The Overland

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The Overland
Adelaide Keswick Rail Terminal Murray Bridge Bordertown South Australia / Victoria border Nhill (began stopping in 2007) Dimboola Horsham Ararat North Shore Melbourne Southern Cross Station

This article is about the Australian passenger train. For the US Army vehicle see Overland train

The Overland is a passenger train between Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia. The train started in 1887 as the "Adelaide Express" and was given its current name in 1926. Now operated by private company Great Southern Railway, the train completes three return trips a week, travelling mostly during daylight. The train operates between the Melbourne terminal of Southern Cross Station, and Keswick Rail Terminal in Adelaide, and covers 828 kilometres between capitals.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Today 2.1 Red Service 2.2 Red Premium Service 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

The Overland originated as the Intercolonial Express when the Victorian Railways Western Line was extended to the South Australian Railways line at Serviceton on the state border. As both railways were built to the same 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge, a through service commenced on January 19, 1887, using jointly owned rolling stock. The train was later called the Adelaide Express.^[2]

The train ran overnight between the capitals, and was provided with sleeping car facilities from 1910.^[3] New wooden bodied rolling stock was also provided between 1906 and 1923, and in 1936 The Overland name was applied to the train, and the original deep red livery was replaced by green and yellow with black horizontal lining.^[4]

In 1941 Victorian steam locomotive H 220 was introduced to service, intended to haul The Overland but never entered regular service due to weight restrictions on the line.^[5]

From 1949 The Overland moved into the modern era, with new air conditioned Corten steel carriages entering service on the train. Finished in maroon, with a fluted stainless steel panel on each side of the cars, and black roof,^[6] this livery remained until the 1990s. Diesel locomotives took over haulage of the train in the 1950s, initially with the South Australian 900 class^[7] and Victorian B class^[8] but later with 930 class, X class and S classes.^[9]

In 1971 four of the 1949 era sleeper cars were sold to the Victorian Railways, and replaced with newly built carriages.^[10] In 1976 Australian National took over the South Australian Railways, and became joint operator of the train with the Victorian Railways.^[11]

In 1994 the Victorian Public Transport Corporation ended any links with the operation of interstate services, and The Overland was solely operated by Australian National.^[12] It was also at this time that the Melbourne to Adelaide line that the train ran on was converted to standard gauge, with the carriages following and a new route via Maroona and Geelong introduced.^[12] In 1997 Australian National was split up, and the train and rolling stock passed to Great Southern Railway.^[12] In 1999 the maroon and silver livery was removed and the train was repainted in a new grey and silver scheme, and a new kookaburra logo graphic.^[11] A second change was made in 2007, when a number of the carriages received an internal refurbishment, and a new blue, purple and green livery was applied to the exterior.^[13] A new emu logo was also unveiled.^[1]

[edit] Today

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Following an extensive refurbishment, The Overland was re-launched on Monday, 7th May, 2007, with new accommodations: "Red Premium Service" (1- and 2-seating in airline-style seats) and "Red Service" (2- and 2-seating). A licensed cafe car caters for all passengers in Red and Red Premium services.

Melbourne's Southern Cross Station is part of the local train network, so it is possible to transfer from commuter trains and V/Line intercity trains to The Overland. At Adelaide, it uses the Keswick Rail Terminal, which is walking distance from Keswick station on the suburban network.

[edit] Red Service

Red service offers you,

• Comfortable reclining seats offering greater personal space, 2 and 2 across aisle, 60 per carriage.
• Blankets/pillows available for hire.
• Access to licenced Café carriage.
• Meals for purchase from the licenced Café carriage.
• Snacks for purchase from trolly service or the licenced Café carriage.
• Free Platform magazine. Newspapers and magazines on sale.
• Portable DVD player and movies for hire.
• Coffee service for purchase.
• Restricted on-board luggage,large items to be stowed in Power/Luggage van.

[edit] Red Premium Service

In addition to these services, Red Premium offers

• Greater personal space, 2 and 1 across aisle, 36 per carriage.
• Blankets/pillows available on request.
• Snacks for purchase from trolley service or licenced Café carriage.
• Free orange juice/water offered on boarding.
• Priority luggage handling service.

[edit] See also

• Indian Pacific
• The Ghan

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Great Southern Railways

v • d • e Interstate rail in Australia Sydney-Adelaide-Perth • Adelaide-Darwin • Sydney-Melbourne • Melbourne-Adelaide • Sydney-Brisbane Indian Pacific • The Ghan • The Overland Great Southern Railway • CountryLink • Pacific National • QRNational • Australian Railroad Group • Specialised Container Transport • FreightLink • Australian Rail Track Corporation