Fact Sheets & Video - Perth

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The Indian Pacific is the world's longest length of straight railway track. It crosses our continent along the stark Nullarbor Plain, through the Red outback, past Australia's first inland outposts and mining towns, the world-renowned green and gold 'Sun Belt' of Australia and finally arrives at the Blue Mountains. This is a vivid rail adventure that brings family and friends from the east and west coasts of Australia together, as well as those from the towns in between.

The Indian Pacific departs Perth every Wednesday and Sunday, and leaves Sydney every Saturday and Wednesday, and travels a total of 4352 kilometres from coast to coast. This three-night and three-day journey includes stops at Kalgoorlie, Cook, Adelaide and Broken Hill stations, where the additional option of whistlestop tours is possible.

Passengers can opt to travel with Gold Kangaroo or Red Kangaroo Services. In Gold Kangaroo guests can sleep in twin or single sleeper cabins. Twin cabins include a three-seater lounge, which converts to an upper and lower sleeping berth at night, plus ensuite.

Red Kangaroo Service is an option for the budget conscious, offering sleeper cabins and daynighter seats. By day, the sleeper cabin has two lounge chairs, while at night they convert to snug upper and lower berths. Bathroom facilities are shared.

No matter what direction you travel in, one of the most significant parts of this journey is the Nullarbor Plain. The Indian Pacific travels along 478 kilomteres of railway through this vast area of flat, virtually treeless and arid country immediately north of the Great Australian Bight.

A remote outpost on the Nullarbor Plain, the town of Cook with a total population of four, is the only scheduled stop on the Nullarbor Plain for the Indian Pacific passenger train. Essentially a ghost town, it has a few houses and fuel tanks for the locomotives with the crossing loop being able to cross trains up to 1800m long.

A Journey to Reunite

Pam and Mervyn Cowie are a couple in their seventies that decided to take the scenic journey on the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney to reunite with Pam's 87-year-old cousin Merle Jameson.

Originally born and bred in NSW, although Pam and Merle have moved and traveled in separate circles over the years, they became close after Pam married her first husband and settled on a sheep station in WA, where Merle came to visit. Since then they have always remained in constant contact. A former flight attendant, Pam had developed a fear of flying in the latter years while Merle is no longer able to travel long distances and as a result they have been desperate to see each other. At the end of a scenic three-night journey on the Indian Pacific train, Pam and Merle had a heartwarming and emotional reunion at Central Station in Sydney.

FURTHER INFORMATION-

Indian Pacific- Gold Kangaroo class: Perth to Sydney; from $1262 a person, Perth to Adelaide from $953 a person. These prices are 30% off for the first hundred callers only before midnight 11/8/07. Includes all meals. For more information call: 13 21 47 or visit www.trainways.com.auPrices correct at 9/7/07. Including taxes. Subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.