Australia’s much-loved outback train, The Ghan, extended by 200 metres in 2016 to commence nine-weeks of record-breaking travel.
Leaving Adelaide with 44 carriages and two locomotives in May 2016, the service bound for Darwin stretched 1096 metres – more than 200 metres longer than usual and a staggering 6.5 times the length of Adelaide Oval.
It was the longest passenger train seen in Australia since the inaugural Adelaide to Darwin Ghan journey in 2004.
The Ghan’s trip in numbers:
- 327 Platinum and Gold Service guests
- 44 carriages and two locomotives, including 22 guest carriages, six onboard restaurants carriages, five lounge carriages, crew carriages, powervans and luggage carriages
- The train split across 3 platforms at Adelaide Parklands Terminal to board the guests
- Total weight of 2156 tonnes
- 55 onboard crew members who, over the return journey, will:
- Make 1300 beds
- Serve 100kg of barramundi and 190kg of vegetables
- Cook more than 3000 eggs for breakfast
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This journey commenced nine consecutive weeks of impressive kilometre-long trains departing Adelaide. The Ghan took a record 5884 Platinum and Gold Service guests on this transcontinental journey between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin during this period.
“Amazing outback destinations are at the heart of The Ghan experience. We are very proud to be able to welcome thousands of travellers aboard this iconic train to share some incredible Australian experiences,” said Great Southern Rail’s Steve Kernaghan.
“The Ghan has enjoyed a surge in customer demand over the past 12 months thanks to our all-inclusive fares and new tour options in Alice Springs and Katherine.”
The Ghan travels 2972km between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin over three days and two nights.
A weekly service departing Adelaide on Sunday and Darwin on Wednesday, The Ghan takes travellers to outback stops for off-train excursions at Alice Springs and Katherine.
