After several attempts over the last forty years, Australia is ready to establish its first high-speed rail network, which will span the entire eastern coast of the country, connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and several regional areas.
However, this is not the country’s first ambitious railway project. The Ghan, Australia’s most famous luxury train, covers nearly 3,000 kilometers, linking Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs in 48 hours. It may not look like it, with its luxurious services, but this train has a wild history intertwined with the remote landscapes of the Outback.
The Ghan: A Story That Began in the Late 1800s
The construction of the railway line on which The Ghan runs today dates back to 1878, but expansion toward Alice Springs didn’t start until 1926 and was completed in 1929. Up until then, camels were used to cover the last leg of the journey. Indeed, the train’s nickname, which originates from the original name The Afghan Express, pays homage to the Afghan cameleers who arrived in Australia in the 19th century and opened access to the uncharted interior, covering the arduous route before the railway arrived.
Initially, the line followed the telegraph route traced by Scottish explorer John McDouall Stuart during his traverse of Australia in 1862. In 1980, the line was shifted about 100 miles west to avoid the frequent floods and hydrological issues that plagued the original route. Finally, in 2004, the last segment to Darwin in the Top End was completed, allowing The Ghan to connect the north and south, crossing the entire continent.
