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The ''Indian Pacific'' is an Australian passenger rail service that operates between Sydney, on the Pacific Ocean, and Perth, on the Indian Ocean.〔(Indian Pacific Timetable ) Great Southern Rail〕 It is one of the few truly transcontinental trains in the world. The train first ran in February 1970 after the completion of gauge conversion projects in South and Western Australia. The train's route includes the world's longest straight stretch of railway track, a stretch of the Trans-Australian Railway over the Nullarbor Plain.〔(Facts about the Nullabor Plain ) Outback Australia Travel Guide〕 The service was originally operated jointly by the New South Wales Government Railways, South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways and Western Australian Government Railways, until February 1993 when Australian National took full ownership. In October 1997 the ''Indian Pacific'' was sold to Great Southern Rail. A one-way trip originally took 75 hours, but with line and efficiency improvements it now takes 65 hours. The train currently has four classes, branded as Platinum, Gold Service and Red Service Sleeper and Red Service Daynighter and also a motorail service to convey passengers' motor vehicles.〔(Indian Pacific fares 2013 - 2014 ) Great Southern Rail〕 ==History== The first ''Indian Pacific'' service left Sydney on 23 February 1970, becoming the first direct train to cross the Australian continent, made possible by the completion of the east-west standard gauge project a few months earlier. The service was originally operated jointly by the four operators whose networks it traversed with revenues and costs apportioned New South Wales Government Railways (28.5%), South Australian Railways (10%), Commonwealth Railways (45%) and Western Australian Government Railways (16.5%). Locomotives and crews were provided by the New South Wales Government Railways 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 Kalgoolie and West Australian Government Railways between Kalgoolie and Perth. The Indian Pacific featured in an episode of BBC Television's ''Great Railway Journeys of the World'' series in 1980, presented by Michael Frayn. The train originally operated twice per week. 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. By 1983, the service had been reduced to three times weekly. The service was suspended from 2 December 1982 to 25 April 1983 due to an industrial dispute over staffing levels in South Australia. From August 1986, the train commenced operating via Adelaide.〔〔"Western Report" ''Railway Digest'' September 1986 page 281〕 In June 1991, the service was cut from three times a week to two.〔"Interstate cutbacks" ''Railway Digest'' July 1991 page 231〕 This was reduced to weekly in January 1992 between Sydney and Adelaide with two services a week between Adelaide and Perth.〔"Indian Pacific service cut to weekly" ''Railway Digest'' February 1992 page 50〕 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.〔"IP to come under sole control of AN" ''Railway Digest'' March 1992〕〔"IP handed to AN" ''Railway Digest'' February 1993〕 From January 1994 the service was operated throughout by Australian National CL class locomotives.〔"CLP Class Locos Take-Over Indian Pacific Workings" ''Railway Digest'' March 1994〕 Australian National restored a second weekly service. As part of the privatisation of Australian National, the Indian Pacific, along with ''The Ghan'' and ''The Overland'', was sold to Great Southern Rail in October 1997.〔(Great Southern Railway Consortium completes acquisition of Australian National Railways Passenger Business ) Serco Group plc 31 October 1997〕 Motive power provision was contracted to National Rail. Today the ''Indian Pacific'' operates weekly, with a second service between September and November. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Indian Pacific」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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