christellefv

Hello!
I'm looking for advice on the Ghan Train. I want to take it between Darwin and Alice Springs. I'll be travelling solo and I'm on budget, so I was thinking about the "Red Kangaroo Daynighter Seat" but I would like to get some reviews from people who have chosen this option in the past. The train ride lasts about 24h so I want to make sure I will still be comfortable although I'm going for a cheaper option...
Thanks!

Paul_S

I have done the trip from Alice to Port Augusta using just the seat option and it was most uncomfortable. I will never again travel using the Ghan, it is too expensive, slow and very boring. It is far cheaper to fly and spend the saved time exploring at your destinations unless of course you are a complete train devotee and drool at the sound of a train whistle then I guess you need to take the sleeper option.

Cheers

Paul_S

christellefv

Why was it uncomfortable?

I'm trying to vary the means of transportation I will be using... For example bus from Sydney to Cairns, plane Cairns to Darwin and train Darwin to Alice Springs. I'm not in any hurry to get from one point to another...

But if you say it was boring it's making me reconsider my choice... Anybody else has experience with the Ghan train??

Airsick_

I haven't travelled the Ghan personally, but ran into some people who had. "Bloody rough trip!" they expounded whilst rubbing their bruised and battered backsides. For the uninformed, the Ghan travels on a very old railbed, so be prepared for some shake, rattle 'n roll!

marg

I think Airsick is thinking of the old Ghan. The track from Alice to Darwin has only just opened - the first trains ran on it only a week ago. Passenger trains start running next month.
Could you break your journey by leaving the train at Katherine and having a look around there before going onto Darwin?
Personally I'd be flying Alice to Darwin and touring around from there, although there is another alternative and that is to take the train to Katherine and then take a tour from there which will take you to Katherine Gorge, Kakadu and Litchfield before reaching Darwin.

alice13

Hi, I'm right with u on wanting to vary your means of transport. Australia is such a big place. It was part of the reason I took the Ghan from Alice to Adelaide (seat only) a while back. Well - 6 years ago now. I had plenty of time and I probably am a bit of a train freak. I can't say it was the most interesting train journey I've ever made. The scenery doesn't vary much although seeing sunset and sunrise over the landscape was good. And I met some entertaining characters in the smoking car!! It's not THAT uncomfortable. Having said all that - unless u are getting the b/p rate I believe it's about $220 (AUD) and for just a little more u can do what looks like an interesting road trip with wayward bus that takes in Litchfield NP on the way. And that is an wonderful place.

Just a thought ...

JamesA

If the accommodation is anything like the Overlander ( Adelaide to Melbourne ) it was almost a nightmare. Although 1st Class the comparment was the 'smalles' train sleeping accommodation I have ever experienced, it was a 'cubicle', you could not even stand up, it was a shock when I saw it. Catering was expensive and poor, I don't know if the compartments on the Ghan are the same but when I saw brochure it looked very similar, however, that was a 'single', the twin compartments were far better. So if there are 2 of you it might be ok. I honestly wouldn't think about too many long distance buses. I drover from Cairns to brisbane, took a couple of days, the road was boring and nothing what I expected, I didn't anticipate a major highway but this was just a 'road', and long diatances of boring scenary for hours on end. Just my personal thoughts, I would fly and then take trips out from each place.

christellefv

Thanks all for your interesting replies!! Lots to think of..

Neil_Oz

Some years ago I was told of a time when the "old Ghan" encountered unusually long delays due to track washouts and mechanical problems. Eventually a worried-looking young woman approached the conductor to ask when the train might reach Adelaide.

"I wish I could tell you, love," he replied, "it depends on when the track repair crew finishes work."

Increasingly agitated, the passenger said "Well, I can't afford to wait much longer - as you may have noticed, I'm eight-and-a-half months pregnant!"

"Jeez, lady," said the exasperated conductor, "weren't you listening? We warn people in your condition not to board this train!"

"I wasn't IN this condition when I boarded the train", she replied.

DJE

Regarding the trains, what size of suitcase will fit in a double cabin? We are taking the Indian Pacific Train from Sydney to Perth in Gold Kangaroo service. I was hoping a standard size case will fit as we need more luggage with us ( being a 3 1/2 day journey ) than just an overnight bag. Anything else can be stored on the train.

After reading some of the comments I hope we haven't made a mistake by not flying. Just thought that this might be a different way to do a trip across the continent. I haven't spent more than a day on any trains before this.

alice13

Hi DJE - Can't help u with size of suitcase as was travelling solo and seat only. Just wanted to say don't worry about maybe having made the wrong choice. Fly - see nothing. Syd to Perth - what an adventure!! The wonderful thing about long distance train travel is the life on board the train. I don't mean the facilities; the food - I mean the people.

Good for you - pls tell us about your journey afterwards.

DJE

alice13,

Thanks for the reassurance about the train. This will be our 2nd trip to Australia. We did do a driving trek about 7 yrs. ago from Sydney to Uluru and then up to Tennent Creek and across to Brisbane returning to Syd along the coast. Had a fabulous time and enjoyed really seeing the country up close.

This time after arriving in Perth we will drive along the western coast to Broome and then on through Kakadu and end in Darwin. Really looking forward to this part of our trip as well.

Then we fly to Melbourne and pick up another vehicle to drive the coastal route back to Sydney. By the time we are finished we will have seen a great deal of the country between both of our trips. We very much like the terrain and vastness of Australia and of course the people everywhere during our last trip, were wonderful.

I will let you know how it all goes after our return. DJE

withco

Today,01/02/2004, is the maiden trip for the Ghan through to Darwin. Do not know much about it. Have been trying to find out info on net. There are 43 carriages and five (I think) dining cars as well as club cars etc. Anything the other replies have told you is incorrect as nobody has yet completed the journey.
Bill

OzMike

http://abc.net.au/news/australia/sa/200402/s1035628.htm

farcore12

I'll be taking the Ghan in October. Just wondering if anyone's been on it recently and what you thought of it. Thanks!