Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most long-distance trains have
sleepers with big windows, air-condi-
tioning, electric outlets, wardrobes,
hand basins, and fresh sheets and
blankets. First-class sleepers have en-
suite bathrooms, and meals are often
included. Second-class sleepers use
shared shower facilities, and meals are
not included. Some second-class
sleepers are private cabins; on other
trains you share with strangers. Single
cabins are usually of broom-closet
dimensions but surprisingly comfy
and have their own toilet and basin.
The food ranges from mediocre to
pretty good. Smoking is usually
banned, or allowed only in the club
cars or special “smoking rooms.”
Australia's rail routes are managed
either by the private enterprise
Great
Southern Railway
(
&
13 21 47
in
Australia, or 08/8213 4592; www.gsr.
com.au), which runs the
Indian
Pacific,
the
Overland,
and
The Ghan,
or by one of the following government
bodies:
Traveltrain,
the long-distance
train division of Queensland Rail
(
&
13 22 32
in Australia; www.travel
train.qr.com.au), which handles rail
within that state;
Countrylink
(
&
13
22 32
in Australia; www.country
link.nsw.gov.au), which manages travel
within New South Wales and from
Sydney to Canberra, Melbourne, and
Brisbane; and
WAGR
(Western Aus-
tralian Government Railways;
&
13 10
53
in Western Australia, or 08/9229
2065; www.wagr.wa.gov.au), which
operates trains in Western Australia.
Outside Australia, the umbrella
organization Rail Australia (www.rail
australia.com.au) handles inquiries
and makes reservations for all long-
distance trains, with the exception of
WAGR, through its overseas agents:
ATS Tours
(
&
310/643 0044
) in the
U.S.;
Goway
(
&
416/322 1034
) in
Canada;
International Rail
(
&
0871/
201 606
) in the U.K.; and
Tranz
Scenic
(
&
Great Southern Railway's
Indian
Pacific
is a glamorous train linking
Sydney, Broken Hill, Adelaide, and
Perth in a 3-day Outback run twice a
week. Slightly less posh but still com-
fortable,
The Ghan
(named after
Afghani camel trainers who traveled
the Outback in the 19th century)
travels between Sydney, Melbourne,
Adelaide, and Alice Springs twice a
week, with connections from Sydney
and Perth on the Indian Pacific and
from Melbourne on the Overland.
With the opening of a new rail line
linking Alice Springs and Darwin,
expected in early 2004, the iconic
train will operate one weekly return
service between Adelaide and Darwin
and twice weekly return services
between Adelaide and Alice Springs.
Both
The Ghan
and the
Indian Pacific
offer a choice of economy seats and
second- or first-class sleepers.
Great Southern Railway's third
train, the
Overland,
provides a more
prosaic journey between Adelaide and
Melbourne twice a week. Countrylink
runs daily trains from Sydney to Mel-
bourne, Canberra, and Brisbane, and
to a number of New South Wales
country towns.
Queensland Rail's Traveltrain oper-
ates two trains on the Brisbane-Cairns
route:
The Sunlander
runs twice a
week from Brisbane to Cairns offering
a choice of the premium, all-inclusive
Queenslander Class; single, double or
triple berth sleepers; or economy seats.
Two services also run as far as
Townsville on this route without
Queenslander Class. The high-speed
Tilt Train
operates three weekly trips
on the same route in less time—by
about 8 hours—with business-class-
style seating. Tilt Trains also service
Rockhampton daily from Brisbane.
Traveltrain also operates trains to Out-
back towns. All Traveltrain and most
Countrylink long-distance trains stop
at most towns en route, so they're use-
ful for exploring the eastern states.
03/339 3809
) in New
Zealand.
