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Hi All I was lucky enough to get to ride on the Indian Pacific for its 50th anniversary train. I wrote a trip log I'll copy the link for if anyone is interested!
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With a Niece permanently living near Sydney (Pymble), there is always the possibility I could visit Australia. But with COVID, and "back to normal" not until, my guess, '22 when I'm 81yo, it's kind of a "long shot" to think of.
The NSW Trainlink State operated intercity services, such as Sydney-Melbourne do not seem like an experiential journey of any kind. The private sector Indian Pacific certainly does.
Additionally, the Googlemobile drove me by the East Perth station. Not sure if it is quite Stalin-era, or for that matter, much "postwar on the quick" throughout Europe. But I agree it has hardly the class of the Freemantle Station which Mr. Google also included during his drive by.
Finally, the Sydney Central Station, if I ever am to "come on down", I could well see, even if just riding in from Pymble or Chatswood, which appears cloest to Pymble with hotels I would consider staying at. But really, I must question if I will ever make that trip. COVID will be with us through most of '21, and in '22, I'll be 81yo. And even though I would fly in not less than Business Class, one simply must think twice about such a bodily taxing trip at that age. Even if I only sleep, in Business Class, a "wink or two" Eastward to Europe, and none whatever WW, ten hours is manageable. Can't be too sure about 22hr.
Memma Member # 197810
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I hope you make it down - it's a really amazing place and lots of great trains!
I've actually written most of the content for TrainReview on Australia / NZ if you're interested check it out:
Agree NSW TrainLink isn't anything that special The Indian Pacific is my pick thought - it's a really great trip!
I really hope you make it down - I'm sure you'll love it!
George Harris Member # 2077
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I had one shot at it, in 1971. I chose to take my R&R from Nam in Australia. My plan was to spend the first night in Sydney and ride trains. However, the army had other plans. You were required to pay your hotel in full for all nights when you got there. I do see the reason for that. Most of the guys would have spent all they had on "wine, women, and song" as fast as they could do it and spend the rest of their stay sleeping in the street. I think the Indian Pacific was new that year or shortly before. It would not have been on my list of possibilities anyway, but a trip to Melbourne and possibly Brisbane were. I got as far as Canberra, north to the end of electrification, and then west into the mountains. This was in July and I was freezing, so my first purchase there was a jacket. The locals looked at me like I was crazy running around in a jacket, but after 5 months in the tropics anything under about 75F was cold. The highlight of my stay was actually the zoo. Australian wildlife is truly another planet.
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