And so, with such a bad rap, I've avoided regional trains. Until now. The XPT Train from Sydney to Melbourne leaving Central Station. Credit: Nick Moir With high inflation and the cost of fuel ...

I'm travelling from Sydney to Melbourne on a flatbed ... Because my vehicle for this trip is a sleeper train.

The link would have slashed the travel time between Melbourne and ... France's high speed train TGV (Train Grande Vitesse), was being considered for a rail link between Sydney and Canberra.