Train Travel

2004 saw history made in Australia as the rail network finally links Alice Springs to Darwin.

It is being advertised as 'one of the world's great train journeys'. The journey takes 48 hours and covers 1,850 miles (2,979 km) from Adelaide through Alice Springs and on to Darwin. The newest link has taken over one hundred years to become a reality. It completes the link from north to south, covering the final 400 miles(642km) from Alice Springs to Darwin. It is thought that this extended route will bring more tourists to , this often overlooked, part of Australia. This area has national parks which are populated by birds, reptiles and marsupials, as well as being the home to aboriginal culture.

Within five weeks of the timetables being published, ticket sales topped llion .

The Ghan made its inaugral journey on February 1st, amidst a party atmosphere. The first travellers were able to purchase tickets for the special price of 42 each. When the train arrived in Darwin two days later it was met with even more celebrations.

The Northern Territory Tourist Commission thinks that this train will persuade other operators, such as airlines, to adventure in to the area.

The Ghan makes the journey once a week. Those taking this trip,in the comfort and coolness airconditioned carriages, will see some of the harshest terrain and highest temperatures in Australia.. This trip enables the traveller to see a more varied landscape than that if they were travelling on the Indian Pacific linking Sydney to Perth. There is also an opportunity to watch kangaroos in their natural habitat.

The journey begins as the Ghan travels through the reknown temperate wine growing region north of Adelaide. The train winds through the changing scenery from green hills to the red outline of the MacDonnell Ranges that surround Alice Springs. This is also known as the gateway to Uluru

Those passengers who are completing the whole journey will see another change in scenery, this occurs after a break at Katherine. Whilst here it is possible to take an optional helicopter tour or boat ride to explore Katherine Gorge with its canyons and waterfalls. After this, the train enters the tropical rain forest.

It is thought that the Ghan link will attract all types of traveller including backpackers, rail enthusiasts as well as the older independent travellers. There are two services available, the Red Kangaroo Service has reclining seats and there are showers available at the end of the corridor, there are no meals included. The Gold Kangaroo Service is an ensuite sleeper which includes three meals a day and a welcome cocktail reception. Prices for the full journey range from for the Red Kangaroo Service to for the Gold Kangaroo Service.

The gourmet food is served in large portions. The choices include: salt water barramundi with braised capsicum and desert lime aioli, roast chicken with bunya nut and redcurrant stuffing, or beef fillet with native pepper hollandaise.

The Ghan takes its name from the Afghan camel drivers who originally brought trade, food and provisions with their camel trains.

This part of the track started to be laid on April 17th 2002. The men who worked on it, laid 1.4 miles a day and had to deal with typhoons, floods, bushfires and infestations of termites. They worked mainly at night due to the heat (50C or 122F) of the Outback. Planning the route also caused headaches for the engineers as they had to pick a route through aboriginal sacred sites, cattle farms, floodplains, rare wild life habitats, including the breeding ground of the black-headed python as well taking listed buidings into consideration.

The completion of this link is expected to reduce the cost of living for the Top Enders ( the name by which people in this region are known) because before its completion they had to pay large freight penalties to bring in their commodities.

People often have preconceived ideas about Darwin, they need to leave these prejudices behind and spend time discovering it. Darwin has smart municipal buildings, sophisticated restaurants, well looked after parks, a grassy Esplanade and original Aboriginal art. It is a lively city and is also known as 'the Bridge of Asia'. As the name infers, it is possible to taste some of the best Thai cuisine here.

Whilst visiting Darwin, it is worth taking a one day Wildlife Spectacular Tour into the Outback. As well as the trip you may discover other facts about Darwin from the tour guide. Things such as: Britain would fit into the Northern Territory six times. The USA paid for Darwin Airport to have the longest runway in the southern hemisphere built so that they had an emergency landing site for the space shuttle.

Fifty minutes out of Darwin the trip makes its first stop at Territory Wildlife Park. There is time to walk around and see a wide variety of animals and birds who are not enclosed behind fences. The next stop is even more thrilling as it joins the Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River.

The Top Enders find all the fuss about the Ghan perplexing, they know in their region that there are snakes, crocodiles and jellyfish that can kill and yet the tourists go to see the train!

Factual information to aid your travel:

How to get there: All main travel agents can help you organise your trip. You can also use online booking services such as www.travelbag.co.uk.

The Ghan: You can book this trip with your travel agent or direct with international rail on 0870 7515000 or www.railaustralia.com.au.

websites for further information include: Websites: Northern Territory (www.ntholidays.com); South Australia (www.southaustralia.com); and Australian railways (www.trainways.com.au).