Train service is pretty good out of Adelaide with trains to Alice Springs, Broken Hill, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Trains terminate at the Adelaide Parklands Terminal (formerly the Keswick Interstate Rail Terminal) about 2km southwest of the city centre.
Both the Ghan to Alice Springs and Darwin and the Indian Pacific to Perth are rated as Australia’s top train journeys. Although you’re really just looking at desert for hours on end, it is a much more comfortable option than the bus. The train is usually more expensive than travelling by bus, but the discounts offered by flashing your HI/YHA or VIP card make this a travel option worth considering. Check the budget travel agents around Franklin Street for the best deal.