That is very interesting, infoman.

Is it really unacceptable to 'consume food and drink on board' a train in Australia? 

What is your source for such a poll?

Could this technology, or a version of it, be used in Britain?

If all goes as planned, it will be the 10th year that the Kingsbridge and District Light Railway, known locally as ‘the little train on the embankment’, has run a service.

During that time, the solar-powered railway has transported children to the park and adults halfway to the Crabshell.

The train was originally steam-powered, but thanks to solar panels installed on the roof of the train shed, the service is now eco-friendly.

Thanks for this.  A few years ago, I did the day train from Sydney to Melbourne.  10 hrs 50 mins.  Obviously a long time on a train but I had a window seat and enjoyed it.  Not expensive - $72 as I remember.   Was tickled that the buffet offered a "Devonshire tea" around 11 00.  It was indeed a cream tea with hot scones.  Hope to do it again one day. 

Here's the timetable  https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/93-621-Southern-NSW-20190907.pdf

/ Pedant on

I've read this a few times, and still think you're 10,000 miles out 

Pedant off  /

Might be worth noting that Melbourne to Sydney is almost exactly the same distance (as the crow flies) as Paris to Melbourne

SNIP

A couple of other options needed? 'Yes, but when it only went as far as Alice'... and 'Yes, but the original route via Oodnadatta'.

(Full disclosure, I've never been on the Ghan, but was once very nearly bitten by an unstable dachsund that was prowling round some disused sidings at Tarcoola Junction. I picked up a discarded track fastening spike in case I needed to seriously defend myself, and later carried said spike back on the aircraft, something that these days would probably cause the baggage scanning people to ask questions...)

Construction of Alice Springs–Darwin line was believed to be the second-largest civil engineering project in Australia, and the largest since the creation of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Line construction began in July 2001, with the first passenger train reaching Darwin on 3 February 2004, after 126 years of planning and waiting and at a cost of $1.3 billion.

Most voyages were between the UK and the USA, but included one direct voyage to Australia.

The crew were observed to be praying for deliverance.

Bnm try container ships.

One way would be.

Ship  UK to USA East Coast:  train to West Coast: ship Japan/China: ship Australia Darwin the start of the Ghan.

You may even get one direct to Australia from UK.

The luxury Ghan train has been turned around after crossing into the Northern Territory from new coronavirus hot spot South Australia.

A total of 221 passengers have had their travel plans thrust into chaos following the new border closures sparked by the COVID-19 cluster in Parafield in Adelaide's north.

The Ghan, an iconic train for adventurers, was already in the Northern Territory when the state's borders were closed to South Australia.

Preliminary report from the ATSB

At about 1943, XPT ST23 was approaching the northern end of Wallan Loop at about the track’s line speed. Recordings from the train indicate an Emergency brake application a short distance before the points. This slowed the train a small amount before it entered the turnout travelling at a speed in excess of 100 km/h. The train was not able to negotiate the turnout to the loop track at this speed and derailed. All vehicles derailed excepting the rear power car.

Looks more certain that the derailment was caused by the train being overspeed passing through a turnout from the main running line to a loop line.

Leon, who did not want his surname used, also said the the train was stopped minutes before the crash, with staff saying a signalling issue was causing delays.

After the accident Leon, who has experience in rail transport, said he walked back to where he thought the train had derailed.

He said the tracks, which police said were badly damaged following the crash, were set to divert the train onto an adjacent parallel side track. Leon said signals should have alerted the driver to slow down to be able to move into the side track, but he did not notice the train slowing prior to the derailment.

"If the driver knew that, and the signalling told him that, there's no way he would have been travelling at the speed he was travelling at," Leon said.

"You have to slow down at that point ... And this train didn't."

Passengers said they felt a sharp bump before the train derailed.

The Border Mail reported on Thursday that north-east train travellers were being asked to allow an extra 60 minutes for trips after a signal hut at Wallan was destroyed by fire earlier this month.

Several passengers said the train was gaining speed at the time of the accident after being stopped due to a signalling issue.

Oh yes... handsome brute it is too!

http://douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/sail/sail.htm

I recall doing one as an "O" gauge project about 40 years ago - problem was it was too light and blew over ... looked rather like the Spooner example on that page linked above.

So, sail powered trains then?

So, sail powered trains then?

Maybe solar wouldn't work in the Valleys, but I'm told it can be quite windy atop the surrounding hills...

I'm guessing that as Byron Bay is a similar latitude to the Canaries that both the strength of the sun and amount of it is slightly more than we might get in the UK.  I certainly wouldn't suggest to TfW that they rely on it for the Valley Lines electrification.

Well, there is one at the Royal Deeside Railway...

Actually I was being rather vague when I asked whether similar tech could be used here! What I meant was that I was wondering if any first-generation (sic) DMUs, as used on some heritage lines, would be particularly suited to conversion to battery-electric. Doubtless the carbon emissions of steam engines don't make that much difference in the round, but it can only be a matter of time before people start to point fingers and ask questions...

Yes, similar technology could be used in the UK.
I am a little doubtful about fitting solar panels to an existing train as cost, weight, and complication is thereby added and the output limited by shading and often not facing the sun.

A battery train charged from the mains might be better. Offseting the electricity used for charging by a large grid tied solar array on the roofs of depots or stations is better still.
A wind turbine is a worthwhile addition in a suitably windy location.
Ideally enough renewable electricity should be produced to offset ALL the electricity used by the transport undertaking, not just that used for traction, but also the electricity used for stations, depots, signalling and other purposes.

Similar arguments apply to ferries or other ships that make frequent short voyages.

Could this technology, or a version of it, be used in Britain?

Following six years of planning, restoration of a 1949 heritage train and 3km of railway
line, the construction of two platforms and a train shed and the upcycling to produce the
world’s first solar train, the two carriage rail motor has today arrived in Byron Bay.

The monumental project comes from not-for-profit heritage rail organisation Byron Bay
Railroad Company. Their Byron Bay train will take locals and visitors between Byron
township and the burgeoning North Beach precinct incorporating the Byron Arts Estate,
the Sunrise residential community and Elements of Byron resort. The 3km journey along
the coastal track will cost just $3 for adults with some concessions provided for children.



This is another big milestone for the project and we’re just glad to see our beautiful train in its new Byron home. Even more so, we’re really looking forward to running first
passenger services and sharing this experience with residents and visitors soon.

The train, which has been fully refurbished in its heritage colours, seats 100 passengers
with additional room for standing passengers and luggage including prams and bicycles.
While there are some trains throughout the world with technology that allows them to
run parts of the train like lights and air conditioning on solar power, this is the first real train to run fully on power from the sun.

“This is an exciting world first, powering a train with solar power, day, night and in every type of weather” said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council. “It shows Australia’s fantastic sunshine can be harnessed in smart ways not just to power
our homes and businesses, but to address another pressing problem – cutting emissions
in the transportation sector.”

Byron Bay Railroad Company is hopeful that passenger services will commence pre
Christmas. In the meantime they will begin training the nineteen new local staff,
undertaking test runs and commissioning the new solar equipment.

“Solar doesn’t stand still” said Dan Cass, Strategist at The Australia Institute. “It has been growing exponentially for a decade and more solar PV generation capacity is being
installed than any other technology internationally. This train demonstrates that
Australian solar scientists and their innovations are changing the world”.

For more information visit www.byronbaytrain.com.au

Also highly recommended. Did Alice Springs - Darwin in Gold Class in 2013. Very memorable.
The trains coaches used up most letters of the alphabet but my main problem was that they were not in alphabetical order!

I am not a huge fan of overseas travel, but that *is* one train I would like to experience.