First, allow me to note, I've never been to Australia in this life, and approaching age 79, and with COVID placing life as most of us know it on hold for easily another year and maybe even two, it is not likely I ever will. This even considering I have a Niece who resides permanently in Sydney NSW.
But when I was considering a trip down there, I did look at the NSW Train Link and a possible side trip to Melbourne. It appeared that the State Operated service appeared as excited to promote their intercity services to both Brisbane and Melbourne as Amtrak is to promote their LD's.
Reviewing YouTube videos of these trains, they don't look like anything on which to enjoy an experiential journey. If you want such in Australia, you need go to the private sector "Luxotrains" - and their AU$1200 a day fares. I further understand that the Sydney to Brisbane "Night Train" arrives somewhere out of town at 3AM - and it's "all out" and on to a bus to get to Downtown Brisbane.
While there is Sleeping Car service, you cannot book such on-line, and it's back to the old way of just pick up the phone and maybe you get lucky.
So any comment, anyone - especially from those for whom Australian rail travel is a "been there done that"?
But when I was considering a trip down there, I did look at the NSW Train Link and a possible side trip to Melbourne. It appeared that the State Operated service appeared as excited to promote their intercity services to both Brisbane and Melbourne as Amtrak is to promote their LD's.
Reviewing YouTube videos of these trains, they don't look like anything on which to enjoy an experiential journey. If you want such in Australia, you need go to the private sector "Luxotrains" - and their AU$1200 a day fares. I further understand that the Sydney to Brisbane "Night Train" arrives somewhere out of town at 3AM - and it's "all out" and on to a bus to get to Downtown Brisbane.
While there is Sleeping Car service, you cannot book such on-line, and it's back to the old way of just pick up the phone and maybe you get lucky.
So any comment, anyone - especially from those for whom Australian rail travel is a "been there done that"?