Q U I E T !!!!!!!

yes, that's right ....

Q U I E T !!

One of the 'quiet carriages'. Photo: Jason South

V/Line have "quiet carriages"

That means switch mobile devices to silent, turn down electronic devices, and speak quietly. Those annoying ringtones, loud conversations and bleeping video games will be banned from seven country train carriages.

“This is about creating some space that encourages fellow passengers to further respect each other’s journey.”

If you want to have a chat, you can use the rest of the train. But one car will be clearly labelled with signs, both inside and outside, requesting a quiet environment.

Queensland Rail trains have successfully had "quiet carriages' for over two years and hopefully it will be successful here in Victoria too. 

Not everyone is happy with the idea of "quiet carriages", but they still have 4 other carriages to choose from to chatter, use their cell phones, play electronic games etc.... a "quiet carriage" is for those that prefer to read quietly or just relax and enjoy the journey!

V/Line allowed six months to judge whether its customers wanted to embrace the quiet carriages, and they did.

So all lines have a "quiet carriage" now.

VLine says they are simply asking for community co-operation from people who travel on V/Line to co-operate while in the quiet carriage.

Please check the carriage you are in when boarding a VLine train and have respect for your fellow passengers if the carriage you are in is labeled QUIET!
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The RiverBoat Lodge at Echuca!

Recently we traveled by train to Echuca, just for a few days ... Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe river in Victoria, Australia.

We decided at the last moment to leave on the Wednesday. I quickly looked on-line for accommodation, discarding any that did not have a website! We needed to locate any accommodation within walking distance to the town as we were traveling up by train and wanted to walk to any of the tourist area's.

Our first call was to the Campaspe Lodge for accommodation but found they were already fully booked. The next one on the list was the Riverboat Lodge.

on their website it has:

Our location in the heart of Echuca!
The Riverboat Lodge Motor Inn boasts one of the most central locations in Echuca. Leave your car with us and simply walk to the heritage port area, shop in the variety of stores in High and Hare Streets and dine in the local cafes, restaurants clubs and pubs. If you choose to visit by train, bus or plane we offer a free courtesy bus pickup and return on your departure!

When I called, the manager (Grant Casbolt) was very pleasant and offered a "three night package" to which we accepted.

The package included breakfast each morning, a dinner voucher at Antonio's Restaurant for $40.00, a "Devonshire Tea" for two at the Wisteria Cafe, pick up and drop off at the rail station and a cruise on the Murray River onboard the EmmyLou.

When I enquired about the WiFi he also added that into the 'deal' as well. I find it strange that hotels and motels usually charge extra for a service that should be free. Or at the very least, packaged into the room cost. In all of the traveling we have done, certainly in the past six years, we have never had to pay the extra daily fee for WiFi ...... . except of course when we were at The Westin in Berlin!

Anyway, it was included in this 'three night package' so we were grateful.

The room we booked - as above - was advertised as follows:

DELUXE SPA ROOMS - Queen sized bed, electric blanket, direct dial phone, refrigerator, tea & coffee making facilities, toaster, microwave, table & chairs, sofa, 32" LCD TV, DVD player, AM-FM clock radio, R/C air conditioning, hair dryer and ironing facilities and large 2 person spa in bathroom.

Now I have read the reviews on TripAdvisor and some of the negative comments written.

BUT ...guests should always check the rating of the motel/hotel so they have an idea of the standard expected. The RiverBoat Lodge is a 3.5 star motel (RACV Rating) so do not expect 5 star service!

People that complain about a motel or hotel being 'old' always amaze me, how can you expect a hotel to be 'new' all the time. Even our homes become old and tired eventually!

Check the websites, look at the architecture, the cost of the room, the star rating, what is included etc .. all of these will give you a clue as to what you might expect.
 
I agree the motel is no longer bright and sparkly or brand new. If it was, you would be paying a higher price that's for sure! To me it looked rather 'tired' and certainly could do with a 'freshening'. But I did notice the manager (Grant) painting, so can only assume he is working his way around to a full makeover!

 
The pool is very small and is located close to the rooms, its not a pool for swimming, just more for a bit of playing or a dip. The garden area needs a little TLC, but even that is not a 'complaint'.

Like anyone else, I am very happy to stay in 5 star resorts, but if there are none available or cost is the issue, then you need to rethink the situation. Just so long as it is clean and comfortable, the people are friendly, the service is good and it's value for money, then that's all I ask for.

We found the RiverBoat Lodge to be fairly good value for the "three day package" that we had booked, plus Grant and the cleaning staff were very friendly and helpful at all times.

Customer Service is always top of our priority list!

RiverBoat Lodge is ideal for a 2 or 3 night stopover and is in walking distance to town and all the restaurants.

Riverboat Lodge Motor Inn Echuca

Hosts: Grant and Wendy Casbolt
476 - 484 High Street
Echuca, Victoria, Australia 3564

Phone: (03) 5482 5777
Fax: (03) 5482 6279
FREE CALL 1 800 033 134 (within Australia)

email : info@riverboatlodge.com.au

*please note*

the above blog post was not for a social media event, this particular post is for the interest of our loyal followers !!

We, however, are available for Social Media work at anytime. Be it bakeries, restaurants, festivals, wineries, galleries, cafes, coffee shops, markets or anything that needs to have some focus and would be of interest to others!!

email:

Leone and John Fabre

URL's that maybe of interest:

The RiverBoat Lodge

traveling by train to Echuca

Afternoon Tea at the Wisteria Cafe

  TripAdvisor

traveling by train in Regional Victoria!

Yesterday we decided to have a little adventure, that was to take the train from Ballan through to Melbourne and then north to Echuca.

above images are of the Ballan Rail Station.

Yes, we do have a vehicle, but we wanted to try going by train!

We checked on-line for accommodation, most of the hotels we tried were already booked out, but we managed to find one in the town of Echuca that was willing to offer a three night 'package'. We were happy with that so hurriedly packed our bags and caught the 1:28 V Line train from Ballan into Southern Cross Rail Station.

The V Line "fast trains" that run on the regional lines are very comfortable, have water on board and clean toilet facilities.

John on the V Line train at Southern Cross Rail Station

The cost of the adult, full fare, from Ballan thru to Echuca,  off peak, return ticket was $59.80.

The Melbourne to Echuca section, return, off peak ticket is $45.80 (concession is $22.80)

The 1.28pm train from Ballan arrived at Southern Cross an hour later and we had time for a hot chocolate before boarding the V Line service to Echuca that was due to depart at 3.15pm. Again, a very comfortable train journey that took us through Sunbury, Kyneton, Castlemaine, Bendigo and Rochester before arriving at Echuca at 6.35pm.

All up the journey on the train was 4.5 hours.

The scenery - as seen in the images below - was well worth it, less stress too!

In the above image, you can clearly see where the 'suburbs of Melbourne' extend as far north as Sunbury!

when next you want a short break, why not think of a train journey?

Check the V Line website for all regional train journeys in Victoria, Australia.

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Daylesford Spa Country Railway - restoration works

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In one of the local newspaper's for this week - The Advocate 5th September - I noticed an article stating that the Daylesford Spa Country Railway was advising that works have commenced to restore train services between Musk and Bullarto.

Please take note of this when traveling in this area over the next few weeks.

Particular care should be taken at any of the rail crossings and please approach each with caution, in particular at the Dolphins Road and South Bullarto Road crossings.

The Daylesford Spa Country Railway (which is operated by the Central Highlands Tourist Railway) is a volunteer-operated 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge tourist railway located in Victoria, Australia. It operates on a section of the formerly disused and dismantled Daylesford line.

It presently operates between Daylesford and the hamlet of Bullarto, although the section between Musk and Bullarto is currently closed due to bushfire damage sustained in early 2009 it is now in the process of being restored.

Website for the Daylesford Spa Country Railway is HERE complete with all the information you may need when visiting the area.



                                                              stay alert and drive safe

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a train journey

Today, May 25 2012 ..... the coldest day in four years and the wettest day in seventeen years and what did we decide to do?

Yes ... take a train trip from Ballan into Melbourne City!

This was my first time on the train, though John has been in by train many times over the past two months of us living here.

He always said it was a comfortable journey and it was ..... would be even better if they offered free WiFi on the train, but I think our dreams of that happening are next to nil.

above: The Ballan Rail Station ...... the ticket area and the waiting room and yes, there is a delightful waiting room complete with heater and toilet facilities!

The conductor was friendly, the train was warm and the seating was comfortable, it took 57 minutes to reach the Southern Cross Station (the Old Spencer Street) and the cost was 'reasonable' I guess. Though I cannot understand why they don't offer concession rates over the weekend. They have a very odd way of working out the price structure.  At the weekends there is a "Family Ticket" for one adult and two children that costs $5.10. The same price as one adult with a concession card!

Why not have the same fares all the time?

Why distinguish between off peak, peak and weekends ... surely the idea would be to encourage everyone to use public transport as opposed to vehicles?

But ... all that aside ... the train journey today was a nice experience and we would recommend it to everyone.

above:  inside the carriage

below:  the scenery along the way .......
keep in mind the train was moving and it was a very wet day, so the photos really don't do the scenery justice. It would be quite beautiful on a clear sunny day.

below: arriving at Southern Cross Rail Station.

.... and before heading over to Collins Street to catch the tram, we stopped at PIE FACE for a cup of hot chocolate!

Even though the day was wet and cold, we did enjoy our trip in by train ....

We will blog about the next train trip too and hopefully will have a few better photos.