The Train Terminal was a 30-minute bus ride from my hotel in Darwin. We were on the Stuart Highway that runs all the way to Port Agusta in South Australia and I, and the lady next to me, both thought we were well on the way there!!
Checking in was easy and quick and I then had time to have a coffee, enjoy the sunshine, catch-up with the couple that I shared the Sun Deck with on the Darwin Sunset cruise (They were in Platinum aboard the train and I was in Gold Premium but "never the twain shall meet" as they say) and take some photos of the Train.
Today the Ghan has 35 carriages (27 on the Indian Pacific last Year) and has 214 passengers. I described the powerful locomotives that haul the train in my Indian Pacific Blog so will not repeat here but for the record the photos show our two powerful steads awaiting departure this morning.
At 0930hrs I boarded the train to be greeted by Aisha and Gabriel my two Journey Beyond Attendants.
Aisha was from Kangaroo Island and Gabriel was from Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK) so an instant connection with both these young ladies. They do everything from seeing you on and off the train to waitering in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant aboard and all with smiles, a warm welcome and a great sense of humour.
Bang on 1000hrs the Ghan pulled away and our 2749 km journey was underway. Within 20 minutes we were crossing the Elizabeth River Bridge, 17 km south of Darwin, which carries the Channel Island Road and the Darwin–Alice Springs–Adelaide railway, with Darwin in the background.
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