NSW: Storms halt Indian Pacific in its tracks

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2007
NSW: Storms halt Indian Pacific in its tracks

Storm damage has halted one of Australia's rail icons and forced passengers to endure
a one-thousand kay bus ride as part of their holiday travel.

The Indian Pacific was heading east from Perth and Adelaide towards Sydney last night
.. when heavy rains across far-west NSW forced it back to Broken Hill.

A Great Southern Railway spokeswoman says flooding damaged track between Ivanhoe and
Condobolin .. and passengers were forced to board busses.

They're expected to arrive in Sydney around 5pm (AEDT) .. and passengers catching the
3pm return service will have to catch buses to Broken Hill where they'll start their rail
journey.

The track's due to be repaired by tomorrow evening .. well before the next Indian Pacific
service travels the area on Wednesday.

RailCorp says CountryLink Services haven't been affected.

The heavy rains in north-western NSW have dumped a record 171mm at Coonamble since
midnight .. and 141mm at nearby Coonabarabran.

AAP RTV vpm/jec/

KEYWORD: STORMS NSW INDIAN (SYDNEY)

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