TWO young men, charged after they arrived at Central Station allegedly carrying two suitcases with $2 million in cash, first came to rail staff's attention when they tried to book economy tickets for their cross-country train journey before splashing out on gold class.

Li Wang, 26, from Sydney, and Yu Xiang, 25, from Auburn, yesterday appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The pair was arrested at Central on March 12 and searched by police when they arrived from Perth on the Indian Pacific.

Officers had been tipped off by the train staff about the two men, who are unemployed and are on temporary tourist visas, because of their suspicious behaviour during the four-day journey.

Police allege that Mr Wang and Mr Xiang first came to the attention of rail staff when they visited Perth's main railway station on March 9, wanting to buy two backpacker class seats for the Indian Pacific.