History
With the remaining narrow gauge parts of the East-west rail corridor being gauge converted to standard gauge in 1966, the Department of Railways New South Wales, South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways and Western Australian Government Railways agreed that a through passenger service from Sydney Central to East Perth Terminal be inaugurated. Originally to be named The Transcontinental, in 1969, the Indian Pacific name was adopted by a joint meeting of transport ministers.[10][11][12]
The service was originally operated jointly by the four operators whose networks it traversed, with revenues and costs apportioned Department of Railways New South Wales (28.5%), South Australian Railways (10%), Commonwealth Railways (45%) and Western Australian Government Railways (16.5%).[13][14]
The first Indian Pacific service left Sydney on 23 February 1970, becoming the first direct train to cross the Australian continent,[15] made possible by the completion of the east-west standard gauge project a few months earlier. At the time it was the third longest passenger train in terms of distance after services on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Canadian.[16]
Locomotives and crews were provided by the Department of Railways New South Wales between Sydney and Broken Hill, South Australian Railways between Broken Hill and Port Pirie, the Commonwealth Railways between Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie and Western Australian Government Railways between Kalgoorlie and Perth. With the formation of Australian National in July 1975, it provided locomotives and crews from Broken Hill to Kalgoorlie. Locomotives were changed at Lithgow, Broken Hill, Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie.
On-board crews were originally provided between Sydney and Port Pirie by Commonwealth Railways on one service and New South Wales Government Railways on the other services, Commonwealth Railways between Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie and West Australian Government Railways between Kalgoorlie and Perth.
The train originally operated twice per week. In times of heavy demand, a double consist would operate. It would operate in New South Wales as two trains before being combined at Broken Hill.[17][18]
In July 1973, a third service was introduced followed in July 1975 by a fourth, these later two being extensions of existing Trans-Australian services.[19][20][21] In October 1976, a motorail service was introduced between Port Pirie and Perth.[22] Originally vehicles were loaded in Perth at the Kewdale Freight Terminal before a car loading ramp was built at East Perth station.[23][24]
The service was suspended from 2 December 1982 to 25 April 1983 due to an industrial dispute over staffing levels in South Australia.[25][26] When it resumed, the service was reduced to three times weekly with the second class sleepers replaced by sitting carriages.[27][28][29]
From August 1986, the train commenced operating via Adelaide.[29][30][31] In October 1988 the motorail service was extended through to Sydney.[32]
In June 1991, the service was cut from three times a week to two.[33][34][35] This was reduced to weekly in January 1992 between Sydney and Adelaide with two services a week between Adelaide and Perth.[36][37]
In February 1993, Australian National took over operation of the service throughout after agreement was reached with the State Rail Authority and Westrail in 1992.[38][39][40] A second service resumed in August 1993.[41]
From January 1994, the service was operated throughout by Australian National CL class locomotives.[42]
As part of the privatisation of Australian National, the Indian Pacific, along with The Ghan and The Overland, was sold to Great Southern Rail (now known as Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions) in October 1997.[43] Motive power provision was contracted to National Rail. As from 2016, the Indian Pacific operates weekly.[44] A second service operated between September and November until 2015.[45]
