The line is 831 k/ms long and the estimated construction cost was
$145.000.000, the line was completed within that figure and one
year ahead of schedule.
The "Official" commencement began when Gough Whitlam unveiled a
plaque at Tarcoola on the 12th April 1975 and the Inaugural Train
with AL 18 arrived in Alice Springs 9th October 1980.
The line has 52 Bridges with the largest being across the Finke
River at 400 metres long.
Some figures for the Alice to Darwin Line.
The line will be about 1440 k/ms long.
Substantial cuttings and earthworks will be required for the
first 20 k/ms out through the hills North of Alice Springs.
BUT the last 320 k/ms from Katherine to Darwin will not only
require an estimated 320 million cubic metres of earthworks but
some very substantial bridges to cross some major rivers.!
It has been estimated that there will be over 100 Bridges on this
line and 25000 lineal metres of pipe and box culverts.
Australian National Railways estimated the construction cost back
in the early eighties at $375.000.000, it will now cost well over
one billion today.
Cheers
----Tell
Alice Springs NT