middle of nowhere.....
Bob,
Normanton (where the train originates) is out beyond the Black Stump. Normanton has a pop. of about 1,500, and is at the base of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the local Shire covers 68,000 sq kms (28,500 sq miles), with a pop of about 2800. The line runs for about 150 kms to Croydon (pop. 316) and runs once a week (wednesdays) and return journey on Thursdays). Average speed of about 55 kph (33 mph). What is there to see? Absolutely nothing but scrub. Not even farmland. But it IS the outback. The nearest main centre to Normanton is Mt Isa (a mining town) and that is 500 kms (300 miles) away. Mt Isa is the largest city in the world. (pop 25,000 and area of 41,000 sq kms (17,000 sq miles). Mt Isa is 1900kms (1200 miles) north from Brisbane by road. Could be a bit far to go just to ride a train! But well worth the experience, and as you can see by the figures I've quoted, there is NOTHING there, but magnificent country (all flat, no hills), and an experience of the outback.
Yes. You can go from Brisbane to Sydney by train. It runs once a day (daytime) from Brisbane, and overnight Sydney to Brisbane. It takes about 14 hours. The Brisbane - Sydney journey would be the one i'd reccommend as it is daylight for the journey. One way fare is $110 economy, $154 first class, and $231 for the sleeper compartment (overnight journey). ($AUS of course). Plane fares are as low as $80 one way Sydney - Brisbane. However, you can get a "railpass" for overseas visitors for a period of 1 month for $198 (cheaper than one return Syd/Bris ticket) that will give you unlimited travel on NSW trains (including journeys to Brisbane and Melbourne), however is economy class only. Sydney - Melbourne is about 11 hours. This railpass would also give you the opportunity to travel on the Indian-Pacific (Syd - Perth) as far as Broken Hill in western NSW (journey about 16 hours). However, you may have to wait 2 days for the train coming the other way to bring you back to Sydney, and it is an overnight journey each way. You can also get a 14 day pass for $165.
Just $AUS/2 for $US.
Just let me know if you wanna know anything more!
