The Indian-Pacific Train across The Nullabor – Part 1

From the Indian Ocean at Perth, this iconic train takes three days and three nights to make its way across Australia to the Pacific Ocean at Sydney. I was going to get off at Adelaide, two days and two nights into the journey.

When I arrived at East Perth station I discovered a problem. The travel agent had told me that my single cabin was two carriages from the dining car, sorry, Queen Adelaide Restaurant. It wasn’t; it was four. My scooter would be in the luggage van for the journey and I wasn’t sure I could walk that far.

I spoke to the on-board train Manager, Bruce. “Give me one minute,” he said. “We don’t have a full train.” He found me another cabin that was only a carriage and a bit from the Restaurant and Lounge. Even better, it was a twin cabin, so slightly bigger, with its own facilities. Ie a shower cubicle with a loo and sink in it.

We set off at 11.55am and I went in search of the Outback Lounge with its comfy seats, bar and curtains at the windows. There were half a dozen people there already, who invited me to join them. There was Toula and her Mum, Koula, who had come to Australia from Greece when Toula was about four or five. And Bev, who travels by train because she hates flying. Bianca and Trudy worked for the train company, something to do with Customer Experience. They were off today and already well into the included wine.

Then it was lunch. The food was divine, as good as any top restaurant, and there was a good selection of wines. I had the barramundi, a soft white fish that was delicately cooked with fine herbs. It’s a popular dish in Australia and I fell in love with it.

The views during the first hours after leaving Perth were amazing. There were wide, flat, open areas and hilly wooded scenes. All too soon the sun set on our first day and the world outside the train disappeared. The view became black.