The Perth-to-Uluru expedition involves taking two train journeys on lines that cross the entire continent, from west to east on the Perth/Sydney line, stopping at Adelaide and then traveling north on the line through the Red Center that finishes in Darwin. Both are operated by Great Southern Rail. The end of the line for the purposes of rail travel is Alice Springs, still 273 miles from Uluru. Dozens of Uluru tours operate out of Alice Springs, ranging from camel treks and three-day camping trips to half-day helicopter tours or day coach trips with a barbecue during the stopover.
Traveling from Western Australia to South Australia requires the services of the Indian Pacific railway, named after the two oceans it links. The line travels twice weekly between Perth and Sydney, a total journey of 2,698 miles, or the equivalent of a trip from Miami to Portland, Oregon. The journey from Perth to Adelaide takes two days, passing through the endless wheat belt of Western Australia and the vast openness of the Nullarbor Plain on the longest stretch of straight railway in the world, at 297 miles.
Linking Adelaide to Darwin in the tropical north, the Ghan is a transcontinental wonder that passes through Alice Springs once a week and takes its name from the Afghan travelers who once led camel trains through the harsh Red Center. Journey times on the Ghan are considerably faster nowadays than in the times of narrow gauge line, when the trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs could take 48 hours. Today, the journey takes just over 24 hours, covering 968 miles.
Accommodation on both trips is available in a private Gold Service sleeper with a single bed, small bathroom and hot shower. Restaurant meals are included, as is tea and coffee in the lounge where most passengers relax during the day. The bar serves complimentary beer and standard wine. A newer Platinum Service has the added luxury of a double bed. The trains run on standard gauge line that wasn’t completed until the 1970s, using stainless steel coaches built by the Budd Company in the United States. Alternatively, passengers can opt for a simple Red Service reclining seat in a car with a communal hot shower and self-service café.
