In 1957, the 1,436 mm 57 in standard gauge stirling north to marree line opened, so the train only ran north of marree. The ghan expedition is a threenight, fourday journey, starting in. The indian pacific, the ghan and the great southern are luxury trains that are marketed as land cruises for people wanting an experience of a lifetime. History of the ghan railway the ghan is a famous australian rail journey that operates between adelaide, alice springs and darwin. The curdimurka station is typical of many stops along the ghan railway line. The southern section of the line reached alice springs in 1929, and the train running this line became known as the ghan, named after the afghan camel drivers who had contributed to the developement of communication and transport links in inland australia. Mar 29, 20 the ghans symbol is a camel and its handler in recognition of the pioneering afghan cameleers the train is named after.
Railways have an extremely long life time and are constructed to withstand natural. Alice springs the ghan railway station shuttle transfers. The ghan fare includes all meals, beverages and off train touring at katherine, alice springs and coober pedy ghan expedition only. The former central australia railway was a 1,241 km 771 mi 1067 mm narrow gauge railway between port augusta and alice springs. The ghan express train journey spans the entire landmass of australia. Gmdd is a division of emd, formerly a subsidiary of general motors corporation. The southern section of the line reached alice springs in 1929, and the train running this line became known as the ghan, named after the afghan camel drivers who had contributed to the developement of communication and transport links in. Travel in platinum doubletwin, gold twin or gold single service cabins.
Australias greatest train journey is an australianfirst foray into a genre of television often described as slow tv. The ghan prides itself on the quality of its cuisine, and rightly so. Railways have an extremely long life time and are constructed to withs. Named in tribute to the afghan camel drivers who helped to make australias red center accessible at the end of the nineteenth century, the ghans maiden journey in august 1929 traveled the 1,559 kilometres from. Travel 050519 to 280819 northbound platinum service. Passionate volunteers staff the museum, which could do better if there was money to add more items and upgrade the facilities. The ghan departs weekly from darwin wednesdays and adelaide sundays. Seats and sleeping berths are reserved and you cannot board without a reservation. A huge bonus of our adventure was the chance to get off the train and venture into the outback itself.
It opened in 1929 linking adelaide and alice springs. Even so the ghan provided an important transport route into central. It is 2001 and as the world charges into the new millennium, a centuryold dream is about to be realised in the red centre of australia. This was a 1,070 mm 3 ft 6 in narrowgauge railway that went to alice springs. The old ghan railway north from oodnadatta part 1 on a recent trip, after signi. Great trains specialise in arranging luxurious rail journeys on the ghan adelaide to darwin, the indian pacific sydney to perth and the great southern brisbane to adelaide the ghan expedition travels from darwin to adelaide over four days from march to october inclusive visting katherine, alice springs and coober pedy along the way. Travelling from the southern wine country in adelaide to the tropical sunsets of darwin in the north, passengers watch the raw beauty of the australian landscape change from rolling vines to red dust to rainforest. The adelaidedarwin railway is a 2,979 kilometre southnorth transcontinental railway in australia, between the cities of adelaide and darwin.
A hundred and fifty years ago, the first camels were imported along with their handlers from afghanistan and, in true australian style, we soon shortened their name to ghan. The ghans symbol is a camel and its handler in recognition of the pioneering afghan cameleers the train is named after. Relive the history of the old ghan train and central australias pioneering past as you wander through the old ghan heritage railway museum. For more tips for travellers content on the ghan watch my video tour of the ghan and excursions and listen to my audio podcast recorded live on board the ghan train sharing observations, tips and advice about the ghan. An allinclusive rail holiday, top end discovery travels between alice springs and darwin on a oneofakind adventure. Unfortunately, the flash floods and the extreme climate made the line anything but reliable. Old ghan heritage railway and museum things to do in alice. One of the worlds great rail journeys travelling between adelaide, alice springs and darwin. Old ghan heritage railway and museum things to do in.
In katherine i chose the tour to the gorge which was a 30 minute bus drive and a 1. Originally known as the afghan express, this famous australian rail journey is now commonly known as the ghan. Pre or postghan journeys the great southern, linking adelaide and brisbane, from december 2019 for special maiden voyage period. The first branched off the adelaide to perth railway near port augusta and went to alice springs via the picci richi pass, quorn, marree and oodnadatta.
The adelaide to darwin railway was built in three main stages. Step aboard the ghan for an unforgettable train journey through the northern territory. Your four day, three night 2,979km journey includes all meals and beverages on board plus your off train touring at katherine, alice springs and coober pedy with optional scenic flighttour of uluru also available additional fee. Opening of the tom diver derrick bridge consists of a single track, dual gauge, highlevel, opening rail bridge across the port river. A standard gauge line replaced the southern section from port augusta to maree in 1957, but used a new nearby alignment. We had some exquisite meals including kangaroo and crocodile in the swish dining car. In north and south america, most private railway companies vertically integrate their rail freight and passenger operations with infrastructure. Jun 09, 2015 situated between the town and airport, the ghan railway museum has a great collection of documents, photographs and memorabilia, plus a small selection of locomotives and rolling stock. The story of its conception, construction and operation is an epic of pioneering endurance virtually unique in. A living legend in australian history, the ghan offers the ultimate rail journey across the continent. Much has changed since 1929, and today the ghan offers more than transit between adelaide to darwin and vice versa. How to travel with great southern railway all travel on gsr trains must be booked in advance. Great trains the ghan the ghan indian pacific great.
Darwin to adelaide may to october inclusive coast to coast, through the fiery red centre, experience australia at its dramatic best. The ghan is an australian passenger train service between the cities of adelaide, alice springs and darwin on the adelaidedarwin railway. This marked the end of an era and a significant chapter in south australias railway history. Jennie bond gads about on the ghan railway in australia. Ensure safe and convenient trips by booking this transfer service. Great southern railway gsr operates three long distance passenger trains. Level crossing collision between the ghan passenger train 1ad8 and a road train truck.
Rails across the desert the ghan is a passenger train that runs between darwin and adelaide through some of the most unforgiving country on earth. Spanning 2,979km, the journey takes 48 hours to complete and is a legendary rail service that has been operating since 1878. Operating since 1878, this legendary rail service takes 48 hours to complete and offers some of. For it is the ultimate journey through the heart of the continent. Explore the old train and carriages to learn about the legend that is the old ghan train one of the most famous railways in the world. History of the original ghan train old ghan museum. Named after the afghan drivers of the camel trains, the ghan is a mode of. Work began on the great northern railway in 1878 to link port augusta with darwin and openup central australia. Starting in august 1929, the ghan first ran on the central australian railway. The stunning beauty of the australian outback is captured and preserved in the brilliant colours of vibrant fullpage photographs in this book. Oct 01, 2017 the adelaide to darwin railway was built in three main stages. The accompanying chapters tell the story of the ghan and of life in the outback, past and present, while everything from aboriginal art to the history of the royal flying doctor service is carefully. The ghan expedition exploring australias great inbetween. Incredible journey, excellent service, great staff, a wonderful way to relax.
The natal line, 1860 by the mid1800s the small town of durban on the southeast coast of africa was little. Apr 15, 2017 the ghan expedition exploring australias great inbetween travel from darwin, through katherine, alice springs, coober pedy and finally to adelaide, the train journey offers travellers. I also have an article about the history and key facts about the ghan. Timeline a history of rail in south australia national railway museum. Travelling through the heart of australia, the ghan follows the route taken 150 years ago by early afghanistan camel importers and features the emblem of a camel being ridden by an afghan, a testament to the harsh conditions these pioneers faced. Onboard you will find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive service, and the camaraderie of your fellow travellers. The ghan simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Get picked up from the railway station as soon as you alight from the ghan and enjoy a comfortable journey to your hotel in alice springs and vice versa.
The ghan has long been a tradition for train travel between alice springs and adelaide and is often referred to as the ultimate journey through the heart of this mighty continent, taking passengers on what is undoubtedly one of the worlds greatest rail journeys. Spanning 2,979km, the iconic route operates between darwin, alice springs and adelaide. During its operational days, the railway used to run between adelaide and alice springs along the adelaidedarwin railway line, a journey which would take a total of 54 hours. Its an odd name for a train but in australian history it is a living legend. The story of its conception, construction and operation is an epic of pioneering endurance virtually unique in australian railway history.
My previous threepart blog on the oodnadatta track one, two, three and old ghan railway took us as far as oodnadatta, the railhead from 1891 to 1927. The entire line was superseded in 1980 by the wholly standard gauge adelaidedarwin railway, using a new route. It ran for the last time in october 1980 when the new line via tarcoola was completed. Fares valid for rail travel from 1 april 2019 to 31 march 2020. The famous pink roadhouse at oodnadatta at the start of the old ghan railway heritage trail. During the big pause what was known as the great northern railway, owned by the south australian government, was handed over to the commonwealth government and in 1926 was officially renamed the central australia railway. The old ghan has left a legacy that modern day travellers dream of, a touring route thats an amazing adventure through history and magnificent terrain. The ghan expedition journey takes the experience a step further with extended stays in alice springs, maybe an optional flight over uluru before continuing on to have the day at the sunscorched opal mining capital of world, coober pedy. A history of rail in south australia 1917 the commonwealth railway is formed upon completion of trans australian railway construction port augusta and port pirie is linked by standard gauge. Its one of the great railway journeys of the world and from tomorrow itll be twice as long more than 300 passengers will be part of history when the famous ghan makes its first journey from adelai. Even so the ghan provided an important transport route into central australia. Theres not a lot of storage space and you cant access checked bags.
Built in stages in the twentieth century, the line was completed in 2004 when the alice springs to darwin line opened. The ghan is a famous australian rail journey that operates between adelaide, alice springs and darwin. Situated between the town and airport, the ghan railway museum has a great collection of documents, photographs and memorabilia, plus a small selection of locomotives and rolling stock. Along the old ghan heritage trail, selfdrive travellers can discover for themselves what the. A unique and epic experience, explore the wonders of australias vast interior with one of the worlds most renowned rail journeys the ghan expedition from darwin to adelaide. The 2,979km train journey allows its guests to see australia unadorned. Our first stop was at a place called katherine, where it was a scorching 36. In october 1980 a new standard gauge line was built to. Operated by journey beyond rail expeditions, it takes 54 hours to travel the 2,979 kilometres 1,851 mi with a fourhour stopover in alice springs. Darwin to alice springs alice springs to darwin book now.
Australias afghan express, now affectionately referred to as the ghan, offers great rail journeys guests an epic travel experience through this remarkable country. Australias afghan express, now affectionately referred to as the ghan, offers great rail journeys guests an epic travel experience through this remarkable country named in tribute to the afghan camel drivers who helped to make australias red center accessible at the end of the nineteenth century, the ghan s maiden journey in august 1929 traveled the 1,559 kilometres from adelaide, south. So informative with regards to the building of the ghan railway and of the history in the northern territory and the beliefs and rituals of the aboriginal people. With the help of the many afghan cameleers it provided a much needed service to many of the isolated cattle and sheep stations. May 02, 2014 the ghan is one of the iconic train journeys in the world. The old ghan is undoubtedly one of the well known railways of the world. The ghan, australias grand rail journey by ian grady. The c44aci model locomotives built by ugl rail at broadmeadow adopted the design from the nr class. A thousand miles to nowhere on a train that leads to hell her boilers belching fire and the ringing of her bell her wheels are moving slowly on the iron rail below. In 2019, the ghan marks 90 years of outback crossings.