The last time I took this train from Melbourne to Adelaide was in 1988 with a school friend of mine. I remember seeing the endless flat grassy plains and blue skies and thinking how strange it was and not an Australia I knew because I was a boy from the green and wet cane fields of North Queensland and had never seen such flat dryness. That particular journey has stuck in my mind all these decades.
My Dad took the train frequently during the ‘80s when he was studying at Melbourne Uni and went back to see his family in SA. Back then it was an overnight service and ran more frequently due to having state government funding, now it’s not really worth travelling on unless your in a town in between or you have time to kill due to the availability of flights.
I am seriously thinking of taking the trip after watching Rory's video. Agree with you about the beautiful country out in the west of Victoria. I went to Nhill many years ago and remember checking out the Little Desert and found the vegetation and wildlife there interesting and unique.
@@davidharraway8131 I live in Horsham and it is just beautiful up here. If you are ever up this way again check out Pink Lake that is just outside of Dimboola.
I've lived in AUS for over 43 years but have never travelled the country. I've been OS over 20 times but have never seen our great country once, you have encouraged me. Once we are past this pandemic I'm going to take the train journeys. Thanks Rory!
the big difference between your great vlogs and the run of the mill vloggers is you not only show in side the trains you also show a great deal of out side which is what we want to see those of us living out of our home country who will never get to see the country we love but we know we will never return to please keep up the good work we love what you are doing graham
I grew up on a farm with the Melbourne to Adelaide railway line not more than 120 meters from our house and if we were ever up late enough we would see the Overland Train go One way and if it was a real late night we would see the opposing service also pass. I could only ever wonder at what the inside of these trains were like, now I have an idea, thank you.
Great review, you are the best and I throughly enjoyed my trip😁 Your video’s give me so much pleasure as I’m an old housebound grannie 👵🏽 Thank You so much 💓Stay Safe 🙋🏻♀️💞🇦🇺
Very good video! You have captured the experience on the Overland really well. Train travel in Australia is very underrated and under-utilised. We have some great journeys and this is one of them. Well done sir!
God the sight that the older Overland with the car and sleeper cabs would have been a sight. Loved that you got shots of the marshalling yard the end. Lots of history there.
Thank you for this video. I grew up in Tailem Bend when the Overland was an exotic beast that flew through our little town. Our house faced the station so it was a familiar sight though I never got to travel it. Great review.
Many years ago I was on The Overland. I had to travel from Mount Gambier to Tailem Bend by goods train in the guards van and wait there for about 3 hours before hopping on The Overland at about 4am. Times have changed.
Definitely a comfortable seat for the journey. Amazing legroom too ! Such lovely scenery, and it was great that the crew gave information about places the train travelled through. So sad to see it's services dropped to a minimal number per week from its heyday ! But I can see a market is there still, not only for people wanting a more leisurely and scenic trip, but for those who have problems with flying. Thankyou Rory.
They used do 5 overnight services up until the 1990s. But as airfare became cheaper most ppl prefer to fly, it became unprofitable for them so they eventually dropped it. Overnight sleepers are very costly to run, even the new XPT from Sydney to Melbourne won’t have sleepers anymore.
Nice video. My late father use to manage the consist of The Overland for many years. When I was a kid in the peak summer season, there used to be two divisions of The Overland. After WWII, my Dad was Station Manager at Bordertown for a while. As a youth, I travelled many times on The Overland in a sleeper berth. Before the existence of Australian National Railways, the preceding South Australian Railways and Victorian Railways jointly ran the train. At Bordertown, they use to change the locomotives motives to reflect the actual state railway.
Great filming and editing, a real quality job. In comparing road vs flying vs train I think the train is probably the most fuel efficient and environmentally best way of travelling. As for prices this trip is very cheap compared to the other offers they have, thanks for pointing that out.
I grabbed the Overland from Melbourne back to Adelaide back in the late 90s or early 2000s, can't remember exactly when. It was far less comfortable and I had a change-over to another train, no idea why or where. I love the idea of train travel compared to driving or flying. Less convenient for business, but far better for your mental health I think. Even easier now that we live in a world with endless portable entertainment. If Australia ever got its act together and put down a decent high speed rail system between major cities, I'd be travelling.
Thanks for the video, I travelled on the Overland over 40 years ago from Adelaide to Melbourne, when it was an overnight trip. Vinyl covers on the seats and the rubber floor coverings didn't make it particularly comfortable, but it did run daily. Looks like it's improved since then, except for the regularity.
I enjoy all your videos, but your train videos are excellent. You provide interesting and valuable information in a very entertaining format. They are not too long, in fact they leave me wanting more. Hopefully you can do do more Australian trains ,as well as trains in other countries, if we are ever allowed to travel the world again! Keep up the good work. Thank you and best wishes! Love your positive approach to travel and life!
A well appointed train, with better travel times than the one passenger train in the North Island of New Zealand. We used to have multiple services day & night, like Melbourne & Adalaide, now our trains, run the same timetable. Out one day, in the next, 3 times a week. Well done, in keeping the service running, it should never be lost & the prices kept reasonable.
Oh Rory no THANKYOU the effort shines through, loved every second of the video the meals looked superb. I want to try this so much. Thanks for all you do to show off Australia 👍
Fabulous way to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne or vise verser as I've been on the Overland back 2019 I absolutely loved the trip to Melbourne and return trip to Adelaide.
And another excellent train trip Rory! I really like how you show us what the food service is like on the trains that you travel on and your airline video's to. Most of the other guys make the same video's but never show the food service... Keep up the great trip reports Rory... :):):)
Thank you for a lovely, relaxing and enjoyable review. We are so impressed at the amount of effort you put into editing and researching the history of this journey. I travelled on this train some years ago but you have inspired me to take it again next time I visit Adelaide to go to the football. Your eloquent descriptions and detailed videography gave us all sorts of details that we might not have otherwise known. Brilliant job.
Thanks so much for your informative review, particularly the food and power socket intel. We're doing this trip in June and flying back. Really looking forward to it now ☺️
Rory I really like your videos and your informative narrations, and you have not let us down here either. I really enjoyed the video and am glad you enjoyed the food and the service. As an ex rail person who worked on the "real' Overland back in the 70's, I have done this trip but it is not like the original train inside, and that's fair enough, you can't stop progress, but a few things I noticed on the video and when I actually travelled on the train, are actually not as "efficient" as the old Overland back in the day. The main thing I have a gripe about, and this is because the train is privately run ....they issue a type of boarding pass with a seat allocation on the platform and that is fine, but the passengers should be also checked on board by a proper conductor who takes a note as to where the passengers are travelling to on a diagram. Those going to Adelaide are not a problem but "roadside" passengers, (passengers alighting en route), were simply called over the PA system to make themselves known as the train slowed down, or something similar, and if nobody was alighting, and nobody was getting on at a station, the train would not stop. Given the passengers had seat allocations, if a conductor checked "tickets" after leaving Melbourne and noted the station passengers were travelling to, those passengers could be summoned well before their station and be ready to disembark. And if passengers were not in their seats after Melbourne when ticket checking was done, in buffet eating for example, their tickets can still be checked and recorded on the "diagram". I found the way things were handled for the passengers alighting at intermediate stations a bit sloppy, and prone to confusing first time travellers. The other thing that really got up my nose was the time taken to travel from Melbourne to Werribee. Over 55 mins to travel 31 kms non stop is terrible in the 21st century on any modern railway.. The fact it travels through suburbs does not mean it has to travel at snails pace, unless train control deliberately puts it behind a normal suburban train, but even then the speed would be quicker. Now I know the Overland travels a different route via North Geelong and Cressy now, unlike back in the day when it travelled via Ballarat to Ararat, Stawell, Murtoa, Horsham, Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva, Serviceton, Murray Bridge etc on to Adelaide. And of course, back in the day the Overland ran in both directions every night, (1 train in each direction, crossing at a place called Diapur around 2 am, where the Adelaide train waited in a siding, whilst the Melbourne train passed it at 70mph in the old scale.on the main line. The Overland of old was never a short train, even at "quiet times". Fares were affordable, unlike todays privately run train, and the nightly consist in both directions was at least 10 carriages, both sitting and sleepers, a power van, and luggage/guards van at the rear. The car carriers came along some time later. The exterior of the train also looked much better than the blue of today, being maroon and stainless steel. My whinge is complete. haha. I have been told there is a push to have the government take over the full running of the Overland again, and if they withdraw subsidies in the future all I can say is "watch this space". It may even go to an overnight train again, on alternate days. But the patronage would need to be there for anything to be feasable. Long distance train travel is slowly making a comeback too, for various reasons. People are warming to it, if they have the time to take the longer journey and prefer not to fly. The South Australian government has shown some interest also in getting behind an overnight train again.. The sleeping cars no longer used are still about and in good running order.
Wow thank you so much for your informative comment on the old Overland! It would be great if they could bring back the sleeper at affordable prices, I’m sure many people would be interested! The XPT sleeper, spirit of Queensland Railbed, spirit of the outback first class sleeper as well as the Ghan and Indian pacific being fully booked have shown that there are demands for overnight trains!
@@RoryDing Exactly. And remember that in Queensland, with all its faults, (and there are many, haha), the passenger trains are still government owned, as is the case in NSW. I am not anti privatisation, as it works quite well in the UK, however Australian train long distance train fares went right through the roof after privatisation of most passenger services. To be fair, the fares on the Overland are sort of reasonable, but then the government is subsidising it, but I still feel they are trying to run it like an airline. If you look at who owns Journey Beyond now, it is not hard to see that the almighty dollar controls it. The Ghan and Indian Pacific these days is more of a tourist adventure, for people who have the time, rather than getting people from A to B in sleepers as was the case when they originally ran, and that's fine, because today, anyone who wants to travel from Adelaide to Darwin or Perth to Sydney or Brisbane would fly. (And a lot cheaper as well).
@@RoryDing it's a shame that they have removed economy class sleepers on all trains. I was looking for one for a trip to Longreach on the spirit of the outback but it appears they only have single and twinettes. There is 3 of us!
Love the video, looks like the Overland has had a makeover since we traveled on it a few years ago, (When we traveled on it, it looked like a refugee from the 70's) And much better service than I remember as well
Great video! I worked and lived in Melbourne from 1999 to 2004. I took the Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide twice and from Adelaide to Melbourne once. One of the trips was overnight when the train had a full length dining car and sleepers. The other two trips, if I remember correctly, were during the day. While living in Melbourne I developed a keen interest in cricket. One of my trips to Adelaide was to visit the Donald Bradman museum, which if I remember correctly is located at the Adelaide Oval. One of the most beautiful ovals in Australia. Unusual for an American!
Another great review. Thank you. I used to travel on this train years ago when it went overnight between the two cities. I'm looking forward to doing it in daylight! I understand the Victorian government has extended the subsidy to 2023 so, hopefully, the service will survive until then at least.
Awesome trip review! - thank you. I've always wanted to travel this journey but haven't managed to yet. Seeing your trip encourages me to look at it once covid is sorted! subscribed!
Lovely presentation Rory. As an American, I’d take your trains just so I could see your beautiful country up close. The only thing that would probably get on my nerves after awhile would be the constant squeaking of the carriage. 🙄. Another trip I would definitely do is the Indian Pacific in platinum class.😉
Really liked the video mate and was definitely looking forward to it, I haven't travelled on the Overland in recent times but did go on it in 2001 when Great southern railway was running the service, my family and I were on our way to Alice Springs so we took The Ghan from Adelaide to there. On both trains, we were in Red Kangaroo class sit up cars, but it looks like the Red Premium class they have now is much more comfortable. Enjoyed the content very much and look forward to your next video.
Great video. We went on this train both ways in September 2013. Very enjoyable journey. I noticed that you ended up at Adelaide Parklands Terminal Station. When we went there in 2013, the Overland terminated at Keswick Station, which connected with a bus service that headed into Adelaide Central.
Now thats what i call a nice train Rory. i must take a ride on her I travelled on the old overland quite a bit and that was great too. hope you enjoyed your trip cheers buddy.
Awesome video! My pop used to live in Murray Bridge. When we would fly over in summer, he would take us down to the Murray River where you crossed and took us for a swim and we’d go and see the bunyip. Thank you for reminding me of my awesome memories with my pop ❤
Great video Rory, as always! Can't get to Australia at the moment due to Covid however its lovely seeing your videos seeing Australia and things me and my husband (he is Australian) be able to do when we can get back over. Thanks for a lovely report x
The drive ( or train) from Melbourne to Adelaide is honestly the prettiest journey between two capital cities in Australia. If you haven't been, I hope you get to do it one day.
I just found your channel and just wanted to say your content is real quality content I love the time and effort you put into making these videos I believe you should have a lot more subscribers for the content you make it really is quality you've earnt a sub
Hi Rory, I just subscribed. Your content is well researched, informative, atmospheric and very professionally put together - I like your clear explanations and crisp presentation style. Please keep up the good work and don't let the critics bring you down.
As nice as this is, I’m baffled as to why they don’t turn this into a really flash direct sleeper train from Melbourne to Adelaide. At a journey time of ten hours I think that would be really popular.
Flying is just so common in Australia... Adelaide to melbourne is < 90 minutes and really solid. Train travel became seen as a luxury to-do... you took the train to enjoy the journey, not get from point A to point B. Hence why most of the interstate train services are dying. Edit - the viability of interstate train travel is dependent on investing in high-speed rail. I live in Canberra and have to travel to Melbourne regularly for work. A high speed rail connection between Sydney and Melbourne via Canberra would be incredible for me and those I work with.
I caught the Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide back in 2001. Back then they ran sleeper cars at night. It was one of the best nights sleep I have ever had.
Ayyyyy!!! The video is finally here, great work with the editing and this was worth the wait :D Definitely helps me keep in mind for what's to offer and how the journey will go when I eventually catch this between both cities!
Good job Rory. I've done this trip twice, in the same class but in the other direction. Very relaxing, though it appears the food service is a little bit better nowadays. I enjoyed the scenery through the Adelaide Hills and the Grampians. The only downer was the extremely slow passage through the suburbs to Southern Cross.
The service seems worthy of the word "premium". Although it may be faster and possibly less expensive to fly, the train is more relaxing and you get to see some great scenery. The day is coming when fuel costs and pollution concerns will make flying the expensive mode of travel.
A very informative yet interesting video. It seems as if I am onboard the train & taking rail journey as you did. I particularly like the subtitles you made for the public announcements as well which makes the video more vivid. A very good job. Hope to see more reports on different modes of transportation. 👏👏👏
I remember back in 1987 when the Overland was an overnight sleeper train, not a daytime train. Also the Southern Cross station didn't look anything like it is now. I spent the entire month of May 1987 traveling by train in Australia. There was a direct Sydney-Alice Springs called 'The Alice' that was 1/wk sleeper only. I had the deluxe compartment on the outbound trip as I went straight to train from my 20 hr flight from Vancouver. Another train no longer here was the 1/wk 'The Queenslander' sleeper only Brisbane-Cairns. I got a 1 month Rail pass & only had to pay $33/night to upgrade to roomette on most trains except the dlx comp noted above.
Went on this train about 20 years ago and remember it well. It took about 10 hours and it was impossible to sleep because of the noise and vibrations. Would never do an overnight trip again after that. Otherwise it was comfortable and an inexpensive way to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide and back again. Thanks for posting this video it bought back some nice memories.
i think it was more fun when it ran overnight and people could book a sleeper room with their own personal bathroom. If they want to attract people who might normally fly then I think a more luxurious bar area and more privacy for travellers would be worth including. Thank goodness the Victorian government is supporting this very historic lovely route. The journey deserves to be better promoted.
Absolutely amazing video Rory! Very informative and thorough! Really enjoyed watching this. Please keep the train content up as there fantastic to watch! Cheers! 😁👍
I think I've travelled most of the Australian trains you've been on. They're great reviews and remind me of wonderful trips 😊 When I did this one (in the opposite direction) I had to rush to book on it as it was really uncertain if it would be funded any longer. If I were to travel between Melbourne and Adelaide again, it'd definitely be on this train. Such a relaxed way to travel. Premium is definitely worth it, good food makes an enjoyable trip even better! 😁
I don't think driving is so bad. It really depends on the person. I prefer driving holidays, because you can visit places wouldn't otherwise by plane, or even train. Also you can take as much luggage as you please. My wife and I will be driving to Melbourne, from Central West NSW, in a couple of weeks before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania. We'll be taking a 'back way' (and thus avoiding the Hume), and going through Wagga, then Echuca, overnight in Echuca, having a short riverboat tour of the Murray, then drive our way to Melbourne for the evening ferry trip. Thank you for sharing this trip, and, AFAIK, it is the cheapest journey you can have on a Journey Beyond service, especially if you're in Adelaide or Melbourne.
The last time I took this train from Melbourne to Adelaide was in 1988 with a school friend of mine. I remember seeing the endless flat grassy plains and blue skies and thinking how strange it was and not an Australia I knew because I was a boy from the green and wet cane fields of North Queensland and had never seen such flat dryness. That particular journey has stuck in my mind all these decades.
dont drive, its straight straight straight then a roller coaster.
My Dad took the train frequently during the ‘80s when he was studying at Melbourne Uni and went back to see his family in SA.
Back then it was an overnight service and ran more frequently due to having state government funding, now it’s not really worth travelling on unless your in a town in between or you have time to kill due to the availability of flights.
@@andrewburgemeister6684 facts bro, I live in nhill and I barely see the train pass every week
@@scottforbes4933 it’s like two services though in each direction per week right?
It's a beautiful train and goes through some absolutely beautiful places. People fought hard for it to continue running and I am glad it still does.
I am seriously thinking of taking the trip after watching Rory's video. Agree with you about the beautiful country out in the west of Victoria. I went to Nhill many years ago and remember checking out the Little Desert and found the vegetation and wildlife there interesting and unique.
@@davidharraway8131 I live in Horsham and it is just beautiful up here. If you are ever up this way again check out Pink Lake that is just outside of Dimboola.
Why? Honestly. What benefit does it bring to society the way it is?
@@melissakenealy8868 oh hi I live in Nhill
I've lived in AUS for over 43 years but have never travelled the country. I've been OS over 20 times but have never seen our great country once, you have encouraged me. Once we are past this pandemic I'm going to take the train journeys. Thanks Rory!
Mistake in this video:
16:16-16:23 was actually Nhill not Horsham, my apologies.
Which app are you using as a speedometer?
the big difference between your great vlogs and the run of the mill vloggers is you not only show in side the trains you also show a great deal of out side which is what we want to see those of us living out of our home country who will never get to see the country we love but we know we will never return to please keep up the good work we love what you are doing graham
Thank you graham 😊
I grew up on a farm with the Melbourne to Adelaide railway line not more than 120 meters from our house and if we were ever up late enough we would see the Overland Train go One way and if it was a real late night we would see the opposing service also pass. I could only ever wonder at what the inside of these trains were like, now I have an idea, thank you.
I did this journey (Melbourne to Adelaide) in 1980 when it was a sleeper service. Good to see what I missed while I slept.
Rory a wonderful review of the overland. Without the remaining service being promoted, the train could sadly disappear. Brought back many memories.
A great trip and great story Rory. You're pretty good on the tooth on these trips. I'm off to watch another one of your trips now. Thanks, Jamie C.
Great review, you are the best and I throughly enjoyed my trip😁 Your video’s give me so much pleasure as I’m an old housebound grannie 👵🏽 Thank You so much 💓Stay Safe 🙋🏻♀️💞🇦🇺
Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊😊
Whats like this! 😡
And RoryDing Travels i message you something! 🙄
@@RoryDing You something 2
Very good video! You have captured the experience on the Overland really well. Train travel in Australia is very underrated and under-utilised. We have some great journeys and this is one of them. Well done sir!
God the sight that the older Overland with the car and sleeper cabs would have been a sight. Loved that you got shots of the marshalling yard the end. Lots of history there.
Glad I found your channel, really enjoying your videos & commentary, thanks for the upload, keep them coming 👍
Thank you for this video. I grew up in Tailem Bend when the Overland was an exotic beast that flew through our little town. Our house faced the station so it was a familiar sight though I never got to travel it. Great review.
Many years ago I was on The Overland. I had to travel from Mount Gambier to Tailem Bend by goods train in the guards van and wait there for about 3 hours before hopping on The Overland at about 4am. Times have changed.
Definitely a comfortable seat for the journey.
Amazing legroom too !
Such lovely scenery, and it was great that the crew gave information about places the train travelled through.
So sad to see it's services dropped to a minimal number per week from its heyday !
But I can see a market is there still, not only for people wanting a more leisurely and scenic trip, but for those who have problems with flying.
Thankyou Rory.
Yeah! We need more trains like this at affordable prices
For such a distance I guess overnight trains might be more attractive
They used do 5 overnight services up until the 1990s.
But as airfare became cheaper most ppl prefer to fly, it became unprofitable for them so they eventually dropped it. Overnight sleepers are very costly to run, even the new XPT from Sydney to Melbourne won’t have sleepers anymore.
@@RoryDing that's sad
I wish more trains would offer some information about the places where you drive through. Thanks for taking us with you! great video as always :)
Nice video. My late father use to manage the consist of The Overland for many years. When I was a kid in the peak summer season, there used to be two divisions of The Overland. After WWII, my Dad was Station Manager at Bordertown for a while. As a youth, I travelled many times on The Overland in a sleeper berth. Before the existence of Australian National Railways, the preceding South Australian Railways and Victorian Railways jointly ran the train. At Bordertown, they use to change the locomotives motives to reflect the actual state railway.
Great filming and editing, a real quality job. In comparing road vs flying vs train I think the train is probably the most fuel efficient and environmentally best way of travelling. As for prices this trip is very cheap compared to the other offers they have, thanks for pointing that out.
Very nice. Enjoyed it from beginning till end. Greetings from Dhaka, Bangladesh 🇧🇩.
As an Aussie living in Japan, I absolutely love watching your videos ! Thank you
I grabbed the Overland from Melbourne back to Adelaide back in the late 90s or early 2000s, can't remember exactly when. It was far less comfortable and I had a change-over to another train, no idea why or where. I love the idea of train travel compared to driving or flying. Less convenient for business, but far better for your mental health I think. Even easier now that we live in a world with endless portable entertainment. If Australia ever got its act together and put down a decent high speed rail system between major cities, I'd be travelling.
Thanks for the video, I travelled on the Overland over 40 years ago from Adelaide to Melbourne, when it was an overnight trip. Vinyl covers on the seats and the rubber floor coverings didn't make it particularly comfortable, but it did run daily. Looks like it's improved since then, except for the regularity.
I enjoy all your videos, but your train videos are excellent. You provide interesting and valuable information in a very entertaining format. They are not too long, in fact they leave me wanting more. Hopefully you can do do more Australian trains ,as well as trains in other countries, if we are ever allowed to travel the world again! Keep up the good work. Thank you and best wishes! Love your positive approach to travel and life!
Thank you 😊 I’ll try to do more train reviews when I can
A well appointed train, with better travel times than the one passenger train in the North Island of New Zealand.
We used to have multiple services day & night, like Melbourne & Adalaide, now our trains, run the same timetable. Out one day, in the next, 3 times a week.
Well done, in keeping the service running, it should never be lost & the prices kept reasonable.
Oh Rory no THANKYOU the effort shines through, loved every second of the video the meals looked superb. I want to try this so much. Thanks for all you do to show off Australia 👍
Fabulous way to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne or vise verser as I've been on the Overland back 2019 I absolutely loved the trip to Melbourne and return trip to Adelaide.
And another excellent train trip Rory! I really like how you show us what the food service is like on the trains that you travel on and your airline video's to. Most of the other guys make the same video's but never show the food service...
Keep up the great trip reports Rory... :):):)
yesiagree
Appreciate your dedication to filming your trip. It was very insightful and kind of you to do once again.
Thank you 😊
You're a very nice young man Mr. Ding, and I enjoy your videos. :D
Thank you 😊
@@RoryDing You should try going on the G:Link tram at the Gold Coast.
I’ve been there numerous times 😬
@@RoryDing What do you do when you’re not travelling?
Another excellent review thanks Rory! Your landscape and history information is very good, thanks!
Thank you for a lovely, relaxing and enjoyable review. We are so impressed at the amount of effort you put into editing and researching the history of this journey. I travelled on this train some years ago but you have inspired me to take it again next time I visit Adelaide to go to the football. Your eloquent descriptions and detailed videography gave us all sorts of details that we might not have otherwise known. Brilliant job.
Thank you 😊
Another excellent video from you Rory very informative and we can see what Australia is really like.
Thank you 😊
Thanks for sharing this Rory!! The overland is such an amazing train ride. Definitely going for the massaman curry though - that looks amazing!!
Thanks so much for your informative review, particularly the food and power socket intel. We're doing this trip in June and flying back. Really looking forward to it now ☺️
Rory I really like your videos and your informative narrations, and you have not let us down here either. I really enjoyed the video and am glad you enjoyed the food and the service. As an ex rail person who worked on the "real' Overland back in the 70's, I have done this trip but it is not like the original train inside, and that's fair enough, you can't stop progress, but a few things I noticed on the video and when I actually travelled on the train, are actually not as "efficient" as the old Overland back in the day. The main thing I have a gripe about, and this is because the train is privately run ....they issue a type of boarding pass with a seat allocation on the platform and that is fine, but the passengers should be also checked on board by a proper conductor who takes a note as to where the passengers are travelling to on a diagram. Those going to Adelaide are not a problem but "roadside" passengers, (passengers alighting en route), were simply called over the PA system to make themselves known as the train slowed down, or something similar, and if nobody was alighting, and nobody was getting on at a station, the train would not stop. Given the passengers had seat allocations, if a conductor checked "tickets" after leaving Melbourne and noted the station passengers were travelling to, those passengers could be summoned well before their station and be ready to disembark. And if passengers were not in their seats after Melbourne when ticket checking was done, in buffet eating for example, their tickets can still be checked and recorded on the "diagram". I found the way things were handled for the passengers alighting at intermediate stations a bit sloppy, and prone to confusing first time travellers. The other thing that really got up my nose was the time taken to travel from Melbourne to Werribee. Over 55 mins to travel 31 kms non stop is terrible in the 21st century on any modern railway.. The fact it travels through suburbs does not mean it has to travel at snails pace, unless train control deliberately puts it behind a normal suburban train, but even then the speed would be quicker. Now I know the Overland travels a different route via North Geelong and Cressy now, unlike back in the day when it travelled via Ballarat to Ararat, Stawell, Murtoa, Horsham, Dimboola, Nhill, Kaniva, Serviceton, Murray Bridge etc on to Adelaide. And of course, back in the day the Overland ran in both directions every night, (1 train in each direction, crossing at a place called Diapur around 2 am, where the Adelaide train waited in a siding, whilst the Melbourne train passed it at 70mph in the old scale.on the main line. The Overland of old was never a short train, even at "quiet times". Fares were affordable, unlike todays privately run train, and the nightly consist in both directions was at least 10 carriages, both sitting and sleepers, a power van, and luggage/guards van at the rear. The car carriers came along some time later. The exterior of the train also looked much better than the blue of today, being maroon and stainless steel. My whinge is complete. haha. I have been told there is a push to have the government take over the full running of the Overland again, and if they withdraw subsidies in the future all I can say is "watch this space". It may even go to an overnight train again, on alternate days. But the patronage would need to be there for anything to be feasable. Long distance train travel is slowly making a comeback too, for various reasons. People are warming to it, if they have the time to take the longer journey and prefer not to fly. The South Australian government has shown some interest also in getting behind an overnight train again.. The sleeping cars no longer used are still about and in good running order.
Wow thank you so much for your informative comment on the old Overland! It would be great if they could bring back the sleeper at affordable prices, I’m sure many people would be interested! The XPT sleeper, spirit of Queensland Railbed, spirit of the outback first class sleeper as well as the Ghan and Indian pacific being fully booked have shown that there are demands for overnight trains!
@@RoryDing Exactly. And remember that in Queensland, with all its faults, (and there are many, haha), the passenger trains are still government owned, as is the case in NSW. I am not anti privatisation, as it works quite well in the UK, however Australian train long distance train fares went right through the roof after privatisation of most passenger services. To be fair, the fares on the Overland are sort of reasonable, but then the government is subsidising it, but I still feel they are trying to run it like an airline. If you look at who owns Journey Beyond now, it is not hard to see that the almighty dollar controls it. The Ghan and Indian Pacific these days is more of a tourist adventure, for people who have the time, rather than getting people from A to B in sleepers as was the case when they originally ran, and that's fine, because today, anyone who wants to travel from Adelaide to Darwin or Perth to Sydney or Brisbane would fly. (And a lot cheaper as well).
Do you like football or any sports?
@@RoryDing it's a shame that they have removed economy class sleepers on all trains. I was looking for one for a trip to Longreach on the spirit of the outback but it appears they only have single and twinettes. There is 3 of us!
@@robertgoh7420 yes I do
Love the video, looks like the Overland has had a makeover since we traveled on it a few years ago, (When we traveled on it, it looked like a refugee from the 70's) And much better service than I remember as well
Yeah it has been refurbished
But the track is still very bumpy 😅
It now looks like a refugee from the 1990’s. Congrats!
Probably the last loco hauled interstate daylight passenger train in the Commonwealth. Keep it going !
An excellent video. Very well shot, narrated and edited. Thank you very much! I look forward to watching more of your work.
Thank you😊
Great video!
I worked and lived in Melbourne from 1999 to 2004. I took the Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide twice and from Adelaide to Melbourne once. One of the trips was overnight when the train had a full length dining car and sleepers. The other two trips, if I remember correctly, were during the day.
While living in Melbourne I developed a keen interest in cricket. One of my trips to Adelaide was to visit the Donald Bradman museum, which if I remember correctly is located at the Adelaide Oval. One of the most beautiful ovals in Australia. Unusual for an American!
Another great review. Thank you. I used to travel on this train years ago when it went overnight between the two cities. I'm looking forward to doing it in daylight! I understand the Victorian government has extended the subsidy to 2023 so, hopefully, the service will survive until then at least.
Yeah! I’m so glad it’s extended to 2023 now!
In times of lockdown these trips you have taken are very enjoyable.
I love watching your videos especially during lockdown cant wait until we can travel again this train looks lovely
Awesome trip review! - thank you. I've always wanted to travel this journey but haven't managed to yet. Seeing your trip encourages me to look at it once covid is sorted! subscribed!
Thank you! 😊
Excellent trip report. I'm a regular Simply railway & Dylan's subscriber and now I've found you too. Nice job, look forward to more.
Thank you so much for subscribing 😊😊
Very thorough review..the food looks very delicious 😋
Lovely presentation Rory. As an American, I’d take your trains just so I could see your beautiful country up close. The only thing that would probably get on my nerves after awhile would be the constant squeaking of the carriage. 🙄. Another trip I would definitely do is the Indian Pacific in platinum class.😉
Very happy with the whole experience, plus the three nights in Melbourne!! Shirley B
Its been ages since I was on that train. Thanks for bringing back memories RoryDing.
Really liked the video mate and was definitely looking forward to it, I haven't travelled on the Overland in recent times but did go on it in 2001 when Great southern railway was running the service, my family and I were on our way to Alice Springs so we took The Ghan from Adelaide to there. On both trains, we were in Red Kangaroo class sit up cars, but it looks like the Red Premium class they have now is much more comfortable. Enjoyed the content very much and look forward to your next video.
Another Enjoyable review enjoyed looking at the stations and scenery thanks Rory I hope to take this journey one day
Another great video which captures what for me is the old fashioned benefits of a very relaxing train trip. Thanks. 9/10.
(23.6.21)
It looks like a lovely, relaxing way to travel. I love train trips
🚂I love them too🚅
Keep up the good work! The quality keeps on improving!
Thank you 😊
Thank you very much for such an enjoyable, informative and superbly edited video 👌
Great video. We went on this train both ways in September 2013. Very enjoyable journey. I noticed that you ended up at Adelaide Parklands Terminal Station. When we went there in 2013, the Overland terminated at Keswick Station, which connected with a bus service that headed into Adelaide Central.
Now thats what i call a nice train Rory. i must take a ride on her I travelled on the old overland quite a bit and that was great too. hope you enjoyed your trip cheers buddy.
Yes I did enjoy it, thank you 😊
Roy this is an excellent video. Great to display how Australia is so multicultural now, curries especially.
19:47 I love details like this in a review.
Thanks for sharing your experience !
Awesome video!
My pop used to live in Murray Bridge. When we would fly over in summer, he would take us down to the Murray River where you crossed and took us for a swim and we’d go and see the bunyip. Thank you for reminding me of my awesome memories with my pop ❤
This video was great! Thoroughly researched and most informative. Thank you!
Great video Rory, as always! Can't get to Australia at the moment due to Covid however its lovely seeing your videos seeing Australia and things me and my husband (he is Australian) be able to do when we can get back over. Thanks for a lovely report x
A great and inspiring Journey even from my arm chair at the kitchen table here in Michigan. Thanks for posting.
The drive ( or train) from Melbourne to Adelaide is honestly the prettiest journey between two capital cities in Australia. If you haven't been, I hope you get to do it one day.
Watched your video from start to finish, very excellent Review of the overland. I’ll have to do this trip in the near future :)
I am planning for this train trip now and this video is so well done and so useful. Thank you.
Thank you ☺️
Rory - I love your videos. You really do a great job. I’m determined to do some of these trips now, thanks to you. Well done.
I just found your channel and just wanted to say your content is real quality content I love the time and effort you put into making these videos I believe you should have a lot more subscribers for the content you make it really is quality you've earnt a sub
Thank you so much 😊
@@RoryDing i subscribed today 7 Nov 2021! ☺️
The meal options seem really decent, nice that it's included in the price of your fare as well!
I think the red premium used to cost $269 (now $169), so with the meals, the price is really good
@@RoryDing Definitely seems like a reasonable price!
An amazing review yet again. Please never stop doing these reviews
Thank you
I’ll do my best as long as I have your support 😀
Great review Rory, I have been thinking about doing this train journey for a few years, I will have to make plans to do it now 😊
Great choice 😀😂
Simply Railwayz, Dylan's Travels and Rory Ding!, the experts!
Thank you 🙈🙈
Hi Rory, I just subscribed. Your content is well researched, informative, atmospheric and very professionally put together - I like your clear explanations and crisp presentation style. Please keep up the good work and don't let the critics bring you down.
Thank you!! ☺️☺️
As nice as this is, I’m baffled as to why they don’t turn this into a really flash direct sleeper train from Melbourne to Adelaide. At a journey time of ten hours I think that would be really popular.
Flying is just so common in Australia... Adelaide to melbourne is < 90 minutes and really solid. Train travel became seen as a luxury to-do... you took the train to enjoy the journey, not get from point A to point B. Hence why most of the interstate train services are dying.
Edit - the viability of interstate train travel is dependent on investing in high-speed rail. I live in Canberra and have to travel to Melbourne regularly for work. A high speed rail connection between Sydney and Melbourne via Canberra would be incredible for me and those I work with.
I caught the Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide back in 2001. Back then they ran sleeper cars at night. It was one of the best nights sleep I have ever had.
Hey Rory. Great to see another review.
Sorry to have missed seeing you while you were in Melbourne. 😀
Cheers
Alan
Ayyyyy!!!
The video is finally here, great work with the editing and this was worth the wait :D
Definitely helps me keep in mind for what's to offer and how the journey will go when I eventually catch this between both cities!
This seems like the thing to do since our international borders are closed. Thank you.
I love how many comments from old folk there are on this video
Amazing train review! Now I am excited to ride a train like this one day 😃
Yes you should 😀
Good job Rory. I've done this trip twice, in the same class but in the other direction. Very relaxing, though it appears the food service is a little bit better nowadays. I enjoyed the scenery through the Adelaide Hills and the Grampians. The only downer was the extremely slow passage through the suburbs to Southern Cross.
I agree they could’ve done this trip in under 10hrs if the train could travel faster in Melbourne
The service seems worthy of the word "premium". Although it may be faster and possibly less expensive to fly, the train is more relaxing and you get to see some great scenery. The day is coming when fuel costs and pollution concerns will make flying the expensive mode of travel.
It's not faster, ill tell you that.
A very informative yet interesting video. It seems as if I am onboard the train & taking rail journey as you did. I particularly like the subtitles you made for the public announcements as well which makes the video more vivid. A very good job. Hope to see more reports on different modes of transportation. 👏👏👏
Thank you 😊
I remember back in 1987 when the Overland was an overnight sleeper train, not a daytime train. Also the Southern Cross station didn't look anything like it is now. I spent the entire month of May 1987 traveling by train in Australia. There was a direct Sydney-Alice Springs called 'The Alice' that was 1/wk sleeper only. I had the deluxe compartment on the outbound trip as I went straight to train from my 20 hr flight from Vancouver. Another train no longer here was the 1/wk 'The Queenslander' sleeper only Brisbane-Cairns. I got a 1 month Rail pass & only had to pay $33/night to upgrade to roomette on most trains except the dlx comp noted above.
The Queenslander no longer exists but there’s still a train service called spirit of Queensland that runs between cairns and Brisbane 😊
Went on this train about 20 years ago and remember it well. It took about 10 hours and it was impossible to sleep because of the noise and vibrations. Would never do an overnight trip again after that. Otherwise it was comfortable and an inexpensive way to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide and back again. Thanks for posting this video it bought back some nice memories.
I went on this train in 2014 it was so good!
Great job! Really enjoyed this.
yesiagreegratejub
Another great video.
Thank you.
I did this about 6 years ago with my mum was a good experience and nice views.
My cat is named Simba also!
Awesome, great commentary Rory 😁. Enjoying your videos while in lockdown and working from home.
i think it was more fun when it ran overnight and people could book a sleeper room with their own personal bathroom. If they want to attract people who might normally fly then I think a more luxurious bar area and more privacy for travellers would be worth including. Thank goodness the Victorian government is supporting this very historic lovely route. The journey deserves to be better promoted.
Absolutely amazing video Rory! Very informative and thorough! Really enjoyed watching this. Please keep the train content up as there fantastic to watch! Cheers! 😁👍
hyroiewiartheroleingsotkwiarthenewonesdontehavsleeepers
Fantastic review,,very informative and very much appreciated.
Thanks 😊
I think I've travelled most of the Australian trains you've been on. They're great reviews and remind me of wonderful trips 😊
When I did this one (in the opposite direction) I had to rush to book on it as it was really uncertain if it would be funded any longer. If I were to travel between Melbourne and Adelaide again, it'd definitely be on this train. Such a relaxed way to travel. Premium is definitely worth it, good food makes an enjoyable trip even better! 😁
It is
I don’t mind doing it again!
An excellent video, professionally done, very informative, comprehensive and interesting !!
Thanks for sharing your journey.
Terrific video! Aside from the constant squeaking between carriages, and no built-in foot rest and usb, it looks good. Thanks 🙂
You did a great job 👏👏👏 Thank you!!
Great video. I always enjoy watching your videos. The Queensland trains seem so much better than the ones in Melbourne.
Yeah the soq is really modern but it’s a bit slow
Superb video as always Rory. Thank you.
Thanks for the interesting and informative review. We look forward to doing a train journey soon :-)
I don't think driving is so bad. It really depends on the person. I prefer driving holidays, because you can visit places wouldn't otherwise by plane, or even train. Also you can take as much luggage as you please. My wife and I will be driving to Melbourne, from Central West NSW, in a couple of weeks before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania. We'll be taking a 'back way' (and thus avoiding the Hume), and going through Wagga, then Echuca, overnight in Echuca, having a short riverboat tour of the Murray, then drive our way to Melbourne for the evening ferry trip. Thank you for sharing this trip, and, AFAIK, it is the cheapest journey you can have on a Journey Beyond service, especially if you're in Adelaide or Melbourne.
That sounds like a very exciting road trip, enjoy! 😊