The legendary Ghan celebrates 10 years of extended service

ADELAIDE - February 2014 will mark a decade since The Ghan completed its extended route all the way from Adelaide to Darwin. Prior to that, it ran from Adelaide as far as Alice Springs. Today The Ghan offers a truly iconic cross continental rail service. To celebrate the Ghanniversary, Great Southern Rail is offering travellers 20% off their most popular packages on bookings made between the 6 January and 28 February 2014. The offer is valid for travel between the 1 May 2014 and the 31 October 2014.

The Ghanniversary will take place on the 2 February and will be celebrated both on board the train and on the ground. Festivities to mark the occasion will include a range of entertainment from live performances to special events. Coincide your visit with the anniversary or just use it as a great excuse to hop on board.

Visitors travelling on the Ghan will have the opportunity to explore some of Australia’s most fascinating towns and landscapes. In just three days and two nights, covering 2,979km, travellers can make their way leisurely from the Northern Territory’s capital of Darwin all the way to Adelaide. On board The Ghan travellers have time to soak up and enjoy the moving landscapes as they change from lush green when leaving Australia’s Top End to dust red as the train makes its way through the heart of the Red Centre and then return to green as it travels through the vineyards surrounding Adelaide.

Visitors wanting to experience The Ghan but who don’t have the time to do the whole journey can choose to travel between Darwin and Alice Springs or Alice Springs and Adelaide.

The name of The Ghan was inspired by the pioneering cameleers (many of them Afghans or Ghans as they were more commonly known), who were the first to establish a permanent trail to the Red Centre over 150 years ago. When the train departed Adelaide on its inaugural journey to Darwin, it was the longest passenger train in Australia’s history, stretching more than 1km with two locomotives and 43 carriages.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews