Hello,<BR><BR>Looking for advice from anyone who has utilized the rail system in Oz and in particular, The Ghan. We are wondering if it is worth it, as we have read mixed reviews. We understand there are several diffent types of rail passes that can be purchased; am looking for input from someone who has "been there, done that". <BR><BR>Thanks much.

Yes I have information about the Ghan, having taken that tour myself, but if you want information write to me direct at home as I am not interested in giving any further help to anyone on this forum while we have people who have nothing better to do that denigrate those who try and help people like you, they can answer all the questions in future

What a relief that will be.

Yeah..email her direct so she can sell you a tour.

Trying to stir up trouble in a second place, liz? How professional and also how sweet to drag canuckeh into your pout.

Hi, Canuckeh!<BR><BR>The Ghan, and its "sister" train, the Indian Pacific (which goes on to Perth) certainly are expensive trips, and many Australians don't think that they represent value for money; however, if you are coming from the USA, this is hardly a problem for you, since everything is half-price here anyway! Certainly, you will see a lot of Australia on the Ghan, and the train itself is quite comfortable... the only negative I could say about it, apart from its cost, is that you might find the scenery fairly monotonous after the first half-day, as the fact is (others may disagree with this) that the Australian outback just seems to go on and on without offering anything new to look at. <BR>There are often half (or thereabouts)-price deals offering for the Sydney- Adelaide leg of the journey, as the rail company is trying to compete with the bus companies which service these two destinations (I recall travelling this leg on the Indian-Pacific about a year and a half ago for $89); however, I have never seen any "deals" for the leg which goes north from Adelaide (or west to Perth)... this is where your costs will climb. The two trains are NOT government-owned but run by a private company, which means that any discount rail passes which the government trains are offering are non-applicable. You will need to check the company's website to see if there are any special deals operating for the time you want to travel... you could well be lucky, as tourism is in a bad way in Australia at present, and specials are cropping up everywhere, Good luck!<BR>Post-script to LizF, above: don't let it worry you. The USA forum is full of hostility and sarcasm and people taking a cheap shot... it seems to be a way of showing the world that you're a big success, in the eyes of some people... so naturally it must eventually spill over into this one. But it's people like you who make this forum what it is.... the best that Fodor's hosts.. so don't give it away and let the wisecrackers call out "game, set, and match"! (Sorry, Canuckeh, to use your "spot" for something that doesn't concern you.)