The new intercity trains that will run between Lithgow and Sydney and servicing Orange by coach aren't too far away with extensive testing being done and one already ducking up to Mt Victoria.
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The government says the Korean-built fleet, named Mariyung, the Darug word for Emu, will have high levels of comfort, convenience and reliability for passengers.
The trains have advanced technology not available on present intercity trains, including eight internal and four external CCTV cameras in every carriage. They also have onboard help points and improved accessibility for commuters using wheelchairs, prams or other mobility constraints.
The government says an important part of the new fleet was making sure it listened to what longer distance customers wanted.
But one thing passengers won't be over the moon about is that half of them will be facing backwards because the seats are fixed and can't be turned around.
The government says reversible seating was cut from the new fleet because it was heavier and harder to maintain than fixed seats. Another advantage of fixed face-to-face seating is that it can allow for tables between seat pairs and provides an open environment. It also allows for groups to sit together, the government says.
But probably most passengers won't find the trains to their liking while others could end up with motion sickness.
We'll have to wait to see.
Stuck in a rut or creatures of habit?
How many different meals do you eat each week?
Orange promotes itself as some sort of food capitol so you'd think our tastes generally should be a bit upmarket but if we follow a trend, half of us eat the same kind of meal at least twice a week and there's nothing fancy about them.
A supermarket survey found people ate on rotation an average of only five different dishes with old favourite staple spaghetti bolognese the most popular, followed by a roast. Stir fries and casseroles are also popular dishes.
They find these easier to prepare and enjoy them.
So do we lack inspiration in the kitchen? It seems so. Are we stuck in a repeat meal rut? Looks like it. Are we eating the same meals we did 10 years ago? Apparently yes.
Are we into Maccas or KFC a few times a week? Probably. Or are Orange people more adventurous than all that? Probably not. But, anyhow, what's wrong with spaghetti bolognese?
Should we name the full moons?
Full moons are one of the most dramatic sights in the night sky and are an inspiration for poets, artists, and lovers for millennia.
They can captivate us and for hundreds of years whenever there's a full moon the world goes a little off-kilter. Kids act a bit sillier, people are more impatient and more.
All full moons have names in other countries ranging from Strawberry to Wolves and Harvest to Hunger. Then there's names for harvests like Barley, Fruit and Grain Moon.
Orange should name our full moons.
There's a full moon tomorrow night known in the US as the Buck Moon, reflecting the time of year when new antlers begin to grow on the heads of bucks.
We could call it the Awful Weather Moon.
The August 22 full moon could be called Council is not a Mock Game Moon.
September 20's moon hopefully could be People Voted Wisely Moon.
What do you think?
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