Now the minimum travel time for this same journey is about three hours and 50 minutes, and often longer, together with a range of on-board problems or other situations which require transfers from rail to bus travel.

Our political representatives, V/Line, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the myriad of bureaucrats and others associated with the North-East rail line national debacle, if they were part of a privately operated business, would be either sacked or investigated for mismanagement.

The efforts of these grossly inefficient and ineffectual groups could almost be considered as criminal when one considers the many hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds already spent to bring this sub-standard North-East rail corridor and line to a minimal national standard available in other states.

In addition the enormous payments in salaries, wages and other supplementary amounts can only make this a national disgrace.

Australia now has a Deputy Prime Minister who supposedly has a portfolio covering national infrastructure. And in recent years several Royal Commissions have been implemented on nationally important matters.

Surely, it must be time that a Royal Commission is established to investigate the activities of governments, their bureaucracies and other parties associated with this long-running national rail debacle.

A hiker found alive and well – so nice to read a positive story. A very lucky man and a job well done by rescuers.

It highlights the need to be well prepared and advise others of your intentions when bush walking.

The Australian bush should never be underestimated.

I feel a movie coming on.

 What an absolute disgrace our railway industry has become. It is almost every day now that we are being forced to exist without a Border to Melbourne rail service.

What has happened to the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent on rail line updates.

V/Line seems to be happy blaming everything bar themselves, and our politicians are simply finding it too hard for themselves to be involved.

I hope everyone is going to remember this pathetic service we are being offered when election time comes around.

And remember, no person with a job of responsibility for railways has lost their job. How pathetic have we become.

I would like to thank the drivers of the trucks collecting our rubbish.

This year the drivers had to work on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day, which meant they gave up quality time with their families and friends at this important time of the year.

This work ethic was much appreciated by me and my family.