The Indian Pacific is a weekly experiential tourism-oriented passenger train service that runs in Australia's east–west rail corridor between Sydney, on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and Perth, on the shore of the Indian Ocean along side its connected north–south corridor, The Ghan, allowing for transcontinental train services. It first ran in 1970 after the completion of gauge conversion projects in South Australia and Western Australia, enabling for the first time a cross-continental rail journey that did not have a break of gauge.
The train has been rated as one of the great rail journeys of the world. Its route includes the world's longest straight stretch of railway track, a stretch of the Trans-Australian Railway across the Nullarbor Plain.
The service was originally operated jointly by four government railway administrations: the Department of Railways New South Wales, South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways and Western Australian Government Railways, until February 1993 when Australian National took full ownership. In 1997, the Indian Pacific was sold to Great Southern Rail and branded as Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions then Journey Beyond during changes in corporate ownership.
A one-way trip takes between 70.5 and 75 hours, depending on scheduling and daylight saving periods. , two levels of service were offered, branded as Platinum and Gold. A motorail service conveyed passengers' motor vehicles on the train between Adelaide and Perth, but motorail is no longer available on the Indian Pacific.
History With the remaining narrow gauge parts of the East-west rail corridor being gauge converted to standard gauge in 1966, the Department of Railways New South Wales, South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways and Western Australian Government Railways agreed that a through passenger service from Sydney Central to East Perth Terminal be inaugurated. Originally to be named The Transcontinental, in 1969, the Indian Pacific name was adopted by a joint meeting of transport ministers.Here & There Australian Railway History Society Bulletin issue 349 November 1966 page 2Sydney to Perth in 62 Hours Railway Gazette 21 March 1969 pages 211–215Coast to Coast Glamour Trains Named Railway Digest October 1969 page 9
The service was originally operated jointly by the four operators whose networks it traversed, with revenues and costs apportioned Department of Railways New South Wales (28.5%), South Australian Railways (10%), Commonwealth Railways (45%) and Western Australian Government Railways (16.5%).The Indian-Pacific Network June 1970 page 4Who Owns the Indian Pacific? WAGR News Letter March 1971 page 4
The first Indian Pacific service left Sydney on 23 February 1970, becoming the first direct train to cross the Australian continent, made possible by the completion of the east-west standard gauge project a few months earlier. At the time it was the third longest passenger train in terms of distance, after services on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Canadian.Standard gauge across Australia: The commercial impact Railway Gazette International 20 February 1970 pages 129–132
Locomotives and crews were provided by the Department of Railways New South Wales between Sydney and Broken Hill, South Australian Railways between Broken Hill and Port Pirie, the Commonwealth Railways between Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie, and Western Australian Government Railways between Kalgoorlie and Perth. With the formation of Australian National in July 1975, it provided locomotives and crews from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie. Locomotives were changed at Lithgow, Broken Hill, Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie.
On-board crews were originally provided between Sydney and Port Pirie by Commonwealth Railways on one service and New South Wales Government Railways on the other services, Commonwealth Railways between Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie and West Australian Government Railways between Kalgoorlie and Perth.
The train originally operated twice per week. In times of heavy demand, a double consist would operate. It would operate in New South Wales as two trains before being combined at Broken Hill.Two Divisions for the Indian Pacific Network 1 May 1972 page 1Traffic grows on the Indian Pacific Railway Gazette International August 1982 page 284
In July 1973, a third service was introduced, followed in July 1975 by a fourth, as extensions of existing Trans-Australian services.Three services weekly each way for the Indian Pacific Network March 1973 page 2And Then There Were Three WAGR News Letter June 1973 page 3A Fourth Indian Pacific Railway Digest May 1975 page 9 In October 1976, a motorail service was introduced between Port Pirie and Perth.New Motorail Service Westrail News Letter November 1976 page 8 Originally vehicles were loaded in Perth at the Kewdale Freight Terminal before a car loading ramp was built at East Perth station.Motorail Increases Capacity Westrail News Letter March 1977 page 8Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society issue 483 January 1978 page 7
From 2 December 1982 to 25 April 1983, the service was suspended due to an industrial dispute over staffing levels in South Australia.Indian Pacific Services Resume Catch Point issue 35 May 1983 page 4 When it resumed, the service was reduced to three times weekly, with the second class sleepers replaced by sitting carriages.Indian Pacific Returns – In a Different Form Railway Digest May 1983 page 153Intelligence Railway Gazette International June 1983 page 408
From August 1986, the train commenced operating via Adelaide."Western Report" Railway Digest September 1986 page 281The Indian Pacific Goes to Adelaide Network October 1986 page 50 In October 1988, the motorail service was extended through to Sydney.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 615 January 1989 page 21
In June 1991, the service was cut from three times a week to two.More Passenger Services Get the Chop Catch Point issue 84 July 1991 page 24"Interstate cutbacks" Railway Digest July 1991 page 231Cuts to Interstate Passenger Trains The Westland issue 78 July 1991 page 7 This was reduced to weekly in January 1992 between Sydney and Adelaide with two services a week between Adelaide and Perth.Further Cuts to Indian Pacific Catch Point issue 87 January 1992 page 22"Indian Pacific service cut to weekly" Railway Digest February 1992 page 50
In February 1993, Australian National took over operation of the service after an agreement was reached with the State Rail Authority and Westrail in 1992."IP to come under sole control of AN" Railway Digest March 1992"IP handed to AN" Railway Digest February 1993AN gets Indian Pacific Catch Point issue 94 March 1993 page 22 A second service resumed in August 1993.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 670 August 1993 page 214
From January 1994, the service was operated by Australian National CL class locomotives."CLP Class Locos Take-Over Indian Pacific Workings" Railway Digest March 1994
As part of the privatisation of Australian National, the Indian Pacific, along with The Ghan and The Overland, was sold to Great Southern Rail, now known as Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, in October 1997.Great Southern Railway Consortium completes acquisition of Australian National Railways Passenger Business Serco Group plc 31 October 1997 Motive power provision was contracted to National Rail.
Since 2016, the Indian Pacific has operated weekly.Indian Pacific Timetables 2016–2017 Great Southern Rail A second service operated between September and November until 2015.Indian Pacific Timetables 2015–2016 Great Southern Rail In 2016, all economy class seats were removed, raising the minimum ticket price of an Adelaide-Broken Hill ticket from to (the ability to book a ticket to/from Broken Hill was later removed), and of a Sydney-Perth ticket from to .
Route
The route leaves Sydney and travels via the Western and Broken Hill lines to Broken Hill. It then crosses into South Australia on the Broken Hill to Crystal Brook line before heading south to Adelaide. Before the conversion of the Crystal Brook to Adelaide line to standard gauge, passengers for Adelaide had to change at Port Pirie. From August 1986, the Indian Pacific was diverted to make an out-and-back trip to Adelaide adding to the journey.
From Crystal Brook, it heads north to Port Augusta and then via the Trans-Australian Railway to Kalgoorlie, including travelling over the world's longest straight stretch of railway track on the Nullarbor Plain measuring . It then heads via the Eastern Goldfields and Eastern lines to its terminus at East Perth.
The highest point on the line is at Bell, NSW in the Blue Mountains, at .
The most northern point on the line is at the western tip of the Yellabinna Regional Park, South Australia.
The most southern point on the line is at the Adelaide Parklands Terminal in Keswick, South Australia.
Occasionally, when there is trackwork, the Indian Pacific is diverted out of Sydney via the Main South line to Cootamundra and cross-country line to rejoin the Broken Hill line at Parkes. It has previously operated via the Temora to Roto line and via Melbourne.The Indian-Pacific via Narranderra Railway Digest February 1971 page 5MotivePower News Motive Power issue 81 May 2012 page 17
In 1970, the journey took 75 hours. With subsequent infrastructure improvements and reductions to the time needed to change locomotives and crew, by 2010 the journey took 65 hours, despite the longer distance.
Rolling stock
For the commencement of operations, 59 stainless steel carriages, power vans and luggage vans were built by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville to the same design as already in use on the Trans-Australian.Carriage Review Railway Digest November 1986 page 351 These operated in consists of 12 carriages.Standard gauge across Australia: The central link in the chain Railway Gazette International 20 February 1970 page 133 A further 16 were ordered in 1971.Market Railway Gazette International June 1971 page 214
, the weekly service consists of up to 25 carriages and two motorail wagons. Because of its length, the train is split in two when stabled at Sydney Central station. Originally, each of the operators hauled the train over their network with locomotives changed at Broken Hill, Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie. A further change occurred at Lithgow from electric to diesel power. Due to Westrail suffering a motive power shortage, Australian National locomotives hauled the service in Western Australia from October 1973 until March 1977.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 436 February 1974 page 9Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 480 October 1977 page 10
From January 1994, the service was operated by Australian National CL class locomotives.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 683 September 1994 page 263 Since November 1997, it has been hauled by Pacific National NR class locomotives.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 722 December 1997 page 457 Seven NR class, (NR18, NR25-NR29, NR86) have been repainted in differing Indian Pacific liveries.New Indian Pacific livery Railway Digest November 2005 page 46New livery for Pacific National Railways Illustrated issue 35 January 2006 page 47
The lead locomotive is assisted by an 81, G or second NR class between Sydney and Adelaide. In 2014, NR25-NR28 were repainted in a new livery that is much closer to that of Pacific National.MotivePower Roundup Motive Power issue 95 September 2014 page 72 In 2018, NR29 and NR86 had Indian Pacific signwriting applied their existing liveries.Motive Power Roundup Motive Power issue 117 May 2018 page 74
Passenger facilities