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Adelaide-Darwin railway on track for a long haul
16 Jan 2004
After 100 years of waiting, the Adelaide-Darwin railway was launched yesterday after a last-minute hitch. After speeches and celebrations, the train got underway 15 minutes late on its historic journey to Darwin, leaving under a fire brigade water salute as a big band played.
The train is carrying 1,300 tonnes of freight; it will arrive in Darwin at 1.30pm tomorrow after stopping for ceremonies at Port Augusta, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, and Katherine. The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Darwin on the train.
The first passenger train to travel on the railway will leave Adelaide in early February.
The railway is Australia's largest infrastructure project, costing $1.4 billion. Freightlink predicts that the railway will carry 80 per cent of existing freight volumes between Adelaide and Darwin. Stevedores chief Chris Corrigan has remarked, however, that he reckons financial returns from the railway will be "smaller than a tick's testicles".
Herald Sun, 16/1/04
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