Summary

The map shows the continuous north–south standard-gauge rail corridor through the centre of the Australian continent that was finally completed in 2004, 126 years after construction of its two narrow-gauge predecessors – never completed – was started in 1878.

The line has one passenger service: the weekly (as of 2019) Adelaide–Darwin luxury passenger train, The Ghan. Far more significant for revenue is freight haulage.

Each of the five railways constituting the route has a separate, distinctive history and identity, with their opening dates spanning 87 years. From Darwin southwards, they are:

Collectively, these are most commonly referred to as the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor or the north–south rail corridor.

Because five railways make up the transcontinental corridor, the name "Adelaide–Darwin Railway" does not exist in formal use, although the descriptive term "Adelaide–Darwin railway" (or "line" or "route") – with a lower-case "r" – is widely used. However, it can have various meanings: the news media in particular variously use it to refer to:

The satellite image captures the region in winter, when rain falls in the southern temperate areas and the northern tropical wet season is yet to start. The centre of the continent is arid all year around.

Licensing

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