Rupert Dalley, Metcalfe
Chris Hooper might be interested to know that I have a letter to hand from the Minister of Transport Jacinta Allan dated November 27, 2017, stating that the V/Line train wash plant was being updated. I do not know how long it takes to update a train wash plant but it seems that this excuse for dirty trains is rolled out perennially.
Victorian country trains are a distinct contrast to trains featured in all the railway documentaries such as Michael Portillo’s Great Continental Railway Journeys or programs such as Railway Journeys UK. European and British trains are all absolutely sparkling. This might be said to be an aberration, set up for the film, but in my experience, having travelled extensively throughout Europe by train, I would say that it is the normality.
Chris Hooper freely admits in her opinion letter (‘Not a disgrace’, July 10) that the trains “have unreliable heating and cooling”, that the “bumpiness of the trip does not disturb her” and that “these trains are a bit slower”.
There are plenty of opportunities to travel on trains of this ilk on the Castlemaine and Daylesford vintage railways. The travelling public in 2018 expect clean, modern, fast and frequent trains, not dirty, slow, bumpy ‘classic’ trains built 50 years ago.
