The experience of an American tourist who clung to the outside of the Ghan for some 200kms before he was discovered by staff certainly makes rail travel sound exciting. Most people , however, like a less dangerous , more relaxing form of a trip . Little Darwin recently went to East Arm Railway Station to meet a friend who had made the trip north from Adelaide in Red Service , the cheapest .
This person , a mature age woman , has travelled extensively overseas and within Australia. After experiencing the Ghan , she said she would not recommend the trip to anybody . Boarding the Ghan was delayed in Adelaide for half an hour because of internal repairs which were performed on a carriage. A railway employee apologised and said it was due to the fact that the rolling stock is so old , dating from the l950s!, needing frequent repairs.
During the trip, without warning , the wash basin in the woman’s compartment fell open and would not lock back into position. It was reported to staff, but remained in the down position from Alice to Darwin. Why the bloody hell aren’t you tourists over here in the Territory seeing the wonderful outback reflected in a wash basin which could make you see stars if it fell on your noggin? The basic light meals /snacks and service offered did not impress. Our friend is somewhat of a gourmet and likes to sink her reduced number of teeth into fancy food and new dishes. She also has a penchant for Continental pastries ,especially strudel . No fricassee of Alice camel did she find offered aboard the Ghan . Maybe in the Platignum and Gold Service sections ? Questions asked by females of the male railway employee in the carriage resulted in unsatisfactory responses as if they were “ giggly backpackers .”
As the Ghan slowly pulled into Darwin , the lead loco , decorated with its painted logo incorporating a camel (not on the menu) portrayed an air of outback adventure. However, the battered following diesel electric looked as if it had been salvaged from that bombed and burnt out line of vehicles leading from Kuwait to Baghdad in the first Gulf War. Either that, or it had had an encounter with a deaf Territory truck driver at a level crossing.
Luggage from the train was loaded onto trolleys and then, piled high, hauled manually by a young male directed by an older man . This is obviously a reversal of the usual practice of wearing out the old buggers first . No airport prime mover trolley equipment. here . What does Occupational Health and Safety have to say about this ?
A person waiting to meet people on the train pointed out the railway had never been intended to carry passengers , but now it seemed to be the main business .The Darwin railway station was a hopeless situation in the wet , he added, wide open to the elements.
Before the railway was built through to Darwin there was brave talk that the Adelaide car builder Mitsubishi would transport its vehicles to Darwin and they would be put aboard ships for Asia , the Middle East, etc. Mitsubishi, of course, went into reverse and the rest of the Australian car industry , along with component suppliers , is depressed . The massive expansion of mining activities at Olympic Dam in South Australia seems to hold out some hope for the railway which is in deep financial trouble and up for sale.
Meanwhile, the facilities and service for train travellers to and from the Territory needs attention . The recently appointed NT travel/ transport wallah should catch the Ghan to Adelaide , in the Red Service section , and wear a crash helmet to avoid being donged by a wash basin.
This person , a mature age woman , has travelled extensively overseas and within Australia. After experiencing the Ghan , she said she would not recommend the trip to anybody . Boarding the Ghan was delayed in Adelaide for half an hour because of internal repairs which were performed on a carriage. A railway employee apologised and said it was due to the fact that the rolling stock is so old , dating from the l950s!, needing frequent repairs.
During the trip, without warning , the wash basin in the woman’s compartment fell open and would not lock back into position. It was reported to staff, but remained in the down position from Alice to Darwin. Why the bloody hell aren’t you tourists over here in the Territory seeing the wonderful outback reflected in a wash basin which could make you see stars if it fell on your noggin? The basic light meals /snacks and service offered did not impress. Our friend is somewhat of a gourmet and likes to sink her reduced number of teeth into fancy food and new dishes. She also has a penchant for Continental pastries ,especially strudel . No fricassee of Alice camel did she find offered aboard the Ghan . Maybe in the Platignum and Gold Service sections ? Questions asked by females of the male railway employee in the carriage resulted in unsatisfactory responses as if they were “ giggly backpackers .”
As the Ghan slowly pulled into Darwin , the lead loco , decorated with its painted logo incorporating a camel (not on the menu) portrayed an air of outback adventure. However, the battered following diesel electric looked as if it had been salvaged from that bombed and burnt out line of vehicles leading from Kuwait to Baghdad in the first Gulf War. Either that, or it had had an encounter with a deaf Territory truck driver at a level crossing.
Luggage from the train was loaded onto trolleys and then, piled high, hauled manually by a young male directed by an older man . This is obviously a reversal of the usual practice of wearing out the old buggers first . No airport prime mover trolley equipment. here . What does Occupational Health and Safety have to say about this ?
A person waiting to meet people on the train pointed out the railway had never been intended to carry passengers , but now it seemed to be the main business .The Darwin railway station was a hopeless situation in the wet , he added, wide open to the elements.
Before the railway was built through to Darwin there was brave talk that the Adelaide car builder Mitsubishi would transport its vehicles to Darwin and they would be put aboard ships for Asia , the Middle East, etc. Mitsubishi, of course, went into reverse and the rest of the Australian car industry , along with component suppliers , is depressed . The massive expansion of mining activities at Olympic Dam in South Australia seems to hold out some hope for the railway which is in deep financial trouble and up for sale.
Meanwhile, the facilities and service for train travellers to and from the Territory needs attention . The recently appointed NT travel/ transport wallah should catch the Ghan to Adelaide , in the Red Service section , and wear a crash helmet to avoid being donged by a wash basin.
