New train service travels from Adelaide to Darwin

[dArKeR]

One of the world's great train journeys just got a whole lot greater -- 1,420km to be precise.

The first passenger train to travel all the way from the southern Australian city of Adelaide to the northern port of Darwin set off yesterday, marking a new era in travel through the vast Outback.

"This famous train will now strengthen its reputation as providing one of the great railway journeys of the world," Prime Minister John Howard said in a videotaped message played at a ceremony to mark the train's departure.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/02/2003097190

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Does it go through Alice Springs for

all the people who want to see Ayers Rock?

[SoCalDem]

2. Ooh, you just reminded me that it's time to re-read

"A Town Like Alice"..

Neville Shute is one of my all time faves :)

[HereSince1628]

3. US passenger sevice seems to be cutting long runs

so what makes this economical for Austrailians?

train tradition?
lack of highways (and/or associated Days Inns)?
tourism?
other?

[SoCalDem]

4. Thousands of miles of NOTHING

:)