As I write this, we are 30 minutes outside of Adelaide.
The Indian Pacific train features three classes of service: red, gold, and platinum. These are roughly analogous with Y, J, and F. In red, one gets a spacious recliner seat with an expansive pitch similar to DL’s int’l J recliner seats. Food is however sold a la carte. Gold service is subdivided into superior with a ¾ double bed, twinette bunk beds, or single cabins. I occupy a single cabin. Platinum cabins include proper double beds or a pair of twins. Pricing is fairly straightforward, though with a 1/3 concession for seniors. That said, everyone here in gold is on a fare no less than 2/3 of $2100 (single), 3k (twinette), or 4k (superior ¾). Platinum cabins are 6k.
Platinum and gold take their meals in the Queen Adelaide dining cars (all identical) and have access to drinks (complimentary) in the Outback Explorer lounge cars. Food, beverages, and lounges are the same for gold and plat. More money only buys more space, to keep it simple.
The choice of alcohol is extensive. Besides soft drinks and bottled water, there are 8 beers (James Boag, Crown, James Squire 4 wives, Cooper’s pale ale, cascade light, others), 2 sparkling wines (not bad, actually), and 10 choices EACH for red and white wine. Basic spirits (Smirnoff, JW Red, etc) are included, though premium ones are offered for extra.
The food has blown away anything I have eaten on a plane. Then again, they have a kitchen. Dinner last night began with sweet potato soup, 5 spice duck breast with mash & greens, and orange/passionfruit cake. For breakfast today, I had creamed Tasmanian eggs served on ciabatta topped with smoked ocean trout, rocket/arugula, and fresh coarse-ground black pepper.
The service has been attentive and impeccable. Each carriage has its own attendant, while each lounge has its own host coordinating off train activities and mealtimes. Additionally, each lounge has a bartender. As alcohol is complementary as of April 1 of this year, he’s been a busy man.
At 23, I am easily 1/3 of the average age on board. A select few look as if they won’t survive the (mild, 15+ degree) winter! Fortunately, I get along effortlessly with older people and don’t automatically fail socially with those of different generations. For some reason, this is a rare trait. Then again\, as a child, I was around adults for years and chose not to socialise with the other kids. Hmm. A few reviews of the IP and the Ghan by middle aged people relate their difficulties in talking with the seniors. I have found them most convivial. Again, the open bar helps.
The whistle-stop tour today was Broken Hill. The original mining company, Broken Hill Paddock became BHP. Also, Mario’s Palace Hotel featured prominently in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. It was the garishly painted hotel they passed a night at.
The journey so far has been geographically interesting. Leaving central Sydney, we passed through the Blue Mountains at sunset. Dawn cracked as we approached Broken Hill. By late morning, we were going through decidedly marginal land with only short scrub and the odd emu. However, within 3 hours of reaching Adelaide, the terrain became markedly greener and replete with picturesque rolling hills.
To view pictures properly, click the thumbnail, then click on the imageshack image you are linked to. You must do both to get the full-size image
A diagram of my cabin. It is approx 6.5 ft long, 4 feet at the widest, and 3 at the most narrow point.
Shots of one of the gold/plat lounge cars.
Dawn over broken hill.
A few hours west of Broken hill.
Sheep!
My tasmanian eggs via the company's (Great Southern Rail) FB page.
A field:
Olives
Green Hills