FAQs

The Australian Federal Government removed funding for Concession Fares for Australian pensioners residents of Australia. Similarly no overseas concession or Australian Senior Cards qualify for concession fares. The best bet for a discount is an Advance Saver Fare (when you book a minimum six months in advance). Subject to availability.

Infants travel free of charge on Journey Beyond Rail Expedition services up to three years of age. Infants do not travel free of charge if they occupy their own seat or sleeper berth.

No, you must arrange your freight needs directly with a specialist freight transportation company.

Only The Ghan Expedition (Darwin to Adelaide) offers a visit to Coober Pedy, this is located 42kms from the railway line. Your off train touring and transfers are included as part of your ticket.

We highly recommend that guests allow for at least 3-5 hours after the scheduled arrival time of a train, or preferably an overnight stopover (especially for international flights) before a plane flight. Unfortunately, trains can sometimes be delayed and run behind schedule.

We want you to enjoy your journey without concerns over flight times. We therefore would recommend you allow for an overnight stop before connecting to domestic or international flights. Great Southern Rail does not accept liability for any missed connections due to late train arrivals.

‍

Yes, staff can heat baby food and bottles at your request.

Upon request, a cot can be provided for guests occupying a Gold Service twin-share cabin. Please request a cot at the time of booking. Due to space restrictions, cots cannot be arranged for Gold Service Single cabins.

No. Currently these tours are offered and can only be booked once you are onboard. The exception being the Uluru Scenic Flight which is only available on the Ghan Expedition. Seats for this trip are limited so we strongly suggest booking this prior if you wish to do this trip.

This is likely to change in the near future and you will be able to pre book all off train excursions.

The Indian Pacific runs once a week, so any stop in Adelaide will be for one week. The sum of the two tickets is marginally more than the one ticket from Sydney to Perth.

The Ghan runs once a week, so any stop in Alice Springs will be for one week. The sum of the two tickets is marginally more than the one ticket from Adelaide to Darwin.

As each terminal is different, it depends on where you are departing from.
Luggage can be checked into all terminals 2 hours prior to departure.
Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs: You are able to store your luggage 2 hours prior to departure at the terminal.
Sydney: There are luggage storage facilities available through NSW TrainLink at their luggage check-in area adjacent Platform 1 at a cost of $4.40 per person.
Katherine: there are no luggage storage facilities available at our Katherine Terminal.

‍

No, the only animals permitted on GSR train services are specially trained dogs for the vision and hearing impaired.

All meals are included onboard the train and dietary requirements are catered for. You can bring food for your own special dietary needs. You cannot bring your own alcohol or hot food.

No, these items must be checked in as stored luggage.

No, these items must be checked in as stored luggage. A specially modified wheelchair can be requested for use onboard the train (with the assistance of a carer or travelling companion). Please inform us at the time of booking if you require a wheelchair.

Yes, please inform us of any oxygen requirements at the time of booking.

Yes, you can travel up to 30 weeks into your pregnancy. If you are more than 30 weeks pregnant or have a
multiple pregnancy or a complicated pregnancy, we do not recommend travel with Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions.
You may be required to produce a doctor’s letter of consent or an authorised medical certificate within 14 days
of travel. Please advise us of any pregnancy at the time of booking.

We may decline your booking or refuse to board you on the train if you suffer from any illness, disease or medical condition which makes travel unsafe for you or other guests. You have an obligation to inform us of any illness, disease or medical condition at the time of booking. Please refer to our Fitness For Travel Policy.

Yes, subject to space within our onboard fridge compartments. Please inform us of any medication requirements at the time of booking.

Journey Beyond no longer offers Motorail services. You may wish to contact other providers who move or truck vehicles across the country. Some operators being CEVA and Auto Logistics.

As our journeys are all-inclusive, you will not need to buy anything unless you choose to purchase an Off Train Excursion upgrade or souvenirs, which you can do onboard utilising our EFTPOS or credit card facilities. Unfortunately we are unable to provide any cash out on our trains.

Your fare includes your cabin, all meals are included as are beverages (beer, wine, basic spirits, soft drinks). Off train touring is included between Darwin and Adelaide and between Sydney and Perth. There are a few optional extras (such as helicopter flights) which you can pay for once onboard if you wish to.

Due to space constraints, guests are advised to take onboard only hand luggage containing the requirements for their rail journey. Checked in luggage cannot be accessed during the journey. Guests should bring an overnight bag to their cabin containing everything needed for the journey.

Certain items are prohibited from being carried in your luggage at all. Valuables including your passport, medicine, fragile or perishable items must be carried onboard as cabin baggage. An additional fee may apply to excess luggage. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full conditions. Occupational Health and Safety legislation provides guidelines outlining the safe weight that can be lifted by our staff. We appreciate your co-operation.

JOURNEY BEYOND RAIL EXPEDITIONS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY LUGGAGE ITEM FOR TRAVEL

Luggage terms and conditions:

Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions accept the carriage of your luggage subject to any applicable laws and regulations and subject to
(a) The luggage not being excessively heavy, bulky, dangerous, inadequately packed, in a defective state or otherwise unsuitable for carriage
(b) Luggage being correctly labelled with your name, destination address and contact phone number both inside and outside the bag.
(c) You are accompanying your luggage on the train.

The following additional items are allowed free of charge:

• Baby safety capsules
• Child restraint car seats
• Fold up cots (in cases only)
• Prams/strollers (collapsed)

The following additional items of luggage are allowed at $50 per item:

• Candy striped bags (in good condition)
• Collapsible baby carriages
• Tents, sleeping bags and small camping items
• Bicycles (due to storage requirements, reservations are mandatory in advance)
• Canoes
• Fishing rod and other sporting equipment items
• Golf bags
• Parcels
• Sailboards, boogie boards, surf skis and surfboards

To book additional luggage or for further information, please contact our travel centre on 13 21 47.

The following items are not allowed as luggage:

• All Household Goods (Tvs etc)
• Birds or animals
• Dangerous Goods including firearms
• Food
• Fragile or perishable goods
• Freight
• Furniture
• Hessian or garbage/plastic bags
• Eskies
• Motorised golf buggies
• Tea Chests
• Unaccompanied luggage or parcels
• Cardboard, plastic or wooden boxes

Cabin luggage
GSR recommends you take the following luggage on board:

Platinum service twin and double cabins

One piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag and/or briefcase per person;

Gold service twin cabin

One piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag or briefcase per person;

Gold service single cabin

One piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag or briefcase per person;

The Overland, all classes

Cabin bag

Checked luggage

Platinum service (per person) 3 x 30kgs
Gold service (per person) 2 x 30kgs
Overland red premium (per person) 2 x 30kgs
Overland red service (per person) 2 x 30kgs

Luggage check-in opens 2.5 hours prior to departure and closes 60 minutes prior to departure.

Checked luggage cannot be accessed during the journey.

Your luggage must not contain any items which in our opinion are dangerous, illegal, liable to harm or annoy other guests or otherwise unsuitable. Animals and livestock will not be carried, except guide-dogs.

‍

No

‍

What is the train number of the Indian Pacific?

The train numbers of the Indian Pacific train are

SYDNEY - PERTH is 5AP8

PERTH - SYDNEY is 1AP8

PERTH - ADELAIDE is 1PA8

ADELAIDE - PERTH is 5PA8

No. Ironing boards are not supplied.

The two beds are in single configuration. They have a length of 1.80m, a width of 60cm and a height from the floor of 64cm.

• Cabin dimensions: 2.1m wide x 1.5m length
• Bed size: 66cm wide - 2m length
• Height of top bunk bed from floor: 1.5m
• Cabin entry door: 49cm wide
• Bathroom door: 47cm x 184cm high
• Bathroom dimensions: 1m x 93cm

• Cabin (excl. ensuite): 3.65m x 2.1m
• Ensuite: 0.9 x 2.1m
• Double Bed: 1.95L x 1.4W
• Single: 1.95L x 0.7W
• Note - the Double bed is a Double bed, not two Singles joined together

• Cabin Entry Door : 49 cm wide 
• Cabin Dimensions: 1.3m wide x 2 m length 
• Bed Size: 180cm length x 65 cm wide

Your infant is booked as a child and the applicable child fare will be charged.

Infants up to three years of age travel free of charge when nursed by a parent. Each fare paying parent is restricted to nursing only one infant free of charge.

• Sydney - Perth or vice versa (v.v) - 4,352km - approx 68hrs 
• Sydney - Adelaide (or v.v.) - 1,693km - approx 24.5hrs 
• Adelaide - Perth (or v.v.) - 2,659km - approx 41hrs 
• Adelaide - Alice Springs (or v.v.) - 1,559km - approx 25hrs 
• Adelaide - Darwin (or v.v.) - 2,979km - approx 48hrs 
• Melbourne - Adelaide (or v.v.) - 828km - approx 10.5hrs

Gold Twin share cabins are slightly larger and have a small ensuite bathroom/shower. Single Cabins have a number of shared bathrooms in the carriage. They also have a small sink in the cabin. Your meals, beverages and off train touring and other service are exactly the same. An advantage of the Gold single cabins is that no one needs to climb into the top bunk, so a couple could have two single cabins side by side, (with the doors open you can still chat!).

Gold Single Carriages have all been fully renovated in the last few years.

• Platinum Cabins have either a Double bed or two Single beds, they are at ground level not bunk style (so there are no steps required to get to a top bunk )
• Platinum Cabins are a much larger room that the Gold Twin (almost twice the size)
• Platinum Cabins have a much larger bathroom, with a separate shower cubicle
• Platinum Cabins have windows/views on both sides of the train.
  
  
• Platinum Service offer private transfers within 60km of the station for pick up and drop off.
  
  
• Platinum Service offer Platinum passengers exclusive use of the Platinum Club and Platinum for dining and socialising
• Platinum Service offer the option of having breakfast served to the room

What is the difference between a Gold Premium Twin Cabin and a Gold Twin Cabin?

• Gold Premium Twin Cabins are newly designed, contemporary cabins, commencing travel in April 2024 on The Ghan, The Ghan Expedition and The Great Southern.
• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabins and Gold Twin Cabins feature an upper and lower sleeping berth (two single bunk beds) which convert to a three-seater lounge by day. As well as a private ensuite featuring a compact shower and toilet.
• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests have exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and an enhanced Gold Dining experience in the Gold Premium Restaurant Carriage.
• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests enjoy a hearty breakfast, two course lunch and four course dinner. Gold Twin Cabin guests enjoy a hearty breakfast, two course lunch and three course dinner.
• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin and Gold Twin Cabin guests receive all-inclusive wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages. Gold Premium guests enjoy a selection of premium wines and spirits.
  

• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin and Gold Twin Cabin receive complimentary bathroom amenities. Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests receive premium amenities, luxuriously soft linen and silk eye masks.
  

• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests and Gold Twin Cabins guests receive all-inclusive Off Train Experiences. Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests receive higher preferences on tour selections.
  
• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests have a higher luggage allowance, 75kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 25 kg each) and receive priority luggage check-in.  Gold Twin Cabins guests can take 60kg checked luggage allowance per guest (2 x 30 kg each).

‍

What is the difference between a Gold Premium Twin Cabin and a Platinum Cabin?

• Gold Premium Twin Cabins are newly designed, contemporary cabins, commencing travel in April 2024 on The Ghan, The Ghan Expedition and The Great Southern.

• Platinum Cabins feature either a double bed or two single beds, they are at ground level not bunk style (so there are no steps required to get to a top bunk ).
  
• Gold Premium Twin Cabins feature an upper and lower sleeping berth (two single bunk beds) which convert to a three-seater lounge by day. As well as a private ensuite featuring a compact shower and toilet.
  
• Platinum Cabins have a much larger bathroom than the Gold Premium Twin Cabin, with a separate shower cubicle.
  
• Platinum Cabins have windows/views on both sides of the train.
  
• Platinum Service offer private transfers within 60km of the station for pick up and drop off.
  
• Platinum Service offer Platinum passengers exclusive use of the Platinum Club and Platinum for dining and socialising.

• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests have exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and an enhanced Gold Dining experience in the Gold Premium Restaurant Carriage.

• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin and Platinum guests enjoy a hearty breakfast, two course lunch and four course dinner. Platinum guests have the option of having breakfast served to the cabin.

• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin and Platinum guests receive premium all-inclusive wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.
  
• Both Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests and Platinum guests receive all-inclusive Off Train Experiences.
  
• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests have 75kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 25 kg each). Platinum guests have 90kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 30 kg each)

What is the difference between a Gold Suite and a Gold Premium Twin Cabin?

• Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests enjoy a hearty breakfast, two course lunch and four course dinner. Gold Premium Twin Cabin guests enjoy a hearty breakfast, two course lunch and three course dinner.
• Gold Premium has a 3 seater lounge seat during the day, this is turned into a bed while you are at dinner and another bed above it is folded down and made. So you have two beds, bunk style, with a ladder to get to the top bunk.
• Gold Suite has a 3/4 double bed, with a single bed that folds down above that. It's a larger room with two windows, a table and chairs, TV and mini bar.
• Very difficult to book a Gold Suites as there are (literally) two or maximum three cabins on the entire train.

Here is some further information. https://www.greattrains.com.au/cabins

‍

How many people can sleep in the Gold Suite?

The Gold Suite has a 3/4 double bed with a single bed that folds down above it. It can sleep up to two adults and one child (under 16) and one infant (under 3).

or one adult and two children (under 16) and one infant).

Smart casual attire is suggested for guests travelling in Platinum Service and Gold Service. Warm clothes are recommended for evenings onboard the train, as the air-conditioning can be cool. It is recommended that guests pack a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes for off-train touring. Sensible shoes are advisable for walking between carriages. Long, sturdy pants may be required for some Off Train Excursions.

‍

Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions staff members are trained to administer basic first aid; however staff members are not able to provide assistance with ongoing medical conditions during a journey. Guests requiring medical attention or mobility assistance onboard any of our trains are required to arrange for their own carer to travel with them.

Times shown are local times. The Ghan, Ghan Expedition, Indian Pacific and Great Southern check-in opens two hours prior to departure and check-in closes one hour prior to departure.

The Ghan packages are a blend of Ghan travel, touring and accommodation. Over certain periods some of these touring/accommodation providers prices may vary. Tours companies sometimes have peak, shoulder and low season rates. Accommodation providers may charge surcharges on certain Long Week Ends and special events. If you request a package the price will be confirmed to you shortly.