Indian Pacific Train across Australia
A train enthusiast from my early twenties it gave me great pleasure to plan to travel Australia basing my trip on two trains, the famous Indian Pacific and Ghan both long haul trains being trips of 2-3 days each. Both trains are part of the Great Southern Rail Company’s trains The Indian Pacific travels from the Indian Ocean across Australia to the Pacific, where the Ghan travels in a north-south direction, the only famous train that goes in north – south direction.
I joined the Indian Pacific in Perth, out the door at 8.30 for an easy walk to the station from the hostel I had stayed in, for the previous few days. The long train already at the station waiting for all the passengers I heard some one say it was over half a kilometer in length! It felt even longer if you went in the wrong direction with heavy backpack! There were many passengers already waiting for the office to open at 9.30. Check in appeared to be relatively easy and speedy despite the crowd of people. I checked in my bag and kept the backpack with me as it had all I would require for the next couple of days. I have weights down to a fine art now.
Boarding the train in economy and the thought of two -3 nights in an upright position had me worried, how would I manage? There was plenty of space to stretch legs out and the seats very comfortable. The back of the seat reclining to about a 45-degree angle, so no worries there. I could handle this! The train departed Perth on time and we were on our way.
I jumped at the opportunity to change carriages to one that was empty. This proved to be a good move. The carriage was one of the older ones with vinyl seats that you could flip to whichever direction you wished. The beauty of this was I got to have four seats to keep my legs up. I have a medical problem that is helped by doing so; there were few others that took up the offer so we all had plenty of space! Unfortunately, this did include a two or 3-year-old child. A good little boy constantly told by his mother to be quiet/shut up/go to sleep! I realized she was trying to keep him quiet for the rest of the passengers, but in fact did just the opposite! He was a neat kid, but she drove us to distraction!After the fine customer service on the Sunlander, I found it somewhat lacking on the Indian Pacific.
The staff were not happy about filling my small flask with hot water for my coffee. They did, but not with good grace. Obviously, they do not get many people with flasks. Pointing out the safety aspect that it could spill and burn. I felt that it was my choice to do so. I had coffee in small packets that included milk so it was easy to set the flask up for the day.
Into our journey, we rapidly went through the Avon Valley and the wheat growing area of Western Australia. Lovely scenery, all the while looking out for the wildlife. Reading yet another book, I had been getting through a book a day consistently while on the trains. My afternoon book disturbed by loud and intrusive music, which despite asking for it to be reduced there was little we could do or the staff was prepared to do. Something to do with the gold class passenger’s music channel was the explanation!
Down to the buffet car for dinner, I chose a pasta and salad for my evening meal. I was served approximately 2 tablespoons of pasta and with the rest in lettuce and tomato. The portion size for an adult not adequate. For this, I was charged ten dollars. That meal I found inadequate so this time I had a pie, which from its taste had been sitting in a pie warmer for considerable time. I think the two rail companies need to talk, the Sunlander choice of meals was superb.
The highlight of this day was a tour I had booked to see the Kalgoorlie Mine starting at 10pm! I have done a few tours but never one starting at that time. What a brilliant tour! The mine was amazing; the driver/guide told us that if you inverted Ayers Rock (Uluru) it would fill the mine. Stopping at the look out high above the Super Pit we had time to view the mine as it worked. The operation of it continues around the clock seeking out the gold for which it is famous. Up to 850,000 ounces of gold, a year are mined from the 360-metre deep by 3.5km long and 1.5km wide hole in the ground. Given the current price of the gold, working 24 hours, 7 days a week is lucrative opportunity indeed.
After the stop at the lookout for the Super Pit, we took in a tour of the town and the historic buildings. It all sounded interesting. Then it was back to the train for sleeping and the next leg of our trip. However, that is another story!
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