The Ghan The Ghan Trains / The Ghan Prepare for a holiday of unimaginable proportions as the legendary Ghan takes you deep into the heart of Australia. Enjoy the comfort and solitude of your private cabin, lose yourself in conversation with newfound travelling companions, or simply gaze out of the window taking inspiration from the ever changing landscape. And when the train stops along the way, the adventures begin. Take your time tapping into the rich creative soul of Adelaide. Experience the dramatic scenery of central Australia on the back of a camel and explore the ancient, awe-inspiring wonders of the Northern Territory. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan delivers so much more than an extended train ride. It promises access to parts of Australia no other holiday can come close to – the perfect balance of comfort and adventure culminating in an experience that will move you in every sense of the word. Darwin to Adelaide The Ghan Expedition Three nights and Four days via Katherine and Alice Springs, one way, 2,979km. Coast to coast, through the fiery red centre, experience Australia at its dramatic best. Operates 3 August 2016 to 26 October 2016.

Explore the Journey Four days and three nights Length of journey: Departs 23 May to 22 August 2015 Off Train Excursions: Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy Adelaide to Darwin or V.v. Two nights and three days via Alice Springs and Katherine, one way, 2,979km. Coast to coast, through the fiery red centre, experience Australia at its dramatic best. Explore the Journey Three days and Two nights Length of journey: Off Train Excursions & Short Stops: Off Train Excursions: Katherine and Alice Springs Short Stop: Marla (north bound) and Manguri (south bound) Darwin to Alice Springs or V.v. One night and two days via Katherine, one way, 1,420km. Weave your way through the wet and wild landscapes of the magnificent top end. Explore the Journey Two days and one nights Length of journey: Off Train Excursions: Katherine Adelaide to Alice Springs or V.v. One night and two days, one way, 1,559km. Roll from the deep green pastures of the South into rich red outback splendour.

Explore the Journey Two days and one night Length of journey: Short Stop: Marla (north bound) and Manguri (south bound) The Ghan stats 1400 tonnes (based on locomotives and 30 carriages) Length of track: 85km/hour (max speed 115km/hour) Symbol: The Ghan's symbol is a camel and its handler in recognition of the pioneering Afghan cameleers. Average number of carriages: 30 including guest carriages, crew quarters, restaurants, lounges and power vans. Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed a permanent trail into the Red Centre of Australia more than 150 years ago. Many cameleers were migrants from an area now known as Pakistan. However, according to outback lore in the 1800s, these men were believed to come from the mysterious outpost of Afghanistan and were considered Afghans - 'Ghans'. The original Ghan line followed the route of explorer John MacDouall Stuart.

On Sunday 4 August, 1929, an excited crowd gathered at the Adelaide Railway Station to farewell the first Ghan train. This train carried supplies and over 100 passengers bound for the remote town of Stuart, later to be called Alice Springs. The train’s whistle pierced the silence of the MacDonnell Ranges surrounding Alice Springs two days later, on 6 August. The train was steam hauled, and the service had to contend with extreme conditions including flash flooding and intense heat. As such, it was often an irregular service. The old Ghan ran on a light, narrow-gauge track well to the east of the track it travels today. As well as termite damage, the track was often savaged by fire and flood. Flash flooding, when the normally parched river beds spilled out onto the low lying desert plains, frequently washed away the track completely. Legend has it The Old Ghan was once stranded for two weeks in one spot and the engine driver shot wild goats to feed his passengers. In 1980, the old Ghan rail track was abandoned in favour of a new standard-gauge rail line built with termite-proof concrete sleepers.

The track was laid further to the west to mitigate the flooding problems encountered along the old route. It was always intended for The Ghan to one day travel from Adelaide through to the Northern Territory capital city of Darwin. With the completion of the Alice Springs to Darwin rail link, this dream became a reality. The Ghan embarked on its inaugural transcontinental journey on 1 February, 2004. Today, the north-south cross-country journey covers 2979 kilometres and encounters spectacular and diverse landscapes from the pastoral hues of the South Australian plains, the rusty reds of the MacDonnell Ranges and the tropical greens of Katherine and Darwin. All Inclusive Journeys Our holiday packages have been specially selected to offer a range of unique and varied experiences. By combining accommodation, sightseeing, transfers and of course your train travel, we can offer the perfect Australian ‘all-in-one’ holiday option. History of The Ghan Railway History of The Ghan Railway Photo Gallery The Ghan is a famous Australian rail journey that operates between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin. Spanning 2,979km, the journey takes 48 hours to complete and is a legendary rail service that has been operating since 1878.

Originally known as the Afghan Express, The Ghan takes its name from the 19th century Afghan camel drivers who arrived in Australia and helped to explore the country's remote interior. Although construction on the line began in 1878, it wasn't until 1926 that development in Alice Springs began meaning up until it was completed in 1929, the remaining leg of the journey was made by camel. Although plans to extend the line all the way to Darwin were in place, the Ghan was not making any profit and plans were put on hold. It wasn't until 2004 that the line was finally extended northwards to Darwin. The early railway line often experienced delays and washouts, causing the first flatcar behind the tender to always carry tools and spare sleepers so that passengers and crew could repair the line and allow the train to continue on its journey. Although the service wasn't good, passengers tolerated it because the route was the only one with water available to power the steam trains. However as the service expanded during WWII, the limited water supplies were under great pressure so de-mineralisation towers to use bore water were built, with some surviving to this day.

As diesel replaced steam, the need for water diminished and the line was re-routed to a more reliable route between Tarcoola and Alice Springs. The Ghan is now a popular tourist attraction with international visitors and Australian's alike, with many people counting it as one of their must see wonders in their lifetime. Still operational, The Ghan is popular way to travel the continent of Australia between popular holiday destinations such as Adelaide and the Top End and allows passengers to see the amazing changing Australian landscape in the comfort of modern rail travel. About Us The Ghan off train excursions - Rail Plus Australia Photos The Ghan Off Train Excursions Traversing the breadth of Australia by train, you'll pass through some of this country's most spectacular terrains, famous cities, historic towns and well-known landmarks. **Off train excursions for the Ghan (3 day) are organised onboard the train, pre-booking is not possible** Marla The 90 minute Twin Parks private scenic flight will take you over some of the Northern Territory's most stunning wilderness areas including the Nitmiluk and Kakadu national parks. Your adventure includes a chilled glass of sparkling wine before boarding the flight and a souvenir certificate upon your return.

Manguri Outback Stop (Darwin-Adelaide only) Enjoy a nightcap (served with premium chocolate) as you stargaze with a trained crew by the light of an outback fire. Manguri is a rail outpost located roughly 40 km from the opal fields of Coober Pedy, South Australia. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Katherine Discover the beauty of one of the Northern Territory's most awe-inspiring natural wonders as take a leisurely boat cruise down the Katherine River via the First and Second Gorges. The large rock formations of the Nitmiluk Gorge are home to a wide range of native plant and animal species, and play a key role in the lives of the indigenous Jawoyn people. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Katherine For a more relaxed cruise experience, join your guide who will share some of Katherine's ancient secrets as you make your way down the First Gorge, passing dramatic sandstone cliffs and sheer rock face walls. Enjoy a short walk to the top of the First Gorge where you will discover captivating Indigenous rock art dating back 40,000 years.

Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Alice Springs Explore the fascinating sites of the Alice and learn about the area's many contributions to Australia's heritage. Visit the attraction triangle where you can choose to visit: the Royal Flying Doctor Service the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame or take a detour to the Reptile centre You will also visit the historical precinct of the iconic Alice Springs Telegraph Station and have the opportunity to take photos of Alice springs from the top of ANZAC Hill. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Alice Springs The Alice Springs Desert Park, located at the base MacDonnell Ranges, is home to over 200 desert animals and 400 plant species. Your outback adventure also includes; Exclusive walking tour with experienced guide. A front row seat at the free flight bird show . Private training session with bird trainers. Take a close-up exploration of Central Australian flora and fauna. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Alice Springs Board a private helicopter and witness magnificent views of Simpson's Gap, Mt. Gillen Ridgeline and the Larapinta trail from the air. Platinum and Gold Service guests leaving The Ghan in Alice Springs - Not available.

Katherine The 90 minute Twin Parks private scenic flight will take you over some of the Northern Territory's most stunning wilderness areas including the Nitmiluk and Kakadu national parks. Your adventure includes a chilled glass of sparkling wine before boarding the flight and a souvenir certificate upon your return. Katherine Gain a fabulous insight into life on an outback cattle station through stories, cattle dog demonstrations and live performances featuring stockmen and their horses, working dogs, cattle, a buffalo and even a donkey. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Katherine The Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter flight won't disappoint with a new perspective of Nitmiluk Gorge and spectacular views. Take this scenic helicopter flight over all 13 gorges and appreciate the enormity of the Katherine River. See 17 Mile Valley, Northern Rock Hole and Biddlebomb Cascades from the air. Alice Springs For an extended view of Alice Springs from the sky take the fixed wing scenic flight and enjoy your aerial view of the red centre.

Witness incredible views of the Todd River, ANZAC Hill, Emily, Jessie and Simpson's Gaps, Mt Gillen, West MacDonnell Ranges, Glen Helen Gorge, Gosse's Bluff, Pine Gap, The Finke River and The Ghan itself on this comfortable 90 minute flight. Platinum and Gold Service guests leaving The Ghan in Alice Springs - Not available. Alice Springs Experience what life was like for the pioneering Afghan cameleers hundreds of years ago as you embark on an exciting camel ride along the Pyndan Camel Tracks. Alice Springs The Simpsons Gap walk is a fantastic way to see the fascinating geological marvels of this region in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Enjoy walks that pass stunning native flora including ancient Ghost Gums, Mulga and many rare and relict plants. Platinum and Gold Service guests - Included in your fare. Please contact us for more details on Off-Train Excursions. This provides the perfect opportunity to gain new insights into the people, culture and geographical wonders that shape this great land. The Ghan includes a series of immersive off train excursions.

Whether you choose River cruises, cultural experiences and optional camel rides or helicopter flights you'll love the chance to breathe in the beauty you've been watching pass by. Talk to Your Luxury Train Expert The Great Train Journeys Department Rail Plus' great train journeys department is your exclusive port of call for luxury train travel. The Ghan story - Pichi Richi Railway Pichi Richi Railway The Ghan story The Afghans Between 1870 and 1920 approximately 20,000 camels and between 2000 and 4000 cameleers landed at ports around Australia to support a vast network of camel train routes that spread out across inland Australia. Camels arrived in their hundreds on ships from Karachi and Bombay and excited crowds flocked to the wharves to see the animals unloaded after their long sea trip. The camel was ideally suited to Australia's desert environment; horses and buffaloes died through lack of water.

But if camels were to be used, experienced handlers were indispensable and so men, from what was then an undivided India and Kingdom of Afghanistan (today Pakistan, India and Afghanistan) were 'imported' by British entrepreneurs along with the camels – collectively the men were known as "Afghans" or "Ghans". Cameleers undertook what was needed to be done when a country is being opened up – accompanying exploratory expeditions, carting wool to ports or railheads and barrels of water to drought-ridden areas, and transporting mail, construction materials and stores at a time when railway construction was in its infancy. Many rest stations opened up across the country where camel teams converged as they moved from one state to another, and centres such as Marree became established, opening lines of supply to isolated communities further inland or further north. By the mid 1890s, the "Ghans" were becoming a 'problem' resented by those who believed that they threatened the working conditions of white Australians. Along with Chinese goldfield workers and Pacific Islanders employed in the sugar cane industry , the Afghans became targets of anti-Asian sentiment as the colonies approached Federation.

This eventually led to the passage of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, known as the White Australia Policy. The Menzies and Holt Governments effectively dismantled this policy between 1949 and 1966 and the Whitlam Government in 1973 passed laws to ensure that race would be totally disregarded as a component for immigration to Australia. The Afghan cameleers led hard lives in this country, and their wives and children were at first prevented from entering Australia, a restriction not lifted until the late 1920s. Some married and raised families with Anglo-Australian or Indigenous women. Today their descendants take pride in the pioneering role played by their ancestors and kinsmen in Australian history. An Afghan camel driver with a camel train loaded with chaff, ca. 1911. Photograph courtesy of the State Library of South Australia. SLSA: B 14808 The Ghan During the cool months of 1923 the South Australian Railways decided to shorten the time taken by trains for passengers and perishable freight between Adelaide and Oodnadatta. Before this time, trains had stopped overnight at stations en-route, including Quorn.

After 1923, a sleeping car was provided and the train rescheduled to continue without stabling overnight. Through passengers could leave Adelaide a day later, on Thursday mornings, and return a day earlier than under the previous timetable. On 30 August 1923 the inaugural through passenger train, which included the Alberga sleeping car, ran from Terowie to Oodnadatta. It was on this trip that the name the Ghan has its origin. A large crowd of local people gathered at Quorn station to witness the arrival of the new train with its sleeping car. When the train pulled into Quorn yard it was almost dusk. An Afghan passenger wasted no time in getting off the train and sprinting to a quiet corner of the yard where he could kneel to face Mecca and recite his ritual evening prayers. A railwayman made the joking remark that if he was the only passenger on the train it should be called the Afghan Express. Apparently the name proved popular and was adopted immediately, later being shortened to the Ghan Express, and then to the Ghan, by which name the train was known to local railwaymen for a couple of years prior to the takeover by the Commonwealth Railways in 1926.

There are many other versions of how the Ghan received its name, but there is nevertheless a concensus of opinion confirming that the name was bestowed in 1923 when the first sleeping car train worked on the Great Northern Railway. The “official” versions of the story have been more generic—that the name derived from an observation that the service, when extended to Alice Springs, superseded the Afghans and their strings of camels. However this version, and a commemorative plaque unveiled at the Alice Springs railway station in October 1980, ignore what should be by now a well-known fact—that the famous Ghan train derived its name from an event in Quorn when the first sleeping car service was introduced between Terowie and Oodnadatta—six years before a train steamed into Alice Springs. It is fitting that the Ghan name should serve to perpetuate the memory of that hardy band of tough but gentle men who provisioned the outback with their camel teams in early years. Mixed train approaching Oodnadatta, c. 1910. Photograph courtesy of the State Library of South Australia.

SLSA: B 53762 Article text adapted from: Dean, H: "Boundless Plains: The Australian Muslim Connection" and Babbage, J & Barrington, R: "The History of Pichi Richi Railway". The Ghan: Great Train Journeys - Telegraph Telegraph The Ghan: Great Train Journeys ghan 7 December 2012 • 12:00am Overview Australia’s red centre is one of the most spectacular wildernesses in the world, and the Ghan is unquestionably the most comfortable way to see it. The train runs through the heart of the country: 2,979km (1,861 miles) between the south coast at Adelaide and the north coast at Darwin, taking two nights and three days. It is named after the Afghans who helped to open up the Australian interior on camels imported from India. Added to the allure of the outback is Alice Springs, a town of only 27,000 people that is known the world over as a symbol of isolation – so much so that even the philosopher Bertrand Russell had to go and see it for himself in 1950.

From Alice, as the locals call it, you can visit the world’s largest monolith, Uluru, or Ayers Rock. Route The journey begins at Adelaide station, a few kilometres from the city centre, and the train is soon bowling across the farming country of the Adelaide Plains, with the 700km-long (440-mile-long) Flinders Ranges coming into view to the north. By Crystal Brook, sheep have been added to wheat. At Port Pirie, the centre of South Australia’s heavy industry, colossal silver, lead and zinc smelters dominate the landscape. Within living memory Port Pirie was notorious as the meeting point of three different track gauges, necessitating much changing and trans-shipment. The estuary-like Spencer Gulf is within view for much of the way to Port Augusta, gateway to the outback and its vital supply centre. This was the southern terminus of the original narrow-gauge Ghan train, which began its slow and fitful service to Stuart – later renamed Alice Springs – in 1929.

Disruption from frequent flooding prompted construction of a new standard-gauge railway, which by 1980 ran as far as Alice and in 2004 was finally extended to Darwin, an attractive town lined with single-storey houses in brick and stone surrounded by generous verandas. It will almost certainly be dark as the train winds through sand hills and scrub forest before calling in the small hours at Tarcoola. If you are awake, it is worth getting off the train to be astounded by the brilliance of the night sky, so different from the northern hemisphere. Manguri is the stop for opal-rich Coober Pedy, where the searing temperatures have forced some inhabitants to live underground. North of Kulgera is an Iron Man sculpture erected to commemorate the laying of the millionth track sleeper and honour the workers who built the line during the 1970s. As the train rumbles over the 15-span Finke River bridge, the railway is roughly as close as it gets to Uluru. The approach to Alice is unmistakable.

Ahead lie the tall MacDonnell Ranges, and the train heads for a gap so narrow that there is room only for the railway, the Todd River and a two-lane road. From a distance it looks as though a giant angle-grinder has been taken to the mountains. Alice is like no other town, with its minority aboriginal population, its role as a hub for thousands of square miles around and its importance as a tourist centre. Hemmed in by the surrounding hills, it is having to expand to the south beyond the MacDonnells and near the airport. The railway made Alice: pastoralists could send livestock to Adelaide in days rather than months, and in the first 10 months of the service 15,000 head of cattle worth $436,000 were sent south. The first trainload of conducted tourists arrived in 1930. Today the Ghan stops long enough for tours of the town, variously visiting the Flying Doctor Service Museum, Anzac Hill and its First World War memorial, the Women Pioneers’ hall of fame, which pays tribute to early settlers, a reptile centre and the Telegraph Station (see below).

Pressing north across endless vistas of red earth under a sky of cobalt, the Ghan pauses at Tennant Creek, a centre of gold production and of the pastoral industry, which sustains cattle stations the size of Belgium. At Katherine there is another extended stop for a boat ride between the towering limestone walls of the crocodile-populated Nitmiluk Gorge, where the waters can rise 8 metres (more than 25ft) overnight. The final stretch of the journey is through densely forested country interspersed with mango plantations and watermelons before mangroves lining the Elizabeth River herald arrival in Darwin, Australia’s only tropical capital. The glossy laurel-like leaves and white flowers of frangipanis are typical of the luxuriant vegetation, a contrast with the arid country through which the Ghan has passed for much of the journey. Highlights At Alice Springs, passengers can visit the wonderfully atmospheric Telegraph Station a few miles out of town in a lonely but beautiful riverside location shaded by river red gum trees. The cluster of buildings at what was then named Stuart was part of the telegraph line that linked London with Darwin and Adelaide, which opened in 1872, reducing communication from two months to three hours.

Eucalyptus telegraph poles on the overland route were eaten in a matter of months by termites, and 3,000 steel poles had to be ordered from England. The first message Stuart received told of the death from thirst of the man making his way to become the first station master. Booking The Ghan is operated by Great Southern Rail (0061 8 8213 4592; greatsouthernrail.com.au ), which also manages the other principal long-distance trains in Australia. At present there are two trains a week in each direction. The journey can be broken in Alice Springs, and GSR offers inclusive packages to Uluru, Kings Canyon and other attractions. To book in Britain, contact Wexas (020 7590 0651; wexas.com/Australia ). Time The journey takes about 54 hours. The train departs northbound at 12.20, arriving in Darwin in late afternoon, and southbound at 10.00, arriving in Adelaide at lunchtime. Given the physical challenges that can afflict the railway, it is unwise to schedule tight connections.

Cost One-way fares for travel before March 31 2013 are Red from A$778, Gold from A$2,116 and Platinum from A$3210. On board Red class has two options: the cheapest-fare Day/Nighter Seat, offering a generous-sized reclining armchair two abreast, and Red Sleeper Service Cabin, in which seats convert to upper and lower longitudinal berths with washbasin in the cabin. There is a shower and lavatory at the end of the carriage. Red passengers have use of the Matilda Café, which serves drinks, snacks and full meals. Gold Service berths are single or twin berths with en suite lavatory, washbasin and shower. Beds are made up by the attendant during dinner in the dining car, and there is a lounge car with small library, games and postbox. An upgrade to Gold Superior gives a three-quarter-size double bed, a DVD player and screen and various service refinements. Platinum cabins are almost twice the size of Gold, with double bed, lounge chairs and larger en suite lavatory, washbasin and shower.

Wood panelling and thoughtful design create an attractive space, and stewards are on hand with beverages and drinks as well as other service touches that add to those of Gold Superior. Large cases cannot be accommodated in Red Service or Gold compartments, so it is best to take a small one for the two nights. Tips Packing Sunscreen of at least SPF30, a hat and comfortable walking shoes are essential. A powerful insect repellent is vital (in the Northern Territories between August and November the midges can be vicious). The train’s air conditioning can keep the temperature cooler than some would like. Dress in the dining car is smart casual. What to read The best guidebook is Colin Taylor’s Australia by Rail (Trailblazer), now in its fifth edition and containing enough practical information on the country in general to save you carrying another guidebook. The extraordinary story of the railway’s construction and difficult operation is well told in The Ghan: The Story of the Alice Springs Railway by Basil Fuller (New Holland). Perhaps the most obvious fiction to take is Nevil Shute’s novel of 1950, A Town like Alice.

Paradoxically, the story has little to do with Alice Springs, but it nonetheless gives a good idea of outback life at the time. For more recent fiction titles, try Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, made into a film by Peter Weir in 1975; The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough; Voss by Patrick White; The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin; and, for outback crime, Diamond Dove by Adrian Hylands. What to listen to Many find a little didgeridoo music goes a long way, but there’s more variety on the CD Bush Songs from the Australian Outback by the Aussie Bush Band. Australian country music has moved on since the 1895 song Waltzing Matilda; influences range from Celtic and English folk music to American country music and bluegrass. Try something by The Bushwackers or The Flood. What to watch You can see get some sense of what the journey would be like by watching the many Ghan clips on YouTube.

Follow Telegraph Travel The Ghan Train Tours | Goway Travel The Ghan Train Tours Chat The legendary train was named after the hardy Afghans and their camel trains which provided the only means of transport into "The Red Centre" in the early days. The journey is now a comfortable 24 hours from Adelaide to Alice Springs and 52 hours from Adelaide to Darwin, a world class train trip! Depart from Adelaide, pass through the "Wheat Belt" to Port Pirie, follow the scenic Flinders Ranges to Port Augusta, and then head north from Tarcoola through the MacDonnell Ranges, approaching Alice Springs through Heavitree Gap, a narrow pass which accommodates the railway line, the road and the Todd River. From Alice Springs the train continues its northward journey crossing that well known line on the map, the Tropic of Capricorn. The rocky ranges soon give way to the dry, spinifex and ti tree country skirting the vast Tanami Desert. You are now in the very heart of the Australian continent, a harsh, sparsely populated region of the outback. Pass through the gold mining settlement of Tennant Creek en route to Katherine where the train stops for about 4 hours.

There is time to take an optional boat cruise or helicopter tour* at spectacular Katherine Gorge in the nearby Nitmiluk National Park. From Katherine The Ghan makes its way through the lush green tropics, crossing the Adelaide River and arriving at journeys end in Darwin, port and capital city of the Northern Territory. Travel in style in Gold or Platinum Service aboard The Ghan. Enjoy fine dining in the Stylish Restaurant and relax over a drink in the Lounge before retiring to your private sleeper cabin. The Ghan travels once a week between Adelaide and Darwin and v.v with one extra weekly service running from mid-late May to mid-late August. The full journey from Adelaide to Darwin takes 54 hours in total. Trip Finder The magazine for world travellers. Get your FREE subscription today. A Journey on The Ghan | The Journey Blog Tweet Great Rail Journeys Tour Manager Mike Smith travels through breathtaking Australian landscape on The Ghan train. Standing on the station at Alice Springs, it was easy to feel some of the excitement the people living in this outpost must have felt on 6 August 1929, when the first train pulled in to town.

We had spent the last three days travelling by coach across the 'Red Centre' of the country, not only marvelling at the sights of Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon, but experiencing just a little of the vastness and wilderness of the remote Australian outback, and the harshness of conditions there. "There she is", our driver Ron had said as our coach swung the corner to the station, and there indeed she was - The Ghan. Seeing for the first time what would be our comfortable home for the next 24 hours, we could get a sense of how significant the coming of the railway must have been to this isolated settlement lying only a few miles from the geographic centre of this vast country. Trains of a different kind had been used up until then. The first explorers had recognised camels as the ideal beasts of burden to open up the country's harsh wilderness. By the early 1900s there were thousands of them trekking across the huge expanses of central and northern Australia, and it was camels that transported the sleepers, rails and other materials and equipment needed for construction of the original railway.

Noted for having the skills and techniques required for handling the animals, these 'camel trains' were run by Afghans, and gave the modern day train its name. When the steam train replaced the camel train, it became known as the Afghan Express, soon shortened to The Ghan. The railway's emblem is an Afghan cameleer on his camel. Today, in the bright midday sunshine, Kathy, the station manager, and her staff had efficiently weighed and tagged our main suitcases and despatched them to the baggage van before escorting this group of 22 'pommie' tourists to the train. There our Lounge Host showed us into the comfortable Outback Explorer Lounge and served us with our champagne welcome drink while explaining to us how the Queen Adelaide Restaurant would soon serve us a three-course lunch, and later a four-course dinner, before showing us to our compact but comfortable sleeping compartments. Things were not quite so easy in the early days. That first steam-hauled narrow gauge train had taken two full days to bring its cargo of over 100 passengers and much-needed supplies to Alice Springs.

At that time the town was still called Stuart, after John McDouall Stuart, a Scotsman who became one of Australia's greatest explorers. His maps were still the most accurate on record, and the original Ghan line followed the same route he had taken in the mid 19th century from Adelaide through the heart of the continent. But this route was liable to intense heat and fire, and flash flooding, which frequently washed away the track completely. Another major problem was the wooden sleepers. In the desert, termites thought they were food and ate the sleepers as quickly as they could be laid. There is a story that the Ghan was once stranded for two weeks in the same spot, and the engine driver shot wild goats to feed his passengers. It was not until 1980 that the old narrow-gauge rail track was abandoned in favour of standard gauge line with a revised route avoiding many of the flood-prone streams, with larger and stronger bridges - and termite-proof concrete sleepers.

This was the route we would follow as we pulled out of Alice Springs at 1245, passed the red sandstone statues of three camels, on our 1559km (974 miles) journey to Adelaide, grateful for the modern amenities that would smooth our way, but mindful that there were still many challenges to daily life in the outback. That very morning we had visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum, and experienced at first hand some of the fantastic work of the Alice Springs School of the Air in bringing education to kids in isolated homesteads and small settlements across an area ten times the size of England, where the most remote student was 1300km (over 800 miles) away. From Alice Springs our route takes us over the Hugh and Finke Rivers (not rivers at all when we crossed, just dry river beds) and south on to Kulgera, passing the McDonnell Ranges to the east. The countryside is dry desert scrubland. Vegetation is sparse, dominated by the ubiquitous spinifex plant, a tough, spiky tussock grass common across the red sand desert and rocky ranges of Central Australia.

In the arid conditions, this catches fire easily, and we can see the evidence of this as we pass through large areas of burned vegetation, or catch sight of huge smoke clouds in the distance. In these parts, the fires are just left to burn themselves out, as there is not the manpower or water available to combat them. Soon after Kulgera we cross the border from Northern Territory into South Australia. The scenery does not change noticeably, but by this time thoughts are turning to gathering in the lounge car for a chat and perhaps a pre-dinner drink before going through to the dining car. At the neat tables laid with white cloths and fine cutlery and crockery, we were served our freshly-prepared dinner of classic Australian dishes such as kangaroo steak or barramundi as darkness fell. After dinner, it's back to chatting in the lounge car, when two guys with funny shaped cases slung over their shoulders appear. They pitch down in the middle of the car, take out guitars and start strumming, launching into a variety of Australian and American folk and country songs. It would be nice to stay and join in, but your conscientious Tour Manager has another hard day at the office tomorrow, so - off to bed.

There is a variety of travelling accommodation on the train, ranging from Red Service, a mixture of day/nighter seating and small sleeper cabins, through Gold and Gold Superior Service, to Platinum. We are travelling Gold Service where, apart from access to the lounge and dining cars with meals included, we have cabins which convert from daytime seating to upper and lower twin berths at night, with towels and toiletries provided and full en-suite facilities of washbasin, toilet and shower. At least those travelling as couples do. Single travellers have a single berth cabin with washbasin, but have to go to one end of the car for the toilet, and the other end for a shower. One couple in the group had been upgraded to Gold Superior Service - a double size cabin with a ¾ double bed, lounge area with armchairs, complimentary fruit, chocolates, mini-bar and bottle of wine with dinner, room service, DVD player, microwave, spa bath……… well, maybe I imagined the last two, but I can't imagine what Platinum Service must be like! During the night we pass Manguri, a small town that serves cattle ranches in the region, and Coober Pedy, a large opal mining centre.

South Australia produces three-quarters of the world's top quality opal. At Tarcoola we join the Indian Pacific line which runs between Perth and Sydney, and follow this for the next seven hours as far as Crystal Brook, south of Port Pirie, before beginning the run along the coast into Adelaide. By this time most members of the group have been up early and visited the restaurant for breakfast/brunch, served from 7.00 - 11.00 am. From the windows, we can detect the size of the train as it makes its way round sweeping curves. The Ghan runs in two formations - single and double. Single is a mere 16 coaches. Ours is a double, 26 coaches plus two huge diesel electric locos, and Motorail wagons for passengers' cars. With a length of 710 metres, (not far short of a half mile) and a weight of 1344 tonnes, the train averages 85km per hour and has a top speed of 115km per hour (72 mph). We can also see how the countryside is changing.

Crossing the plains of South Australia, the land becomes greener and more agricultural, with plenty of cattle, sheep and crops appearing, until at Port Augusta we can see the industrial plants along the coast before running down through the extended suburbs and entering the commercial and business centre of Adelaide to arrive on time at 1230. Originally conceived as a project to link Adelaide on the south coast with Darwin on the north, the line got no further than Alice Springs due to the Great Depression. Not until 3 February 2004 was the link finally completed. Taking almost three years to build, with 90 bridges and 2 million concrete sleepers, the extension through to Darwin finally completed the vision of those early rail pioneers. We had travelled a little over half the distance of this epic railway. The full journey is 2979km, almost 1900 miles, taking 54 hours, but our experience was enough to confirm that the reputation of The Ghan as one of the Great Rail Journeys of the world is fully justified.

Find out more about travelling by rail Down Under on our Australia & The Ghan tour starting at £5,895 All aboard Australia's Ghan - Telegraph Travel All aboard Australia's Ghan Australia's preeminent train journey, the Ghan offers an epic adventure through the country's wild and barren Red Centre Australia's Ghan train At leisure in Katherine Gorge Picture: Fotolia Dining and drinking al fresco in Adelaide's Rundle Street Picture: South Australia Tourism Commission It was more than 30 years after the first man landed on the Moon that The Ghan railway was completed in the form we know it today. Australia’s transcontinental “space mission” is no less impressive than mankind’s lunar adventure. After a century or more of stop-start planning, at a cost of around £500 million, one of the biggest engineering projects in history finally conquered Planet Earth’s very own otherworldly landscape a decade ago. On average, 30 coaches are dragged 1,851miles by two steroidal locos (totalling1,400 tons) from Darwin in the far northto Adelaide in South Australia, traversing the ferocious emptiness of the Red Centre.

It’s an epic journey that unifies this gigantic continent and its people – townsfolk, pastoralists, frontiersmen and Aboriginals. The Ghan’s north-south route covers such a vast expanse that you can start in one season (in my case, Darwin’s tropical dry season) and finish in another(Adelaide’s “Mediterranean” autumn). Despite the distance and formidable terrain, it’s surprisingly quick – four days, three nights to get from the Timor Sea to the Southern Ocean on a new extended service, with stops en route. The Ghan is also extremely comfortable, the private cabins cleverly designed with bathrooms, showers and fold-down beds. Throw in faultless room service, all-inclusive drinks and haute cuisine and it soon becomes obvious that you’re experiencing the ultimate “land-cruise”. What you get, above all, is a real flavour of the immensity of the outback and its remarkable variety. The landscape is far from monotonous, forever changing from dense tropical forests to open bush country, followed by unique rock formations and mountain ranges. Four hours in, the train halts at Katherine, the most southerly of the Top End communities, so passengers can cruise its famous gorge or take a helicopter flight.

Katherine Gorge is a series of linked canyons flooded by surrounding wetlands to create elongated tropical “fjords”. Aboard the cruise, our Aboriginal guide explains that the region is home to “harmless” freshwater crocodiles that are not known to attack humans – although you wouldn’t want to swim in the waters to find out. The excursion ends with a flourish – a pop-up in a field beside the gorge of fine-dining bush tucker: crocodile soup (not unlike scotch broth), then camel and kangaroo kebabs. Back at The Ghan, as the light fades, I leave the cabin blinds open to catch a final glimpse of the tropical sky,the stars ablaze. A night to remember. Next morning The Ghan approaches Alice Springs, the geographical centre, where passengers can now spend a full day, on the new extended service, exploring the town and outlying areas or upgrading their excursion with a scenic flight over Uluru. I apply my test of “great travel” – gazing out of my cabin window –and realise there is nowhere else in the world quite like the Red Centre.

It’s been said before, but you really could be on another planet: blood-orange soil broken by the occasional heroic mulga tree, the sun’s unforgiving rays beating down throughout. The MacDonnell Ranges to the north provide contour for seemingly endless vistas of desert. Its foothills are where I’m heading to get a brief taste of the “burnt country” –on the back of a camel. Marcus, the camel centre’s charming owner, has lived in Alice for a quarter of a century and lays on these “ships of the desert” for visitors. In its colonial heyday, Australia used more than 12,000 camels, brought largely from Rajasthan. Afghans were recruited to be their cameleers and hundreds of them crossed the continent north to south –hence The Ghan’s name today. Leaving Alice, our stainless-steel serpent slithers into South Australia. The extended journey takes in a welcome stop at Coober Pedy, one of the weirdest places on earth.

It’s the world’s opal-mining capital, with more than 70 opal fields, and at least half its inhabitants live underground in cave homes or “dugouts” to escape the scorching sun. As well as visiting a Serbian Orthodox Church (also underground), we are invited to have a go at opal mining or play a game on the golf course, famous for being free of grass. At the end of the day, almost imperceptibly, the red dust fades to bleached-white flatlands; beef cattle appear, and more and more sheep. In this harshest of landscapes, what do they eat? After breakfast, the train eases into Adelaide, which is an unexpected delight, with one of the best indoor food markets in Australia, gracious Victorian villas, a first-class art gallery and, of course, the picturesque Oval cricket ground. The Hilton hotel proved ideal for all the major sights here – many of which can be viewed from the panoramic rooftop swimming pool. Although, after the sweltering north,the city’s cooler “Mediterranean” climate seems positively polar. This is not a place in which to dip a toe: at the end of this line, the water is truly freezing.

Trailfinders ( trailfinders.com ) offers an11-night north-to-south Australian trip from£4,499 per person, including return flights with Malaysia Airlines to Darwin and returning from Adelaide, a night in Darwin, three in Kakadu, three on The Ghan in Goldsleeper class, one in Adelaide and three at the Southern Ocean Lodge, plus three days’ car hire. Details: greatsouthernrail.com.au ; southaustralia.com and travelnt.com . The alternative: The Indian Pacific The other epic cross-country rail trip is the Indian Pacific which, as its names suggests, runs east-west from Sydney on the Pacific Ocean to Perth on the Indian Ocean. The four-day route takes in the world’s longest straight stretch of track – nearly 300 miles –across the fiery Nullarbor Plain, with a stop in Adelaide ( greatsouthernrail.com.au ; from£1,200 Gold Service).

The Ghan: Journey to the Red Centre The Ghan: Journey to the Red Centre Please enter your username and password: The Ghan: Journey to the Red Centre By Delia on 18/12/2015 Australia By Train Luxury Train Travel The Ghan - Journey to the Red Centre The Ghan is one of Australia’s most esteemed train journeys, encapsulating both the rugged terrain and rich cultural history of Central Australia. The Ghan takes its name from the Afghan camel drivers who were brought to Australia in the 19th century in an effort to explore the country’s vast interior. Established in 1929, and relocated in 1980, the Ghan trail has become somewhat of an institution for Australian train travel. The Ghan Red Centre package takes guests on a journey from Australia’s magnificent Red Centre through to the rolling hills and lush plains of Adelaide’s wine country. The 7 day/6 night journey allows travellers to fully explore all that Central Australia has to offer, before retreating back to a selection of luxurious hotels, and of course, The Ghan. Alternatively, the journey can be reversed, with travel beginning in Adelaide and ending in Alice Springs.

Here are five of the unforgettable attractions you will experience as a guest on The Ghan Red Centre package: Old Telegraph Station, Alice Springs Alice Springs Alice Springs lies approximately halfway between Adelaide and Darwin and is the cultural and spiritual hub of Central Australia. With a population of just over 28,000, Alice Springs is a tightknit community comprising of many different cultures. The historical outback town has a strong focus on Aboriginal art and there are various art centres and galleries scattered across the town. Other attractions include the historical Telegraph Station , the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens, the Alice Springs Reptile Centre and the street markets, which run from February to December. Uluru Uluru at sunrise The World Heritage-listed Uluru is one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks. Uluru is an extremely important spiritual landmark for the Aboriginal people – its traditional custodians, the Anangu, believe it was created by their ancestors at the beginning of time. The rock art on Uluru dates back some 5,000 years and the site is still used by the Anangu people to create dot paintings, perform traditional dances and pass on stories.

The sacred rock has a circumference of 9.4 kilometres and at 348 metres high, it is taller than both the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler Building. During Day 2 of your journey you will visit an exclusive barbecue site, situated within the Uluru National Park, for a relaxing dining experience under the stars with your fellow guests. Kata Tjuta rock formations Kata Tjuta Approximately 30 kilometres from Uluru, Kata Tjuta (also known as Mount Olga or 'The Olgas') is a group of similarly large rock formations. The ancient Kata Tjuta is comprised of 36 dome formations, spread over an area of around 20 kilometres. These magnificent, ochre coloured rocks are also very sacred to the Anangu people and are believed to be approximately 500 million years old. Kings Canyon Situated around halfway between Alice Springs and Uluru, Kings Canyon is one of the Red Centre’s most stunning landmarks. Kings Canyon is part of the Watarraka National Park and its cliffs are an impressive 270 metres high – perfect for taking in the beauty of the Central Australian sunset.

The chasm below the canyon is equally breathtaking, with a natural lagoon, sandstone boulders and the largest range of plants in an Australian arid zone. Adelaide With a population of 1.25 million, Adelaide is Australia’s fifth largest city. The South Australian capital is large enough to boast all the amenities, entertainment and cultural diversity of a large city, without the frantic atmosphere of a more dense urban jungle. The city is home to an abundance of captivating cultural events and is surrounded by lush parklands, historic buildings and acclaimed al fresco eating spots. Further out, Adelaide gives way to 30 kilometres of stunning beaches in the east, and the rolling hills of Australia’s best wine country in the west. Our Ghan Red Centre Package is a truly immersive experience, where guests will witness some of Australia’s most ancient landmarks, behold the beauty of the Red Centre sunset, and, of course, experience the luxury and unmatched service of the legendary Ghan. To view all 7 days of this incredible package head to our The Ghan - Red Centre Itineraries page. Rail Plus is the only rail company with a dedicated luxury train team that has experienced the Ghan and other luxury trains around the world.

This means our Australian rail experts are in the best position to assist you with journey planning, discuss your options and ensure you have the best experience possible on your Indian Pacific holiday. Contact our Great Train Journeys department today:

Question: Which country is home to a train service known as the Ghan ?
Answer: AUSTRALIA