In 1989 the ' Nederlandse Spoorwegen' (NS/Dutch Railways) celebrated their 150th anniversary. On 19 February 1989, NS ran a test (some call it a publicity stunt) with what would become the longest passenger train in the world. The train was pulled by one 1500 V DC locomotive and had 60 passenger cars (1600 meters, 2600 ton), of which only the first 14 cars held actual passengers during the run. It lost the record in 1991 when Belgium beat them.

Not quite as long but it is a weekly service between Adelaide and Darwin. The Ghan has 44 carriages 1096 metres long.

The Ghan has 22 guest carriages, 6 restaurant carriages and 5 lounge carriages, crew, power car and luggage carriages. 2,156 tonnes.

When embarking and disembarking, passengers must wait their turn as the train moves in sections across three platforms.

Staff on-board, of which there will be 55, will make 1,300 beds, serve 100kg of barramundi and cook more than 3,000 eggs over the course of the three-day journey.

We were on it in 2005 but actually prefer going by car, similar trip in 2019, otherwise you miss out on all the scenery at night.

By comparison the longest freight train 7,353 metres for iron ore rail Port Hedland in Western Australia.