Australia by Rail, 4th Includes city guides to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra

by Taylor, Colin

• ISBN13: 9781873756409
• ISBN10: 1873756402
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-20
• Publisher: Trail Blazer Pubns

Summary

From the vast emptiness of the Nullarbor Plain, on the longest straight rail line in the world, to the twisting tracks of outback Queensland and the rainforests of the north, Australia's railways offer a rich variety of contrasting experiences. Taking the train is an ideal way to explore the continent in comfort and even style. * Fully revised 4th edition - updated and expanded: with 64 new maps * Rail travel for all budgets - from the five-star luxury of the Great South Pacific Express to economy sleeping berths for budget-conscious travellers, plus full details of the Austrailpass and other passes and ticket bargains * Railway route guides with 50 rail maps - all main lines and branches, what to look out for as you travel and where to stop * Railway history - and the battle for the survival of rail in Australia * City guides and maps - the best sights, recommended hotels and restaurants in many stops along the lines; with extensive sections on Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra

Author Biography

Colin Taylor, retired associate professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences and Planning at the University of Queensland, Australia, has held town-planning positions in Victoria, Tasmania and Scotland, and has given conference papers and talks on planning and transportation all over the world. He has also produced articles and broadcasts on the fascination of railways. In the last 30 years he has taken more than 6000 rail journeys in Australia and overseas, covering some 375,000 miles. He compiles the biennial World Speed Review for Railway Gazette International and is also the author of Great Rail Non-Journeys of Australia, Steel Roads of Australia and Traincatcher.

Table of Contents

Introduction	9	(1)
Important notes	10	(5)
PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Getting to Australia
Making a booking (in the UK and Eire 13, in Continental Europe	15	(1)
in North America	16	(1)
in Australasia	17	(1)
in South Africa	17	(1)
in Asia	18	(1)
Before you leave
When to go	18	(1)
Passports and visas	19	(1)
What to bring	19	(1)
Health	19	(2)
Money	21	(1)
Tourist information	21	(1)
Rail travel in Australia
Obtaining information	21	(2)
Rail travel centres and booking offices	23	(2)
Reservations	25	(1)
Fares	26	(1)
Classes	27	(1)
Rail passes
The Austrailpass	28	(2)
Other passes (New South Wales	30	(1)
Victoria	31	(1)
Queensland	31	(1)
Western Australia	32	(1)
Major routes and services
Travelling the network	33	(1)
Scenic routes	34	(3)
The trains
Introduction	37	(1)
Interstate trains	38	(10)
Other long-distance trains	48	(11)
Suburban and interurban trains	59	(2)
Tour and itinerary options
Introduction	61	(1)
Planning a 14-day itinerary	62	(3)
Some 14-day itineraries	65	(5)
Itineraries for a one-month Austrailpass	70	(1)
Pre-planned packages	70	(5)
Planning your own itinerary	75	(1)
Itinerary variations and side trips (From Sydney	76	(3)
From Melbourne	79	(1)
Melbourne to Sydney	80	(1)
Sydney to Brisbane	81	(2)
In Queensland	83	(9)
PART 2: AUSTRALIA
Facts about the country
Geography	92	(1)
Climate	93	(1)
The environment	94	(3)
History	97	(2)
Australian society today	99	(1)
Practical information for the traveller
Arriving in Australia	100	(1)
Getting around	101	(1)
Accommodation and eating out	102	(2)
Time	104	(1)
Post and telecommunications	104	(1)
Electricity	104	(1)
Banks and money matters	104	(1)
Tipping	105	(1)
Holiday periods	105	(2)
Culture and leisure activities	107	(2)
PART 3: THE RAILWAY SYSTEM
History
Introduction	109	(1)
The problem of different gauges	109	(4)
Rationalisation and line closures	113	(1)
Electrification and modernisation	114	(2)
Facts and figures	116	(1)
The public face of the system today	117	(2)
Trends and the future
Fragmentation	119	(1)
Traffice and attitudes	120	(1)
The future?	121	(2)
PART 4: CITY GUIDES AND PLANS
Intercapital connections	123	(3)
Sydney
Orientation	126	(1)
What to see and do	127	(4)
Where to stay	131	(2)
Where to eat	133	(1)
Day trips from Sydney	133	(5)
Two-day and longer trips from Sydney	138	(1)
Melbourne
Orientation	139	(1)
What to see and do	139	(3)
Where to stay	142	(1)
Where to eat	143	(1)
A day's travel in the suburban area	144	(1)
Day trips from Melbourne	144	(5)
Two- and three-day trips from Melbourne	149	(1)
Brisbane
Orientation	149	(1)
What to see and do	150	(2)
Where to stay	152	(2)
Where to eat	154	(1)
Day trips from Brisbane	155	(5)
Adelaide
Orientation	160	(1)
What to see and do	161	(1)
Where to stay	161	(1)
Where to eat	162	(3)
Day trips from Adelaide	165	(1)
Perth
Orientation	165	(1)
What to see and do	166	(2)
Where to stay	168	(1)
Where to eat	168	(2)
Excursions from Perth	170	(1)
Canberra
Orientation	171	(1)
What to see and do	171	(1)
Where to stay and eat	172	(2)
PART 5: ROUTE GUIDES AND MAPS
Using the route guide	174	(99)
TransAustralia route
Sydney to Alice Springs (via Adelaide)	175	(14)
Tarcoola to Perth	189	(8)
South-east Australia
Adelaide to Melbourne	197	(5)
Coastal and inland routes in Victoria
Melbourne to Ballarat	202	(1)
Geelong to Warrnambool	203	(1)
Melbourne to Swan Hill and Echuca	204	(4)
Seymour to Shepperton (and Cobram)	208	(1)
Melbourne to the Dandenongs	209	(1)
Melbourne to Sale	210	(1)
Melbourne to Sydney and branches
Melbourne to Benalla	211	(1)
Benalla to Albury/Wodonga	212	(2)
Albury/Wodonga to Junee	214	(2)
Junee to Griffith	216	(1)
Junee to Goulburn	217	(1)
Goulburn to Sydney	218	(2)
Sydney to northern NSW and Brisbane
Sydney to Newcastle	220	(1)
Newcastle to Maitland	221	(1)
Maitland to Werris Creek	222	(2)
Werris Creek to Armidale	224	(1)
Werris Creek to Moree	225	(1)
The North Coast route (Maitland to Brisbane)	226	(3)
The Sunshine Route: Brisbane to Cairns
Brisbane to Bundaberg	229	(2)
Bundaberg to Rockhampton	231	(1)
Rockhampton to Proserpine	232	(1)
Proserpine to Townsville	233	(1)
Townsville to Cairns	234	(2)
Cairns	236	(1)
Routes in outback Queensland
Brisbane to Charleville	237	(5)
Rockhampton to Winton	242	(5)
Townsville to Mount Isa	247	(2)
Kuranda Scenic Railway	249	(1)
Mareeba to Forsayth	250	(5)
PART 6: FOR THE ENTHUSIAST
New South Wales including Canberra	255	(5)
Victoria	260	(3)
Queensland	263	(5)
South Australia	268	(2)
Western Australia	270	(1)
Northern Territory	271	(1)
Tasmania	271	(2)
Envoi	273
APPENDICES
A: Bibliography	274
B: Australian English	275
C: Glossary	276
D: Useful bus/rail connections	277