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Indian Pacific: Sydney to Perth by Train

Hi-tech tourist

by Tom Worthington


In late December 1995 I travelled 4,000 km across Australia from Sydney to Perth by train. This is an account of the journey.

I have been from Toronto to Vancouver, Washington to New York, Singapore to KL, London to Rome and across New Zealand by train. But the Indian Pacific was the first time I had travelled more than a few hundred kilometres in my own country by train.

There isn't much about this trip available on the Internet, apart from the timetable, so I thought I would add what I could.

New South Wales

Monday

Sydney Interstate Railway Station

South Australia

Tuesday

Western Australia

Wednesday

Outback Home

Thursday


For photo scanning facilities at short notice, my thanks to:

Hardware House Logo Trevor Cox, Sales Manager
The Hardware House Computer Shop, Perth WA

Australian National, who run the train, are planning to put details on the Internet, but in the interim have sent me some material on paper. Unfortunately the photos were not suitable for scanning. After arrival in Perth I added some photos taken on the way and my own impressions.

Here is what I have so far, with quoted material from the Australian National material, the links I could find on the Internet and my own impressions. Further suggestions for links would be welcome:


Update 7 December 1997: Great Southern Railway, who now operate the Indian Pacific, asked me to include a link to their new web page. There are fares, timetables and booking details.

Update 2 November 2006: Great Southern Railway now also run the The Gahn, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs. This takes two nights, over 2979 kilometres, twice weekly.



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