NT: First "Ghan" from Sydney arrives in the Alice

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-1999
NT: First "Ghan" from Sydney arrives in the Alice

ALICE SPRINGS, April 13 AAP - Hundreds of Alice Springs residents turned out today to
welcome the legendary Ghan train on its inaugural journey from Sydney.

The train pulled into Alice Springs station about one hour late after a journey, via
Adelaide, of 2,856 kilometres - a performance that a Great Southern Railway (GSR) spokesperson
said was satisfactory for what had been "a learning experience."

Much of the journey was on a single track, and trains often have to wait on loop "sidings"
for oncoming trains, including freights, to go past.

The Ghan, named for the Afghans who led camel trains in the outback in the last century,
began operating from Adelaide to Alice Springs in 1929.

After the GSR took over from the Australian National Railways, a new Ghan began operating
from Melbourne last November and the first Sydney run began from Central Station on Sunday.

The Sydney-Alice service is scheduled to take 45 hours including time for a short coach
tour of Adelaide.

For the inaugural trip, additional carriages were used to provide extra accommodation and
facilities for VIPs and the media.

Entertainment on board was from veteran Northern Territory country-folk singer Ted Egan.

Chief Executive Officer of the GSR, Stephen Bradford, said bookings for the Sydney-Alice
Springs train had been "excellent."

The Ghan has three classes - Coach, Holiday and First-Class, with one-way fares from $A360.

AAP js/bm

KEYWORD: GHAN

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