The Ghan
Another colloquial name used was "The Ghan", after the passenger train that utilised the line. It is suggested that "The 'Ghan" name is in recognition of the Afghan Cameleers that plied their trade in the area well before the railway; however, see The Ghan (Etymology) for alternatives. This colloquial term for the railway appears to have been widely in use from at least the early 1930s; it may have been in use prior to this. The new Adelaide-Darwin railway initially used "The New Ghan" as a trading name. It has now reverted to "The Ghan", relegating the original line name colloquially as "The Old Ghan".