The Trans-Australian Railway, opened in 1917, runs from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, crossing the Nullarbor Plain in the process. Built to 1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge, its length is 1691 kilometres (1051 miles). As the only rail freight corridor between Western Australia and the eastern states, the line is economically and strategically important. The railway includes the world's longest section of completely straight track.
The inaugural passenger train service was known as the Great Western Express; later, it became the Trans-Australian.