The Inter-Capital Daylight (Retired)The Inter-Capital Daylight (Retired) The Inter-Capital Daylight was a passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne from March 1956 until August 1991. Inter-Capital Daylight History Until April 1962 the line between Sydney and Albury was of a different gauges to that between Albury and Melbourne, requiring passengers to change trains. On 26 March 1956 the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways introduced connecting daytime services named the Sydney–Melbourne (Melbourne–Sydney) Daylight Express. From Sydney a three times per week service was introduced, returning from Albury the following day. From Melbourne a three times per week non-stop service operated in the morning, returning in the evening. From 24 September 1956 both were extended to operate daily Monday to Saturday. Total journey time between the capitals was 13 hours 20 minutes. The New South Wales train consisted of a 42 class locomotive hauling a nine carriage air-conditioned RUB set. The Victorian portion had a B class locomotive hauling eight air-conditioned S and Z carriages including the round-ended car ex Spirit of Progress, formerly known as Parlor car and renamed to Lounge car but later Club car, attached to the rear. Following the completion of the standard gauge to Melbourne, the New South Wales train was extended to Melbourne from 16 April 1962. Named Inter-Capital Daylight, the train was formed of a nine carriage New South Wales Government Railways RUB set later extended to eleven carriages. The trains were initially hauled by New South Wales 44 class and the Victorian S class locomotives. During the 1970s the 422 class became the rostered power in New South Wales while the X class shared the Victorian duties with the S class. A typical consist in the late 1980s would be Locomotive-HFZ-VFK-VFK-ABS, or Locomotive-RS-BDS-SDS-SDS, with either a PHN or PHS power van attached. From 1982 through working was introduced with the 422 class rostered to operate the services throughout. Class 442s occasionally operated the service in the mid 1980s during the time they were permitted to operate in Victoria. Other mainline locomotives were regularly used. Following a ban being placed by the Victorian branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen on non-air-conditioned locomotives in Victoria, from February 1990 the service was rostered for 81 class and G class locomotives. The superior power of these locomotives was negated by them being limited to 100 km/h (vs 115 km/h) in Victoria due to the condition of the track. By this stage the journey time was 12 hours 30 minutes. The train length varied from 7 to 13 carriages, with V/Line Z type carriages also appearing from February 1990. A motorail facility was introduced in October 1987 but due to low loadings withdrawn in 1990 on the train. Since mid-1990 the State Rail Authority and V/Line had been discussing the replacement of the stock with an XPT from 1993. However, with deregulation of the Australian airline industry, patronage dropped to around 30%. A decision was made to cancel the service with the last service operating on 31 August 1991. Appropriately the last services were hauled in New South Wales by 44 class 4458/27 on the Melbourne bound service and 4465/69 on the Sydney bound service, while X class X37 handled the Victorian duties. In December 1994 a daylight service between Sydney and Melbourne was reintroduced with New South Wales XPT trains, by extending the Riverina XPT from Albury. Inter-Capital Daylight Overview Service Type: Passenger train Status: Ceased First Service: 26 March 1956 Last Service: 31 August 1991 Former Operator(s): State Rail Authority V/Line Route Start: Sydney Route End: Melbourne Distance Travelled: 956 kilometres Service Frequency: daily in each direction Train Number(s): SL65/SL66 Line Used: Main South, NSW North East, Victoria Rolling Stock: RUB sets Quick Guide to Australia Country Guides & Australia Tourism Attractions Country Guides - Days Out - Tourism Attractions - Theme Parks - Family Days Out - Tourism Guides Quick Guide to Australia Places to Visit & Australia Cultural Tourism Theatres - Museums - Art Galleries - Cathederals - Synagogues - Mosques - Temples Festivals - Concerts - Gigs - Sport Stadiums - Sport Events - Airports Zoological Gardens - Aquariums - Racing Tracks - Racing Circuits - Athletics Tracks Quick Guide to Australia Rail Guides & Australia Rail Tourism Rail Tickets - Railway Maps - Railway Tourism Advice - Rail Passes - Rail Tours - Eurostar Eurail - Interrail - Train Stations - Metro Stations - Underground Stations Railway Modelling - Railway News Train Tickets - Rail Tours - Luxury Rail Tours - Europe Rail Pass - Steam Trains - Rail Journeys HS2 - Mountain Trains - Heritage Trains - Cog Trains - High Speed Rail - Escorted Rail Tours Cable Cars - Funicular - Gondola Lifts - Tramways - Ski Lifts - Ski Pass Railway Companies of the World - Heritage Railways - Steam Trains - Luxury Rail Journeys Airport Shuttles - Night Trains - Sleeper Rail Cars - High Speed Trains - TGV - Eurostar Cog Railways - Swiss Mountain Railways - Train Journeys - Express Trains Quick Guide to World Train Companies Amtrak - Orient Express - Rovos Rail - Rocky Mountaineer - Glacier Express Jungfrau Express - Gotthard Panorama Express - Jungfrau Travel Pass- Express Trains Eurostar - British Pullman - Bernina Express - Shongololo Express - Blue Train - Danube Express Trans Siberian Express - GoldenPass Panoramic - Golden Eagle Train - Andean Explorer Swiss Travel Pass - Jacobite - El Transcantabrico - Tren Al Andus - Hiram Bingham Australia Business Centre - Australia Exhibitions Business Centre - Trade Exhibitions - Trade Shows - Trade Fairs - Trade Events Trade Exhibition Staff - Trade Exhibition Stands - Trade Show Help Australia Business Centre - Australia Procurements Business Incorporation - Procurements - Business Leads - Foreign Exchange Business Insurance - Shares - Commodities - Futures - Property Sales - Money Transfer Asset Finance - Asset Leasing - Crowd Funding - Currency Transfer Australia Business Centre - Australia Freight Rail Freight - Rail Cargo - Multimodal Freight - Road Freight - Air Freight - Sea Freight Freight - Cargo - Containers - Pallet Delivery - Letter Delivery - Parcel Delivery Australia Business Centre - Australia Finance Business Finance - Business Insurance - Business Cards - Apprentices - Need Staff - Jobs Vehicle Finance - Car Insurance - Car Leasing - Commercial Property - Foreign Exchange Utility Swop - Utility Gas - Utility Electricity - Utility Oil - Utility Solar Power Rail Finance - Business Leasing - Crowd Funding - Currency Transfer Insurance - Utilities - Savings - Credit Cards - Car Insurances - Car Finance - Pensions Quick Guide to World Travel & Australia Tourism Hotels - Hostels - Flights - Car Rental - Flight + Hotel - River Cruises - Cruises B&B - Holiday Homes - Apartment Rentals - Chalet Rental Summer Holidays - Holiday Deals - Beach Holidays - Short Trips - Package Holidays Summer Vacations - Vacation Deals - Beach Vacations - Weekend Breaks - Package Vacations Winter Holidays - Winter Holiday Deals - Ski Holidays - Ski Lift Passes - Short Breaks Winter Vacations - Winter Vacation Deals - Ski Vacations - Ski Pass - Weekend Trips | |||||
|