Historic train arrives in Darwin

By Phil Mercer BBC correspondent on the Ghan, Australia

It is hoped the Ghan will boost the remote outback

Australia's first North-South passenger train has arrived in the northern city of Darwin, completing its inaugural three-day journey.

The 43-carriage train finished its 3,000km (1,860 miles) trip on Tuesday, realising an Australian dream of crossing its red centre.

The new route should boost this remote outback region, with the port city of Darwin the main beneficiary.

On board, the views were amazing, from vivid sunsets to endless red desert.

The Ghan is named after Afghan camel drivers, who helped open up the parched interior after European colonisation.

The trip is not cheap but there is no other like it.

CROSSING A CONTINENT New track cost A$1.3bn ($1bn) Construction took 30 months Railway now runs for 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) First freight train 1.8 km long On board the Ghan

One passenger, Tony Aldridge from Adelaide, told the BBC: "It was one of the greatest experiences to be able to go from a coastline facing Antarctica to a coastline facing Asia ... We are really delighted as Australians".

The railway linking the central desert town of Alice Springs to Adelaide was completed in 1929. This stretch north to Darwin was finished last September.

It was a civil engineering triumph that has opened up Australia's last great frontier.

Indigenous Australians have played an important role in the rail road.

The route was finalised after talks between Aboriginal communities and the Northern Territory Government.

The issue of native land rights is extremely sensitive here in Australia and had a deal not been reached, the entire project could well have been in jeopardy.

No details of the agreement, including any financial settlements, have been disclosed.

Sacred sites are protected by law and the railway line from the desert town of Alice Springs, north to Darwin was altered as a result.

Tourism hopes

During construction, 15% of the workforce was made up of Aboriginal labourers.

There are hopes that the influx of thousands of travellers on this new passenger service will boost indigenous participation in tourism through, for example, increased sales of art.

Despite these positives, life for many black Australians in the Northern Territory remains a grim struggle against poverty, alcohol abuse, ill health and unemployment.

At a time when Australia is proudly celebrating this significant civil engineering achievement, malnutrition among Aboriginal children remains a serious problem, while adults in the same communities die on average 20 years younger than their white counterparts.