The Ghan

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsAdel/status/734305213406806017

[ozbob]

The Advertiser --> Super-sized Ghan is the longest passenger train in 10 years

[Stillwater]

Admittedly, The Ghan is a private train.  But, meanwhile, Queensland has the Westlander -- a bus on steel wheels that could attract more patronage if it ran to a more convenient timetable.  Sit-ups all the way to Charleville, pre-packaged meals and drinks and snacks dispensing machine down the back of the carriage.

[tazzer9]

Admittedly, The Ghan is a private train.  But, meanwhile, Queensland has the Westlander -- a bus on steel wheels that could attract more patronage if it ran to a more convenient timetable.  Sit-ups all the way to Charleville, pre-packaged meals and drinks and snacks dispensing machine down the back of the carriage.

Queensland could have several world class railway journeys if QR decided to run them how GSR runs their trains.   Westlander, Inlander and a south western train to wallangarra or goondiwindi could all run at a profit if someone tried.  GSR has realised that these trains are not about the destination, its about the journey. 

[Old Northern Road]

I strongly doubt there would be too many people willing to pay 1000s of dollars to travel to places like Charleville or Mt Isa. Not exactly the most scenic rail journeys

[tazzer9]

I strongly doubt there would be too many people willing to pay 1000s of dollars to travel to places like Charleville or Mt Isa. Not exactly the most scenic rail journeys

There isn't much to see on the ghan or the indian pacific either.  Only in a few selected spots and only on certain trips due to the timetable.   In fact the indian pacific even talk about how people want to see the vast stretches of nothing, which is something that is rather unique to australia.   There isn't many places on earth where you can see the curve of the earth in all directions.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsAdelaide/status/928858968436252672

[ozbob]

https://journeybeyondrail.com.au/taste-of-the-ghan/

Our iconic trains travel across tracks from north, south, east to west, and everywhere in between. Now, The Ghan is ready to explore new tracks - this time it's staying local. Get a taste of the legendary Ghan train journey with a day trip to the Clare Valley.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1438510959732031508

[ozbob]

The Advertiser --> The Ghan involved in incident with cattle truck near Alice Springs $

Emergency services rushed to a scene outside of Alice Springs after a crash involving iconic Australian tourist train The Ghan and a cattle truck.

One person was taken to hospital and hundreds of passengers on iconic Australian tourist train the Ghan have been impacted after a cattle truck crashed into one of its carriages.

Emergency services received multiple reports of a collision between the train and truck about 50km north of Alice Springs just before 10am on Sunday.

Northern Territory Police confirmed the Ghan was travelling south towards Alice Springs when a cattle truck collided with the second carriage at the Arltunga level crossing, causing significant damage to both the train and the truck.

The driver of the truck was treated by paramedics at the scene for shock and was later transported to Alice Springs Hospital for further care.

There were no injuries reported among the passengers on board and it is understood no cattle were harmed. ...

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Cattle truck collides with the Ghan outside of Alice Springs

An investigation is underway after a cattle truck collided with the Ghan passenger train about 60 kilometres north of Alice Springs on Sunday morning.

The truck collided with the train's second locomotive at the Arltunga Crossing at about 10am as the train was travelling south, according to initial reports from police.

The driver of the truck was treated by paramedics for shock and was taken to hospital, NT Police said. There have been no injuries reported by passengers on board. ...