Uphill climb for Indian Pacific

The world-famous train linking Australia’s east and west coasts via the Nullarbor Plain is trimming services to cope with competition from low-cost airlines and the cruise ship market.

Great Southern Railway, which operates the Indian Pacific between Perth and Sydney via Adelaide, is to drop one service a week from March 28, two months earlier than it usually scales back for the low season.

The Ghan, linking Darwin and Adelaide via Alice Springs, will from April 4 also only operate one service a week.

GSR interim general manager Russell Westmoreland told RailPage Australia that staff cuts could not be ruled out.

“This is a commercial decision, like we saw Qantas have to do last year,” he said. “We know it will have an impact on guests, but it is what we need to do for the survival of the industry.”

The biggest threat is cruise ships, he said. “With most ships flying under international flags, operators pay staff wages based on offshore awards in different currencies.”

Tourism group Australia’s Golden Outback chief executive Jack Eerbeek said GSR could ensure its future by freshening up its product and catering for an army of retiring baby boomers.

“While the Indian Pacific has been well maintained, there is nothing new, like an observation deck, or a double-decker train cabin,” he said. “Some of these new things could rekindle some interest in the product.”