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High-speed rail plans may finally end Australia’s 40-year wait to get on board

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-laird-3503">Philip Laird</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Australia has debated and studied high-speed rail for four decades. The High Speed Rail Authority has begun <a href="https://www.hsra.gov.au/project">work on a project</a> that could finally deliver some high-speed rail in the 2030s. The Albanese government set up the authority in 2022. It also committed A$500 million to plan and protect a high-speed rail corridor between Sydney and Newcastle. This corridor was prioritised due to significant capacity constraints on the existing line, among other reasons. The ultimate plan is for a high-speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast. The network would help Australia in its urgent task to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. These <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/towards-net-zero-transport-and-infrastructure">continue to increase</a> even as emissions from other sectors fall. The authority has now publicly outlined plans for the first stage of this east coast network. After a history of failed proposals dating back to 1984, the new plans provide some cause for optimism that Australia could have some high-speed rail by 2037. <h2>What is high-speed rail and why do we need it?</h2> The International Rail Union of Railways <a href="https://uic.org/passenger/highspeed">defines high-speed rail</a> as new lines designed for speeds of 250km/h or more and upgraded lines for speeds of at least 200km/h. High-speed rail could greatly reduce transport emissions by replacing <a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-how-to-get-from-brisbane-to-melbourne-without-wrecking-the-climate-our-transport-choices-make-a-huge-difference-237396">air travel in particular</a>. For example, the <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/domestic_airline_activity-monthly_publications">7.92 million passengers</a> flying between Melbourne and Sydney in 2023-24 produced about 1.5 million tonnes of emissions. Including <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-air-travellers-can-cut-their-door-to-door-emissions-right-now-by-as-much-as-13-on-the-sydney-melbourne-route-211099">travel to and from airports</a> and other flight routes along the corridor (Sydney or Melbourne to Canberra, Albury etc), this adds up to about 2% of <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/strategies/annual-climate-change-statement-2023">annual domestic transport emissions</a>. A Sydney–Melbourne high-speed rail link could cut emissions to a fraction of those from <a href="https://theconversation.com/wondering-how-to-get-from-brisbane-to-melbourne-without-wrecking-the-climate-our-transport-choices-make-a-huge-difference-237396">air</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-compared-land-transport-options-for-getting-to-net-zero-hands-down-electric-rail-is-the-best-234092">road</a> transport. If Australia is to achieve <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/emissions-reduction/net-zero">net zero by 2050</a>, a <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-compared-land-transport-options-for-getting-to-net-zero-hands-down-electric-rail-is-the-best-234092">shift to rail will be essential</a>. High-speed city-to-city rail services will be needed to become an attractive alternative to air travel. <h2>What is the authority working on?</h2> Early this year the High Speed Rail Authority gained a new CEO, Tim Parker, with extensive experience in delivering mega-projects. In late August, the authority outlined its plans at an industry briefing in Newcastle. The authority has commissioned eight studies, including a business case for a Sydney–Newcastle line. Significantly, it will include the cost of future highway upgrades if high-speed rail does not proceed. This study, along with a report on how high-speed rail will proceed along Australia’s east coast, is due by the end of this year. Also under way is a <a href="https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/all-aboard-high-speed-rail-accelerates-first-investigation-works">geotechnical study</a> that includes drilling 27 boreholes. It will help determine the proposed depths of two long rail tunnels and guide decisions on crossing the Hawkesbury River and the route to the Central Coast and on to Newcastle. All going well, including land acquisition and agreements with the New South Wales government (which could include funding), work could <a href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8743698/newcastle-high-speed-rail-possible-by-2037-as-tunnel-plan-emerges">start in 2027 and be completed by 2037</a>. <h2>Many questions remain</h2> Given the time and money required to deliver a Sydney–Newcastle line, bipartisan support will be needed. However, the federal opposition is yet to make a clear commitment to high-speed rail. There are other uncertainties too. Will the trains be operated by the public or private sector? The latter was the intention for projects that were scrapped decades ago, such as the CSIRO-proposed Very Fast Train (<a href="http://www.repositoryofideas.com/VFT_information.html">VFT</a>) linking Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and the Sydney–Canberra <a href="https://trid.trb.org/View/1203853">Speedrail</a>. And how will the engineering projects be delivered? The new authority must learn from the project management <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/news/independent-review-inland-rail-released">problems in delivering the Inland Rail</a> freight line. The project is running late and costs have blown out. Some major federally funded government projects have worked well. These include upgrades of the national highway system (by state road authorities and contractors) and the new <a href="https://www.westernsydneyairport.gov.au/">Western Sydney International Airport</a>, which is nearing completion. <h2>And what about a full Sydney–Melbourne line?</h2> The big question is when work will start on a Sydney–Melbourne high-speed rail service. In 2019, International High-Speed Rail Association chairman <a href="https://ara.net.au/media-release/ausrailplus-2019-conference-exhibition-3-5-december-2019-in-sydney/">Masafumi Shukuri estimated</a> building this line could take 20 years. The present line is 60km longer than it should be as the route dates back to the steam age. It also has far too many tight curves. This means train travel on this line is slower than cars and trucks. As former NSW State Rail chief Len Harper <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-than-ever-its-time-to-upgrade-the-sydney-melbourne-railway-187169">said</a> in 1995, this railway was already “inadequate for current and future needs” even back then. When the VFT was proposed in 1984, questions were raised as to whether our population was big enough for such a project. Now, more than 15.5 million people live in NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. Melbourne–Sydney is the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/the-world-s-busiest-flight-routes-and-airports-revealed-20231222-p5et7n.html">world’s fifth-busiest flight route</a>. Advocacy group Fastrack Australia <a href="https://www.fastrackaustralia.net/hsr-implementation-plan">has called</a> for a Sydney–Melbourne track built to high-speed standards and able to carry freight. The estimated travel time is four hours. This group and the <a href="https://www.railfutures.org.au/category/submissions/%20July%202024%20reducing%20emissions%20in%20freight">Rail Futures Institute</a> propose the line be built in stages, with priority given to the section from near Macarthur to Mittagong in NSW. This would reduce the current line’s length by about 18km and allow for better Sydney–Canberra train services. Urgent action is needed to protect the rail corridor from encroaching urban development. <h2>Australia needs to catch up</h2> In June 2023, when the new authority started work, I <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-the-new-high-speed-rail-authority-deliver-after-4-decades-of-costly-studies-206287">observed</a> that Australia must surely hold the world record for studies into high-speed rail with no construction. In stark contrast, this October marks the 60th anniversary of the world’s first dedicated high-speed rail line, the Tokaido Shinkansen in Japan linking Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. The network has since grown in stages to about 3,000km of lines. Today, high-speed rail <a href="https://uic.org/passenger/highspeed/article/high-speed-data-and-atlas">operates in 21 countries</a> over about 60,000km of lines – China has about 40,000km. Indonesia’s high-speed rail service between Jakarta and Bandung started running last year. India and Thailand are in the advanced stages of delivering high-speed rail. It’s also under construction in another 11 countries. Australia could finally join them in the next few years if it starts building the Sydney–Newcastle line.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238232/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-laird-3503">Philip Laird</a>, Honorary Principal Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/high-speed-rail-plans-may-finally-end-australias-40-year-wait-to-get-on-board-238232">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Sydney to Newcastle fast rail makes sense. Making trains locally does not

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese <a href="https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/our-policies/sydney-to-hunter-fast-rail">this week announced</a> a commitment to funding high-speed rail between Sydney and Newcastle. At speeds of more than 250km/h, this would cut the 150-minute journey from Sydney to Newcastle to just 45 minutes. Commuting between the two cities would be a lot more feasible. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439624/original/file-20220106-21-19utua0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439624/original/file-20220106-21-19utua0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> Proposed route for high-speed Melbourne to Brisbane rail. <a href="https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/corridor-preservation-east-coast-high-speed-rail" class="source">Infrastructure Australia</a> The Sydney-Newcastle link would be a first step in a grand plan to link the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane corridor by high-speed rail. Albanese also wants the trains to be built at home, <a href="https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/our-policies/sydney-to-hunter-fast-rail">saying</a> “we will look build as much of our fast and high-speed rail future in Australia as is possible”. Of course, this idea has been around for a long time. Nobody has ever got the numbers to stack up before. Federal infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher made the obvious but reasonable point that such a rail link would be very expensive. “It is $200 to $300 billion on any credible estimate,” he <a href="https://newcastleweekly.com.au/coalition-pulls-brakes-on-labors-fast-rail-plans/">said in response</a> to Labor’s announcement. “It has to be paid for, and that means higher taxes”. Or does it? <h2>Social cost-benefit analysis</h2> Traditional cost-benefit analysis is how governments tend to make decisions about big infrastructure projects like this. Figure out the costs (such as $300 billion) and then figure out the benefits. Adjust for timing differences and when money is spent and received, and then compare. This generates an “internal rate of return” (IRR) on the money invested. It’s what private companies do all the time. One then compares that IRR to some reference or “hurdle” rate. For a private company that might be 12% or so. For governments it is typically lower. An obvious question this raises is: what are the benefits? <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439623/original/file-20220106-27-vyofyv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439623/original/file-20220106-27-vyofyv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> An artist’s impression by Phil Belbin of the proposed VFT (Very Fast Train) in the 1980s. Comeng If all one is willing to count are things such as ticket fares, the numbers will almost never stack up. But that’s far too narrow a way to think about the financial benefits. A Sydney-Newcastle high-speed rail link would cut down on travel times, help ease congestion in Sydney, ease housing affordability pressures in Sydney, improve property values along the corridor and in Newcastle, provide better access to education and jobs, and more. The point is one has to think about the social value from government investments, not just the narrow commercial value. Alex Rosenberg, Rosalind Dixon and I provided a framework for this kind of “social return accounting” in a <a href="http://research.economics.unsw.edu.au/richardholden/assets/social-return-accounting.pdf">report</a> published in 2018. <h2>Newcastle might make sense, Brisbane might not</h2> I haven’t done the social cost-benefit analysis for this rail link, but the social return being greater than the cost is quite plausible. The other thing to remember is that the return a government should require has fallen materially in recent years. The Australian government can borrow for 10 years at just 1.78%, as opposed to <a href="http://www.worldgovernmentbonds.com/bond-historical-data/australia/10-years/">well over 5%</a> before the financial crisis of 2008. I’m less sure about the Brisbane to Melbourne idea. The cost would be dramatically higher for obvious reasons, as well as the fact that the topography en route to Brisbane is especially challenging. Nobody is going to commute from Sydney to Brisbane by rail, and the air routes between the three capitals are well serviced. <h2>Transport policy is not industry policy</h2> The decision about building a Sydney-Newcastle rail link is, and should be kept, completely separate from where the trains are made. Transport policy shouldn’t be hijacked for industry policy. To be fair, Newcastle has a long and proud history of <a href="https://www.ugllimited.com/en/our-sectors/transport">manufacturing rolling stock</a>, at what was the Goninan factory at Broadmeadow – much of it for export. But ask yourself how sustainable that industry looks in Australia, absent massive government support. Can it stand on its own? It’s also true there have been some recent high-profile procurement disasters buying overseas trains. Sydney’s light-rail project has run massively late and over budget, with Spanish company Acciona getting an extra A$600 million due to the project being more difficult than expected. Then <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/transport-minister-expects-spanish-manufacturer-to-pay-for-cracked-trams-20211110-p597tq.html">cracks were found</a> in all 12 trams for the city’s inner-west line, putting them out of service for 18 months. These are terrible bungles due to the government agreeing to poorly written contracts with sophisticated counterparties. When contracts don’t specify contingencies there is the possibility of what economists call the “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00236.x">hold-up problem</a>”. But these problems could have occurred with a local maker too. <h2>The Tinbergen Rule</h2> An enduring lesson from economics is the Tinbergen Rule – named after <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/1969/tinbergen/facts/">Jan Tinbergen</a>, winner of the first Nobel prize for economics. This rule says for each policy challenge one requires an independent policy instrument. This can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-evergrande-may-survive-but-for-its-executives-expect-a-fate-worse-than-debt-168930">widely applied</a>. But here the lesson is particularly clear. Addressing housing affordability is a good idea, and a Sydney-Newcastle link could help with that. But if Labor want a jobs policy it should develop one. The more TAFE places Labor has already announced is a reasonable start. Reviving 1970s-style industry policy – something that has almost never worked – is not a good move. Governments are lousy at picking winners. The public invariably ends up paying more for less, and the jobs are typically transient. But aside from this conflation of policy goals, Albanese deserves credit for being bold about the future of high-speed rail in Australia. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-holden-118107">Richard Holden</a>, Professor of Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vital-signs-sydney-to-newcastle-fast-rail-makes-sense-making-trains-locally-does-not-174341">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Instead of putting more massive trucks on our roads, we need to invest in our rail network

In recent years, the <a href="https://transport.vic.gov.au/ports-and-freight/freight-victoria">Victoria</a> and <a href="https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/strategy/nsw-freight-and-ports-plan">New South Wales</a> governments have both unveiled strategies to move more freight across the country by rail and ease the increasing pressure of goods moving through the two largest container ports. The reality is, however, the numbers of containers coming and going by rail to the Port of Melbourne and Sydney’s Port Botany have been going backwards. <h2>More massive trucks on Victoria’s highways</h2> The Port of Melbourne moves more containers than any other port in Australia. In 2020-21, <a href="https://www.portofmelbourne.com/about-us/trade-statistics/quarterly-trade-reports/">3.3 million</a> containers passed through the port, a <a href="https://www.portofmelbourne.com/about-us/trade-statistics/historical-trade-data/">30% increase from ten years ago</a>. Over this time, the percentage of containers moving by rail has fallen, reaching a <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Container%20stevedoring%20monitoring%20report%202020-21.pdf">low of 6.1% in 2020-21</a>. This has meant the number of trucks going to and from the Port of Melbourne has significantly increased. This has been assisted by improvements to the state’s roads and bridges. But the Victoria government also in mid-2021 <a href="https://transport.vic.gov.au/about/transport-news/news-archive/guiding-road-freight">approved</a> large “A Double” trucks being able to access the Port of Melbourne. These trucks can carry two 12-metre containers and be up to 36 metres long – much longer than the standard semitrailer at 19 metres. Large numbers of trucks accessing the ports not only add to road construction and maintenance bills, they also make our roads less safe and more congested, and add to noise and air pollution. The <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/994-epc-lc/inquiry-into-air-pollution">recently released report</a> into the health effects of air pollution in Victoria notes the city of Maribyrnong has some of Australia’s highest levels of diesel pollution. This is mostly due to the number of trucks accessing the Port of Melbourne each day. The report also notes the transport sector is accountable for <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/SCEP/Air_Pollution/Report/LCEPC_59-04_Health_impacts_air_pollution_Vic_Report.pdf">20% of Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions</a>. In 2018, Victoria introduced a new <a href="https://transport.vic.gov.au/getting-around/roads/heavy-vehicles">freight plan</a> that included initiatives to move more goods from the port by rail. One of these projects was the Port Rail Shuttle Network, a $28 million investment to connect the freight terminal in South Dandenong to the rail network. This is now underway. Increasing the amount of freight moving by rail will not only make our roads safer and reduce maintenance costs, it makes environmental sense – <a href="https://www.railfutures.org.au/2017/07/submission-to-inquiry-into-national-freight-and-supply-chain-priorities">rail freight produces one-third the emissions of road freight</a>. However, rail freight in Victoria is crippled by two different track gauges and tracks with too many temporary and permanent speed restrictions. Without greater investment to improve the rail system, it remains a less feasible option than moving freight on massive trucks on our roads. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437972/original/file-20211216-19-ljbvpc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> A freight train passing through a level crossing in Cootamundra, NSW. Shutterstock <h2>Sydney’s situation is not much better</h2> A recent NSW <a href="https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/rail-freight-and-greater-sydney">auditor-general report</a> said the volume of freight passing through Greater Sydney is expected to increase by 48% by 2036. In 2020-21, <a href="https://www.nswports.com.au/nsw-ports-ceo-update-july-2021">2.7 million containers</a> moved through Port Botany. The NSW government had planned to increase the number of containers moving by rail from the port to <a href="https://www.nswports.com.au/resources-filtered/trade-reports">28% by 2021</a>. However, the auditor-general report said this effort would fall short. Just 16% is currently carried by rail. This means more trucks on the roads in NSW, as well. The NSW government has also recently <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/congestion-compounded-as-more-trucks-added-to-sydney-roads-20201101-p56aix.html">given permission</a> for “A Double” trucks to access Port Botany. The auditor-general report made recommendations on how NSW Transport could improve the operation of the state’s rail network to allow for more rail freight. It noted, for example, 54 trucks could be replaced by one 600-metre-long port shuttle freight train. <h2>Rail moving less intercity freight</h2> The rail network between Australia’s two largest cities is outdated and under-utilised. In fact, the proportion of freight moving between Melbourne and Sydney on rail has <a href="https://pacificnational.com.au/australias-major-highway-now-a-conveyor-belt-for-big-trucks/">fallen to about 1% today</a>. In 1970, it was <a href="https://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/2000/is_017">about 40%</a>. This is, in part, due to the total <a href="https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/environment/protecting-heritage/hume-highway-duplication/index.html">reconstruction</a> of the Hume Highway from a basic two-lane road to a modern dual carriageway, completed in 2013. There are now over <a href="https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/corporate-publications/statistics/traffic-volumes/aadt-map/index.html#/?z=6&id=GNDSTC&hv=1">20 million tonnes of freight</a> moved each year on the Hume Highway, with over 3,800 trucks on the road each day (and night at Gundagai). The result is more road trauma, higher maintenance bills and pressure for further road upgrades. Plus more emissions. The Sydney-Melbourne rail track, meanwhile, has been left with severe speed weight restrictions and a “steam age” alignment characterised by tight curves. It is also over 60 kms longer than it needs to be. <h2>From a national perspective</h2> Getting more freight on rail is not helped by hidden government subsidies to heavy truck operations, which in my estimations exceed <a href="https://theconversation.com/distance-based-road-charges-will-improve-traffic-and-if-done-right-wont-slow-australias-switch-to-electric-cars-150290">$2 billion per year</a>. It is also made harder by the current <a href="https://www.freightaustralia.gov.au/">National Freight and Supply Chain strategy</a>, which puts much more emphasis on increasing truck productivity with ever larger trucks. Instead, much more attention is needed to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of rail freight.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172491/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/philip-laird-3503">Philip Laird</a>, Honorary Principal Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/instead-of-putting-more-massive-trucks-on-our-roads-we-need-to-invest-in-our-rail-network-172491">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Why a gazebo railing in Naples has gone viral

A photo of an unsuspecting hand railing in Naples, Italy, has gone viral for a very unexpected reason. The railing sits on top of a hill that is connected to the popular tourist destination St Elmo’s castle. Each year, thousands of people trek up the stairs to observe the picturesque view from the top that overlooks the Tyrrhenian sea and Italy’s Mount Vesuvius. However, instead of the view catching a Twitter user's attention, it was the detailed hand railing. The 92-foot-long piece of steel is etched with braille, describing the stunning view for the blind. The unique railing was installed in 2015 by artist Paolo Puddu and is titled “Follow the Shape”, which has been a permanent fixture of the castle ever since. Blind visitors are encouraged to run their hands along the railing to read verses from The Land and The Man: a poetry series from Italian author Giuseppe de Lorenzo. The inscription is carved in both Italian and English, as tourists are prompted to imagine the stunning view in front of them. Twitter user, Rob N Roll, shared the image online, which welcomed a flood of messages praising the unique art installation. He captioned his image, “This railing on a gazebo in Naples has braille describing the view for blind people. More of this please.” Image credit: Twitter - Rob N Roll

Art

The cats that help keep a Japanese rail line in business

Visitors who come to Japan’s Kishigawa line today may see the railway’s unique themed trains and adorable cats as the station masters. What they may not know is the cats’ predecessor saved the rail line from being shut down less than 15 years ago. The Kishigawa Line of the Wakayama Electric Railway runs from JR Wakayama Station through 12 stops over 14.3 kilometres before reaching its final terminus of Kishi Station. It was at Kishi Station that a calico cat named Tama lived. Thanks to her photogenic looks and sweet personality, Tama became popular among commuters, who began championing her as Kishi’s “stationmaster”. The rural rail line began experiencing problems in mid-2000s as the number of passengers were declining. In 2006, the Kishigawa line’s fourteen stations were unstaffed. Fortunately, it didn’t spell an end to the railway. “In 2006, the current president of the Wakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, was asked by residents to revive the Kishigawa line after the previous owner had announced it was to be abolished,” Keiko Yamaki, executive at the Wakayama Electric Railway’s owner Ryobi told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190522-the-cat-who-saved-a-japanese-rail-line">BBC</a>. That was when Kojima met Tama. “Our president has always been a dog person, but when he met Tama that was it … he fell for her.” In January 2007, Kojima officially named Tama as the “Stationmaster of Kishi Station”, anointing her as Japan’s first feline stationmaster. Tourists soon came in waves to see the special representative of the line, who would often greet customers from atop a table by the ticket gates. Reports said during her time as the stationmaster from 2007 to 2015, Tama brought in 1.1 billion yen (about AU$14 million) to the local economy. The Railway said the annual number of passengers have grown by nearly 300,000 since 2006. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTlI36zglH4/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTlI36zglH4/" target="_blank">A post shared by @carolelv</a> on May 1, 2017 at 11:42pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Tama also became a trademark for the Kishi station. Tama-chan’s merchandise could be found in the station shop. Drawings of the cat could be found on every surface of the building, which has also been rebuilt in the shape of a cat’s head. The whiskered feline also inspired Tama Densha, the now-representative train of the Kishigawa line. The train’s design and interior is based on Tama and her three colours, complete with 101 different drawings of the furry stationmaster with a variety of facial expressions. When Tama passed away at 16 years old in 2015, thousands of people attended her funeral at the station. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKa67bAvLN/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfKa67bAvLN/" target="_blank">A post shared by Kevin (@primordialooze)</a> on Feb 13, 2018 at 7:57pm PST </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BflWZjMnNFi/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BflWZjMnNFi/" target="_blank">A post shared by Chakriya Chunkesa (@puku_chakri)</a> on Feb 24, 2018 at 6:57am PST </div> </blockquote> But her legacy doesn’t end there – her successor Nitama (meaning “Tama two” in Japanese) has taken the role of Kishi stationmaster, while another apprentice Yontama (“Tama four”) is assigned in Idakiso.

International Travel

9 clever ways to make your kitchen safer

No matter how prepared we are, there comes a point where we need to accept and work with the limitations and restraints of our bodies. The good news is, we can do this by removing any unnecessary strain required to perform everyday household tasks in our home, as well as eliminating or reducing risk factors like slippage or other hazards. If you find it difficult to manage regular day-to-day functions in the kitchen, you can use the following strategies to make using the hub of the home both a safer and more practical environment. When the kitchen is easier and safer to use, everyone can benefit from cooking healthy home-cooked meals like this <a href="https://www.hellofresh.com.au/recipes/mushroom-risotto-579eff2477d68df04d8b4568">delicious mushroom risotto</a>. Here are 9 ways you can make the kitchen safer and easier to use. 1. Install easy-hold handles on doors and cabinets As we age and become more fragile, what may seem like minor falls and bumps can result in injury or even death for some people. A fall that causes someone to seriously injure themselves often results from them failing to hold onto a surface they’ve leveraged their weight against. A common-sense approach to reduce the risk of this happening in the kitchen is to invest in easy-hold handles that can easily replace existing handles. These easy-hold handles are designed to be non-slip so anyone with wet hands can still maintain a strong grip. 2. Adjust the height of the dishwasher If you would like to continue using and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/the-ultimate-guide-to-stacking-your-dishwasher">stacking the dishwasher</a>, then it’s a smart idea to raise the height of it so there’s no need to bend as much. It’s no secret that back problems are a common issue as we age, so this strategy can do you a lot of good. 3. Remove carpets and rugs While carpets and rugs can look and function beautifully as furnishings in your home, they present a significant hazard to anyone in wheelchairs or who have difficulty walking. We can often slip on loose or soft surfaces, and wheelchairs can get tangled in the frayed textiles. 4. Install brighter light bulbs Visibility is another area that’s important for safety in a kitchen, particularly as our eyesight naturally deteriorates over our lifetime. The utility of brighter lights is pretty obvious; it will mean having an easier time seeing what we’re doing and are less likely to injure ourselves with a misstep. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828022/hello-fresh-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9b78d95992f449b6a5a10e9ba6fb7df1" /> 5. Invest in appliances that can turn themselves off automatically Ever feel like you may have forgotten to switch off the stove or some other appliance and you might burn the house down? Even things like kitchen sink faucets can pose a significant risk if left running, as they could wet the floor and create a trip hazard. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/the-13-kmart-kitchen-item-shoppers-are-loving">new kitchen items</a> that are able to automatically switch themselves off after they detect a period of inactivity. These features are also great because they help reduce power and water wastage, reducing utility bills. 6. Adjust the height of countertops Just like the dishwasher, countertops can be raised or lowered to a more convenient height for anyone that may require the use of a wheelchair or need to be seated whilst performing certain tasks in a kitchen. It can also be useful to modify the edges of the countertops with distinct colours so that anyone with poor vision can distinguish certain areas of the kitchen. 7. Install anti-slip flooring Marble or tiled flooring is popular in many kitchens for its aesthetic quality, but it actually presents a big slip risk hazard. When these slick surfaces get wet, they become a major accident waiting to happen for anyone with unsure footing. 8. Install extra railings and hand bars While they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing home inclusions, assistive bars and <a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Temporary-Handrail-System">handrail systems</a> have saved lives and shouldn’t be overlooked. Basically, you can install extra surfaces that you can grip around the kitchen so that you can more easily and confidently navigate the space. 9. De-clutter the kitchen Removing unnecessary things from the kitchen can make it safer to use, as there will simply be less opportunities for something to go wrong. The biggest benefit is that you create more physical space to move around in, meaning you are less likely to bump into something. Built-in appliances, such as a microwave that’s built into a cabinet nook, are great as they free up some surface space on the countertops. All of this means less hazards are present and there’s less risk of something going wrong.

Home & Garden

Rail booking mistakes to avoid at all costs

Budget flights, cruises, even schlepping it in a cramped bus (to save a bit of money) are always going to be popular options for their own reasons, but we think if you’re planning a trip in 2018 there’s never been a better time to travel by train. That said, it isn’t as easy as rocking up to the platform 10 minutes before you need to leave hopping aboard. Train stations are often busy, disorienting places to navigate and often you don’t realise you’re in wrong carriage until it’s far too late. To take some of the stress out of your rail travel in 2018, the <a href="http://www.railplus.com.au/" target="_blank">travel experts at Rail Plus</a> have shared five common mistakes people make when they’re booking rail tickets. To see these mistakes, and how to avoid them, scroll through the gallery above. Have you ever taken a major train journey?

International Travel

Why “sail and rail” is the new way to travel

It’s often said there are two types of travellers. Those who like to explore the ocean on a cruise, and those who prefer to see the interior of a country aboard a train. Both options seem equally as appealing, and many tourism operators are cottoning on to this with “sail and rail” tour options that offer the best of both worlds. <a href="https://www.railplus.com.au/" target="_blank">Rail Plus</a> Commercial Director Ingrid Kocijan says there’s been a huge upsurge in travellers booking rail passes to complement their cruise itineraries. “Convenience, spectacular scenery, value for money and high-quality on-board services are usually top contributing factors for travellers when it comes to deciding which rail journeys or passes to book,” she says. But what are the most attractive options? Well, we’ve provided a rundown of some of the world’s best “sail and rail” tour options in the gallery above. Scroll through yourself (but warning, it’ll be hard to do so without the travel bug biting). Have you ever taken a “sail and rail” tour? Would you be keen to do so, if the right opportunity presented itself? Let us know in the comments below. For more information about “sail and rail” tour packages <a href="http://www.railplus.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Travel Tips

One of NSW’s newest rail lines will close just a few years after it opened

One part of Sydney’s newest rail network will close for at least seven months, just a few years after it was opened with much fanfare. On Wednesday, the NSW Government announced that the Epping to Chatswood line, which is only eight years old, will be temporarily closed during the latter half of 2018 and early 2019. There is nothing wrong with the line but it’s no longer fit for purpose. Built at a cost of more than $2 billion, the rail line accommodates regular Sydney suburban double deck trains. However, the government wants the line to be a key part of the Sydney Metro, which only uses single decker trains. The Epping to Chatswood line opened in 2008 connecting Macquarie University and the renovated Macquarie Park shopping centre and business parks to the city. But several years later it will need to be shut to convert it to Metro standards so new trains from Sydney’s North West can run through it. Replacement bus services could double passengers’ daily commute time, and there are concerns that bus services will not have the capacity to carry all current train passengers. There are a number of new rail infrastructure projects in Australia, which includes this $12 billion Sydney Metro and the $11 billion Melbourne Metro tunnel construction which just started. The NSW Government promises the wait will be worth it. “We’re on track for Sydney Metro Northwest, which will deliver reliable turn-up-and-go train services to North West customers when it opens in the first half of 2019,” Transport Minister Andrew Constance said on Wednesday. “We’re boosting bus services in and around the train stations from Epping to Chatswood to ensure customers can easily travel to the shops, work, study, and back home reliably and safely,” he added.

Domestic Travel

High-speed rail link from Sydney to Melbourne revealed

Exciting new plans to construct a high-speed rail link between Sydney and Melbourne have just been unveiled, and if the reports are to be believed, taxpayers won’t have to foot the bill. The proposed link would see travellers able to travel from Melbourne to Sydney in less than two hours (or two hours and 45 minutes for an all-stops service). The eight-stop link would also connect Canberra as well as regional areas like the Southern Highlands, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton. Nick Cleary, chairman of the company proposing the new link (Consolidated Land and Rail Australia, or CLARA) says the $200 billion project, conceived with the help of companies such as GE, Aecom, RMIT and the CSIRO, would not rely on funding from state or federal governments. After 12 months of negotiations with land owners, CLARA has secured rights to almost half of the land required for the train route. “Not only is CLARA seeking to build the world's largest high-speed rail infrastructure to date, the rail network is just part of a wider plan providing a quantum leap forward for the development of inland Australia,” Cleary said. “Our plan is about decentralisation. It’s actually a cities plan.” What do you think about the proposed rail link? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/07/aussies-households-feel-the-pinch-in-power-price-hike/">Aussie households feel the pinch in power price hike</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/07/molly-meldrum-hospitalised/">Molly Meldrum admitted to hospital</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/07/seals-put-on-show-at-sydney-opera-house/">Seals put on show at Sydney Opera House</a>

News

Why you need to visit the spectacular Otago Central Rail Trail

Geoff Gabites, a young 64-year-old, discovered cycling in his 40s and quickly turned the sport into an occupation. <a href="http://www.adventuresouth.co.nz/" target="_blank">Adventure South</a> was established in 1992 and is now the leading cycle tour company in New Zealand. Named after the old railway line, built back at the turn of the 20th century, the Otago Central Rail Trail is a must ride. That’s because the initial draw card still remains – stunning vast natural landscapes, beautiful skies, friendly locals and 150 kilometres of flat riding. The trip isn’t just about cycling, there are a number of small historic towns to explore along the way, a legacy of the railway heritage. There are also a number of new accommodation, coffee and dining options that have emerged to cater to the increasing number of tourist visiting. The support structure is now sophisticated with cycle hire of all shapes and forms, luggage transfers, accommodation booking websites and support shuttle options available, as well as guided options for the ultimate carefree experience. The history After government help to develop a walkway and cycleway on the line, the trail was finally opened in 2000. The core market at that time was young backpackers and independent riders. Accommodation, where it existed, was largely dormitory based, with many riders opting to camp along the route, often down by quiet flowing rivers and shady willows. The trail surface was rough as some of the ballast surface still remained and the food offerings along the trail usually consisted of the local pub fare. The coffee was Gregs or Nescafe – instant! Dining out options were extremely limited! Despite this, numbers gradually grew as the Otago Central Railway Trust. The backpacker network spread the news of the quiet locations, the huge skies and the landscapes made famous by Graeme Sydney paintings. By around 2004 there was a steady trickle of riders and the businesses set up to deal with the market were feeling happy with the niche market. But word soon spread northwards as well as outward, about the stunning landscapes and the shoulder to shoulder local interaction down at the pub. This was the genuine New Zealand and the backpacker market loved it! Enter the middle-aged Kiwi female and her friends. Around 2006, I visited a few of our accommodation locations we infrequently used on various tours in the area. Of these locations, all of them were keen to talk about their plans for next season to cater for the growing demand of these “middle aged baby boomers who were starting to turn up with their friends and having a hellava great time”. The word had spread northwards and the floodgates were about to open. By 2008, Adventure South were running guided trips on the Otago Central Rail Trail and by 2010, these had become weekly departures. My insight into this market came when I talked to one group of organiser and the conversation went something like this: “Hi Margaret, it’s great to finally meet you after our various emails. Your group of 6six are already for their trip? How is your cycle fitness – and where are your partners?” Margaret’s response was enlightening: “Hell, we’re not big cyclists, but we do get together every Saturday and ride about 20 kilometres – just as a social thing. Mary’s neighbour rode the Otago Central Rail Trail last summer and we saw her photos and she loved it, so here we are!” “And what about your husbands and partners…?” “Huh, they were always too busy to join us, had rugby to watch, work to do, and all sorts of excuses, so bugger them, we’re here to have a good time!” The guide’s code of ethics ensures what went on tour, stayed on tour. Interestingly enough, within two years, the trickle became a flood, and sure enough, the males were there believing it was all their idea. The casual Saturday cycle ride had now swelled to become a social phenomenon with lycra to the fore, training regimes the norm, and wide gel seats the norm. The age bracket continued to grow and is now well into the 70s. It has become a favourite of the over60 set and I recommend everyone give it a go. Have you ridden the Otago Central Rail before? Share your experience with us in the comments below. To find more information about cycling in New Zealand, visit <a href="http://www.cyclejourneys.co.nz/" target="_blank">Cycle Journeys site here.</a> Image credits: Adventure South NZ Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/">Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/">London’s 8 most photographed locations</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/">8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</a>

Domestic Travel

Indigenous artefacts found at Sydney light rail construction site

Indigenous heritage consultants are calling for an immediate halt to construction of a section of Sydney’s light rail after 20,000 Indigenous artefacts were found. The artefacts were identified in a 100-metre-square area around the line’s proposed tram stabling yard. Scott Franks, whose company was contracted to advise on indigenous heritage issues for the $2.1 billion light rail line, said this finding was of great significance. "There is nothing at all like this in Sydney," Mr Franks told Fairfax Media. "You have material that's not from Sydney. It demonstrates a trading route, or that the mobs out of the Hunter Valley were working with the mobs in Sydney." Transport for NSW issued a statement recognising the significance of the discovery, “The social value of the site to the local Aboriginal community is very high and we are continuing to work with (the Aboriginal groups) to identify the artefacts and how they came to be found in Randwick.” But heritage consultants have demanded an immediate stop to construction. Greens MP David Shoebridge told Fairfax Media the Government’s response had been inadequate, “Already half of the site has been destroyed, the balance of the site is slated for destruction in the coming weeks. Transport for NSW... is seemingly more concerned about the construction timetable than the destruction of the site." For more information, watch the video above. Video credit: Facebook / Sydney Morning Herald Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/02/heartwarming-photos-that-prove-every-child-needs-a-pet/">15 heartwarming photos that prove every child needs a pet</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/how-to-help-your-pet-conquer-their-phobias/">How to help your pet conquer their phobias</a>

News

London’s newest rail line to be named after the Queen

London’s newest railway link has been named after Queen Elizabeth. Crossrail, as it is currently known, is a new metro rail line will connect east and west London. It is expected to start running in 2018, carrying an estimated 200 million passengers a year. Today The Queen visited the Crossrail site at Bond Street, where she met with engineers, construction workers, transport staff and apprentices to hear about the project. Scroll through the images above to see the Queen at Bond Street. She also unveiled the plaque to mark Crossrail’s naming as the “Elizabeth Line”. London mayor Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, "I think it’s truly wonderful that such a significant line for our capital will carry such a significant name from our country. "As well as radically improving travel right across our city, the Elizabeth line will provide a lasting tribute to our longest-serving monarch." This is the second track to be named in the Queen’s honour. The Jubilee Line was named in honour of the Queen to mark her 25th year on the throne in 1977. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/15-things-kids-of-today-are-missing-out-on/">15 things kids of today are missing out on</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/grandparents-make-grandchildren-happy-study/">Why the grandparent grandchild relationship is important for happiness</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/easy-recipes-for-children/">30 cheap – or free – holiday activities to do with grandkids</a>

News

Rail tour picks up steam after tow start

A South Island rail tour on board a restored World War I locomotive looks set to run out of steam in Marlborough, before it even leaves the station. But tour organisers have a more modern plan to keep the centenary tour on track.The 1915 steam train, called Passchendaele, will be towed from Picton to Kaikoura by a diesel engine. Tour organiser John Bovis said the train needed four certified crewmen to run, but they only had two for part of the journey's first leg.The company Steam Incorporated usually found steam drivers through KiwiRail.It was "possible but unlikely" they would find two extra drivers before setting off on the two-week trip on Monday, Bovis said.The Picton to Kaikoura stretch behind a diesel engine would not be as impressive from the outside, but it was still a "great ride" for passengers, he said.From there though, it was full steam ahead for the locomotive, making stops at Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, Bluff, Middlemarch, Greymouth and Westport.The AB 608 engine was built in 1915 and given its name in 1925 to commemorate the lives of about 450 New Zealand railwaymen lost in WWI.It had already travelled around the North Island, and was scheduled for a WWI centenary tour of the South Island from October 19 to November 2. Restoration of the train was completed in April last year, and cost the company $500,000. Between 150 and 180 passengers would be travelling on the train each day, Bovis said. The majority were from overseas.Steam crewman Wayne Mason said the diesel engine would only be used from Picton to Kaikoura."After that it's fine for the rest of the way."He and his fellow crewman Alastair Maciver would still be manning the train in "light steam" mode but control would be in the hands of the diesel engine up front.Restoration of the Passchendaele began more than 20 years ago and had been a "full-time job" for the past few years, Bovis said.The engine was built in the South Island and had been used on freight trains, passenger trains, and even on two royal tours; the Prince of Wales' tour in 1920 and the Duke of York's tour in 1927.Image credit: Facebook /Steam IncorporatedWritten by Elena McPhee. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a> Related links:<a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/08/classic-rail-journeys-around-the-world/">All aboard! Classic rail journeys around the world</a><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/09/80-year-old-man-builds-dog-train/">80-year-old man builds custom train for stray dogs</a><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2015/08/tips-for-packing-for-holiday/">Great tips for packing for overseas trips</a>

News

Rail tour picks up steam after tow start

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All aboard! Classic rail journeys around the world

Sure it’s quicker to fly, but nothing has the glamour of old school train travel. Cross countries and continents in style with these classic rail journeys.Trans-Siberian Railway, RussiaThe most iconic rail journey in the world covers over 10,000 kilometres across eight time zones, traversing Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok (and vice versa). The full journey takes 13 days, crossing over the Ural Mountains, through the bleak Russian steppes and past the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal. There are a number of trains operating on the route ranging from very (very) basic seating to carriages with sleeping berths and shared bathrooms, and all the way up to ultra luxurious private cabins with butler service. It’s a long journey, so it will probably be worth spending a little more for some creature comforts.Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, EuropeThe very name conjures up a feeling of glamour, romance and intrigue. The Orient-Express journey was made famous by Agatha Christie in her 1934 novel Murder on the Orient-Express. The original route ran from Paris to Istanbul, though this ceased operating in 1977, and the main route now stops at Venice. The luxury train that runs on the route is made up of meticulously restored 1920s carriages and liveried butlers will cater to your every whim. If you want the full experience, once a year the train runs the full journey to Istanbul. The passengers really get into the spirit with many of them dressing up in full 1920s regalia and there are plenty of celebrations onboard.The Ghan & Indian Pacific, AustraliaAustralia is bisected along both axes by two of the greatest train journeys in the world; The Ghan and the Indian Pacific. The Ghan, named after the Afghan cameleers who blazed the original trail, runs from Adelaide to Darwin with a stop in Alice Springs. The Indian Pacific travels more than 4,300 kilometres between Sydney and Perth, an epic transcontinental journey that passes through the desolate Nullarbor Plain. The trains that operate on both routes are very plush with ultra luxe private cabins available, though there are more economical options that still make for a comfortable journey.Rocky Mountaineer, CanadaThis is easily the best way to see Canada’s spectacular Rocky Mountains. There are more than 40 journeys that wind through the mountains in British Columbia and Alberta. Starting in Vancouver, the train passes through the ski fields of Whistler and the lush wilds of Jasper, past the icy blue water of Lake Louise, scales the heights of the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson, and into the beautiful mountain community of Banff. The train has huge windows in all classes but if you want the best views, splash out for GoldLeaf class for the unique glass domed coach.Maharajas’ Express, IndiaIndia has a great history of train travel and it is still the most popular way to get around the country for just about everyone – though the Maharajahs’ Express is certainly the most comfortable way to do it. Five journeys run around the north of India, departing either Delhi or Mumbai, passing through the ancient city of Agra (and the Taj Mahal), Varanassi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ranthambore, home to India’s endangered tigers. There are just 88 guests onboard the train at a time and each cabin has a private washroom and butler service. If you’ve got money to burn, take out the two-bedroom Presidential Suite that covers an entire carriage.

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All aboard! Classic rail journeys around the world

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