It s been a long time between drinks for passengers of the Indian Pacific, the famous transcontinental train that runs between Perth and Sydney. And as the beverages are included with the fares nowadays, that s a lot of missed cocktails since the service stopped running in March last year. But now it s back. Eased pandemic restrictions have increased confidence in state borders remaining open, and the Indian Pacific is once more covering the 4352 kilometres of track linking west and east. When it launched in 1970, this train was public transport. But nowadays it s a full-blown rail cruise with the fare including all meals, drinks and off-train excursions. Each of these elements is well crafted, particularly the on-board food, which often comprises ingredients from the region travelled through (camel curry, anyone?).