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Make tracks - a new era of rail travel

Monday, January 11, 2010

Source: Catherine Deshayes

A new era of rail travel will begin today with the inaugural journey of the Southern Spirit from Uluru to Brisbane. The train is run by Great Southern Rail - the company that operates the Ghan and the Indian Pacific - but it offers a different experience to those well-known trains...

Southern Spirit passengers get on and off at places of interest, take tours, attend events and, in some locations, stay overnight in hotels.

While the 13-night Grand Tour officially begins today, passengers stay at Sails in the Desert near Uluru tonight and Kings Canyon Resort tomorrow night before being bussed to Alice Springs and the waiting train.

Off-train tours and experiences for this tour include the Sounds of Silence dinner at Uluru, mining in Coober Pedy, a day tour of Kangaroo Island, a visit to the Phillip Island penguins and a tasting tour in the Hunter Valley.

The second itinerary, the Coastal Epic, leaves Brisbane on January 24 and arrives at Uluru on February 6.

Prices for both trips, including meals, touring and off-train accommodation, are $10,590 a person in gold class and $13,999 in platinum.

Source: thesouthernspirit.com.au.