CountryLink Open Days Open Day

[Irisbus Rider]

Here are a few pics from todays CountryLink Open Day. Was a great day, with approx 6,000 people passing through the doors of the new Canberra (and supposedly refurbished) Travel Centre and free train rides to and from Queanbeyan leaving every 45 mins.
Most of these pics are of the train, rather than the happenings at the Station;

XPLoader 2503 bound for Canberra.




XPLoader 2503 heading for Queanbeyan.




XPLoader 2503 again. Was I back far enough from the rail line? Stupid gunzel nazis.....


Back at the Station;

Done for the day, next stop, Joppa Junction.




The refurbished part of the Canberra Travel Centre?

Thanks for looking, was a great day out, hope you enjoyed the pics!

[Sir Pompously]

Very nice pictures John! See, no XPT! Haha, I was going to go however I sort of slept in.......

With regards to the travel centre, last time I went through there a few weeks ago it was still the same and there was no indication of refurbishment in progress. 6000 people is quite alot. The cover signs which replaced the old Mountains to Sea logo on the station signs lookc tacky the way they are, they really need to update them to the standard CityRail style blue and white, maybe with a CountryLink logo. Very well done, and nice Three Car Xplorer all refurbished. The old livery is soon to be a thing of the past......

Regarding Gunzel Nazi's, there are rules in place that should be followed. They can be stupid, and not that easy to follow, but rules are rules. However, rules are 3m from the Track or if there is a visible fenceline or structure you must not proceed past that point. Doing so can result in drivers calling the police (As ARTC Territory, as well as Railcorp Territory that is not a station, overpass or similar safe crossing structure is no go zone and you can be caught for Trespassing), and drivers not trusting the railfan community ruining it for everyone else. We had some Gunzel at Bungendore who kept on crossing the line, and standing within the fenceline surrounding the station and yard. He was told off by ARHS Staff and we made some comments about him, as at one point he passed infront of the steam train (As it was moving) and was wandering around the yard at the time when the Xplorer was due through. That is bad gunzel behaviour, and a message to the kiddies that that course of action should never be followed near a rail line.

[Bus 400]

I was there as they were shutting up for the day. They sold something like 50-80 of the special Sydney & Melbourne Fares today. For a change there were 2 Countrylink trains at Canberra at once (the other was in the lock up.

[Sir Pompously]

For a change there were 2 Countrylink trains at Canberra at once (the other was in the lock up.

Ummmm, that can be quite normal on some days of the week as one train is moved into the Siding while the other does a Sydney Return service.