.57.16-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.57.16.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">08:35 I boarded <strong> carriage A <\/strong>and settled down in their big comfortable seat and shortly after during  the PA announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Crew gave out menus and orders took place on board for morning breakfast service and Coffee\/Tea and freshly squeezed orange juice for passengers in <strong>Premium Red<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I enjoyed a black strong coffee and gluten, dairy free yoghurt on board  for breakfast as they accomodate well for  people dietary requirements on board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Events on board: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em><strong>Very interesting ride on route to Adelaide <\/strong><\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Before 40 Peg very rough riding condition and they want put a SG VoLcity to Horsham and Dimboola?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before the 85 peg toward North Shore a big bump&#8230;felt that one!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before 227 marker train seems to be shuddering on route track issues?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seems to be a kick sideway on my side in grades of Adel don&#8217;t know what it was but it seem worse than I experienced on VoLcity at Winchelsea &#8211; Waurn Ponds Section that stuffed something my train from Warrnambool nearly slowed down to halt mid section several time to Southern Cross on route!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was very interesting ride as the crew beforehand was subjected rough track conditions on route on the Vic part before crossing the border.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> I was relaxing  and had look in RBJ the buffet car but spent most time in my carriage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> noticed Standard Red had good amount of people on board along with our area in Premium Red when having a stroll ever so often.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Sample the longer route in Adelaide on their EMUs<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.59.08-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-222123\" style=\"width:454px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.59.08-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.59.08-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-15.59.08.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rode the longer distance EMUs&nbsp; Gawer Central after grabbing food and drinks and ate breakfast on route \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> interiors passenger layout very similar to our VoLcity IMUs with WC in Vic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>powered via overhead wires similar to our X&#8217;Trapolis etc. in Vic a CMU[Commuter Multiple Unit]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saw the Salisbury where I saw the big Railway Workshop[s]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The big freight, flat wagons, crew cars wheelsets, bogies, containers and NR locomotives were located there beside the railway line <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">After arriving Adelaide I went have a good lunch at the pub at the station and after grabbed more drinks from the little food\/drink store at the station area.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I  went on another EMU ride to Seaford a very nice ride<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was the most scenic line as I saw the open ocean ie: <strong>Great Southern Ocean <\/strong>by the windows on the way<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;heard the trip device of the train activate before Christen Down Station&#8230;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One could suspect the driver passed home signal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> just lost the air as I could part see the station we departed when it occurred<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Just recharge brakes reset trip and roll on!!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As I understand train drivers can get in a lot trouble for passing a home signals at stations&#8230;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to be fair to the drivers  I observe  he\/she was tired as driving train can be a  high concentration stressful job at times!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I ran into the Footy crowd that evening and noted that they have free travel when footy is on as a number of people on board were wearing Port Power Scarfs and beanies! <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The train was well loaded arriving at Adelaide station <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It appeared to me the people disembarking was smooth and unhindered<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I strongly believe the seat configuration is part of it instead of <strong>3&#215;2 as in Vic <\/strong>they have <strong>2&#215;2 seats<\/strong> layout in SA.easy to get in and move down to allow extra passengers on board and easy for passengers t get out!\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I noticed the one these longer lines by SA standards finding <em><strong>restrooms <\/strong><\/em>for people who need access a WC maybe very problematic might need addressing as the SA rail system in the future as the rail system  grows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>currently  there are <em><strong>no restroom at the stations on route at and terminating points  on most line from Adelaide!<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Riding Back on the Overland on Sun Morning <\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-16.07.08-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-222121\" style=\"width:231px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-16.07.08-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-16.07.08-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2025-05-22-16.07.08.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Parklands Terminal, Adelaide<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>After a nice weekend at Adelaide enjoying their system I settled back in my seat in Premium Red and rolled home again and has some  interesting things happen on route<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We departed on time hauled by NR 13 and she tackled the steep grades of the Adelaide Hills some grades 1\/40 which considered as steep in most AUS railway conditions <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I could hear the dynamic braking system working in the train at times to control the train&#8217;s speed as we rolled down the grade after completing the sections in the Adelaide Hills toward Murray Bridge\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Observed this on route<\/strong> Carriages shuddering was heard in some sections before Murray Bridge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Does the wearing of the Railway Line need maintenance?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">As I understand that the tracks there is used heavily by passengers and freight services being a major interstate rail corridor and rail scales may cause carriage shuddering on route. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>As it can be very expensive to rectify when left too long.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After Tailem Bend I noticed track work in progress restricted speed 40 km\/ph in section&#8230;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Just caught a glimpse of the inner flagmen with green flag as we rolled through as I saw from my seat out the windows of opposite side of the carriage <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">I had very nice lunch rice and curry veggies gluten, dairy free and nice little wine as a rare treat on board using the nice little table on my seat stored in the armrest!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Notice the rougher track conditions after border Town and it worse after Kanvia whist lunch service was in progress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noticed the crew was being jostled around the carriage trying serving the passengers and shortly noticed the train reduces in speed\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I presume a message went to the Driver via train manager requested him\/her to slow the train a bit so the crew is not being shaken up too much to prevent accidents on board during the meal service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From Nhill rolled on nicely very nicely until after Nth Shore near under the wires after Werribee approx.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>18:35 advice came out a Freight train in front having issues&#8230;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>rectified&nbsp;20 min delay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I saw Standard Gauge freight shuffle by my Window and it was long  passing b.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But as it passed one of  the wagons I could hearing a distinctive banging noise coming from it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One of the wagon &#8220;Flat spots&#8221; on the wheels was very loud I was wondering has the offending wagon being dragged or skidded whist braking?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>I<\/strong>n my surprise of how clearly I could hear this from my carriage whist both train were in motion I said:<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Oh my golly, on<\/em><\/strong><em><strong>e of these wagons on that train got really bad flat-spots<\/strong><\/em><strong><em>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">We pulled in 19:37 at Southern Cross Station where I saw the night XPT service ready with passenger boarding at the time I got off the Overland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>In Conclusion My view on Premium Red:<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong> <\/strong><em><strong>i<\/strong>s this is the way to travel for those people who require a bit of extra space on board when seating and moving around the carriage a  2&#215;1 seat configuration compared to Standard Red where the seating configuration is more compact being 2&#215;2 abreast<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I like the way meals is included in the fare and drinks are complimentary excluding alcoholic beverages and snacks from the buffet car!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arrived late BUT I am was  riding a comfortable fit for purpose train for a trip of 11 hrs to complete!!!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>One the finest rolling stock in its era maintained regularly this train is a joy a to ride on!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Crew was exceptional in their service and in the most testing of circumstances on route in my trips to and from <strong>Southern Cross <\/strong>and keep us advised accordingly in my observations as a <strong><em>concerned train traveller!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I enjoyed a black strong coffee and gluten, dairy free yoghurt on board for breakfast as they accomodate well for people dietary requirements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":222122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,16170,11138,9932,3629],"tags":[265,993,8],"class_list":["post-220770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","category-the-overland","category-train-interiors","category-train-travel","category-trip-review","tag-adelaide","tag-melbourne","tag-victoria"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=220770"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222135,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220770\/revisions\/222135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/222122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=220770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=220770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=220770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}