Railways and Tramways of Australia

Next stop Adelaide

 

The Indian Pacific arrived in Adelaide for the first time on 17 August 1986.

 

Inauguration of the Indian Pacific in 1970 provided a standard-gauge passenger train between Sydney and Perth. Passengers were able to cross the continent without changing trains for the first time. From inception the train travelled via Port Pirie, where it reversed before continuing its journey. At the time the standard-gauge line did not extend further south so the Indian Pacific was unable to run to Adelaide.

 

With the completion of the standard-gauge railway between Crystal Brook and Adelaide in 1982, it was possible for standard-gauge trains to continue further south. However, Adelaide station in the central business district was not equipped to accommodate the Indian Pacific. A new Adelaide Rail Passenger Terminal was opened at Keswick in May 1984. The new station included three platforms, each with a length of 500 metres.

 

The first Indian Pacific to Adelaide was hauled by locomotives GM12 and GM4. There was a large crowd on platforms 1 and 2 and inside the terminal building. Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris and Australian National Chairman Don Williams were among politicians and officials who welcomed the train to Adelaide. A welcoming ceremony followed and Australian National’s new conference car was unveiled. Williams said, ‘It will help improve the marketability of the service and add another dimension to the total journey for passengers.’

 

Future services of the Indian Pacific operated to and from Adelaide, which they continue to do today. The train travels south from Crystal Brook, bypassing Port Pirie. It backtracks to Crystal Brook before continuing on its journey.

 

The Adelaide stop provided Indian Pacific passengers with the opportunity to break their journey and join a later service. Organised off-train excursions are now offered.

 

Bibliography

‘Inaugural arrival of Indian Pacific into Adelaide’, Catch Point, no. 55, September 1986, p 18.

‘Indian Pacific goes to Adelaide’, Railways of Australia Network, vol. 23, no. 4, October–December 1986, p 50–1.

‘The Indian-Pacific, The Recorder, vol. 24, no. 1, October 1986, p 10.