Perth to Adelaide train: Indian Pacific timetable and fare prices

The Perth to Adelaide train takes 43h50m, and is more of a luxury tourist experience than a passenger rail journey. Indian Pacific train fares are expensive, costing from $1,525.

The Perth to Adelaide train is one of the world’s epic rail journeys. But it is no longer about simply getting from A to B.

Perth offers gold pouring experiences at the Perth Mint, Rottnest Island day trips, and scenic Swan River cruises. To book Perth tours and experiences, head here. For Perth accommodation deals, book here.

Adelaide brings food tours of the fabulous Central Market, Torrens River cruises, swimming with dolphins and the chance to walk across the roof of the Adelaide Oval. To book Adelaide accommodation, step this way. For a full range of Adelaide tours and experiences, explore here.

20 years ago, the Perth to Adelaide train was a realistic option for affordable land-based travel between Western Australia and South Australia. There were sleeper carriages, but it was still run as a regular passenger service. You could choose, if feeling particularly masochistic, to sit upright for the best part of three days and pay a reasonably cheap fare.

Indian Pacific luxury train journey

In the last couple of decades, however, the Indian Pacific train service has become something very different. It no longer operates as a functional mode of transport – it is unashamedly a luxury tourism experience.

All but the Gold single cabins on the Perth to Adelaide train have their own en-suite toilets and showers. Those single cabins have shared bathroom facilities at the end of the hallway. The twin cabins have upper and lower berths, which is a posh way of saying bunk beds.

Next up: Service levels.