Boarded the India-Pacific for the approximately 41 hour journey from Perth to Adelaide across the Nullabor Plain, including the longest straight stretch of track to be found anywhere, all 297 miles (477 km) of it!

I had a single berth similar to that on the Ghan and Trans-Canada.

Left Perth on time for the first leg to Kalgoorlie, where we arrived at 23:30. I declined the tour of the pit and the town in the dark, a decision confirmed by comments of fellow passengers the next day!

Woke up the following morning and an early breakfast, the food on board is excellent, and soon after spotted the sign marking the start of the section of straight track.

Some 180 miles on we stopped for 30 minutes at the town of Cook. Once a railway town with a school, hospital and swimming pool, it now has just 4 inhabitants.

A further curiosity was the airfield at Forrest. This is now an emergency strip and the people who look after it offer a B&B for light aircraft pilots and passengers.

Arrived in Adelaide about 10 minutes early.