FAQ
GENERAL QUESTIONS
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If certain departures or cabin types are sold out when trying to book online, a wait-list prompt may appear as part of the booking flow where you will be able to add your details to a wait-list.
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Short term parking is available at all terminals so you can have your family or friends see you depart at the beginning of your journey.
We do not recommend leaving your car at our terminals for extended periods of time.
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As each terminal provides a different experience, it depends on where you are departing from.
Luggage can be checked into all terminals 2 hours prior to departure.
Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs: You are able to store your luggage 2 hours prior to departure at the terminal.
Sydney: There are luggage storage facilities available through NSW TrainLink at their luggage check-in area adjacent Platform 1 at a cost of $4.40 per person.
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The Ghan, The Ghan Expedition, Indian Pacific and Great Southern trains check-in opens 2 hours prior to departure time and closes 1 hour prior to departure.
The Overland check-in time opens 1 hour prior to departure time and closes 30 minutes prior to departure in Melbourne and Adelaide. For guests joining at intermediate stops it is recommended to be at your pick up location at least 30 minutes prior to the trains scheduled arrival time.
Please bring your travel itinerary and Photo. I.D.
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We want you to enjoy your journey without concerns over flight times. We therefore would recommend you allow for an overnight stop before connecting to domestic or international flights. Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions does not accept liability for any missed connections due to late train arrivals.
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Due to the exclusive nature of Platinum and Gold Premium, guests will not be able to move through the train to dine or socialise with guests travelling at different levels of service.
BOOKING QUESTIONS
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If you booked through a Travel Agent, they will advise you directly when your Off Train Experience preferences are open. Your travel agent will then submit these preferences on your behalf.
If you booked your journey directly with Journey Beyond Rail, we will notify you by email when you can submit your preferences online. To do so, please follow the steps below once the lead passenger on your booking has received this email:
- Login to manage your booking or activate your account.
- Click the ‘Off Train Experience’ button.
- Your available experiences will be listed for each day. Under ‘Add Guests’ select the name of the guest who wishes to participate in the selected experience.
- Click ‘Save and Continue’ to move to the next day of your journey.
- Once you’ve chosen all your experiences, click ‘Save and Close’.
For experiences that all guests participate in, you won’t be able to remove or add any guest names. Preferences completed online for Off Train Experiences will be confirmed and booked with your Hospitality Attendant onboard. To book an Off Train Experience upgrade in advance, such as an optional Scenic Flight, please contact our Travel Centre team on 13 21 47. Space is limited.
To book an Off Train Experience upgrade, please contact our Travel Centre team on 13 21 47. Please note that you are submitting your preferences for your Off Train Experiences as part of your journey. All Off Train Experiences are subject to change without notice. Capacity limits and minimum numbers may apply. Public holiday experiences may vary.
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Yes, you are able to request forward facing-cabins aboard The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern at the time of booking; however, as approximately half of our cabins face forward, we are unable to guarantee a forward facing cabin depending on the number of requests we receive for any given departure.
Seats aboard The Overland can be turned to face either direction, depending on your preference.
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Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions offers a wide range of accommodation and touring options. We would be happy to assist you with booking your holiday. Please contact our Travel Centre on 13 21 47.
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Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions does not have a face to face booking office. We strongly recommend reaching out to our Travel Centre on 13 21 47 or visiting journeybeyondrail.com.au for any bookings or enquiries.
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When paying your deposit, a confirmation will be received within three business days of making the payment. When you make a final booking payment by Direct Deposit or BPay, no acknowledgement is issued at that time. You will instead receive your final travel documents within 45 days of departure.
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Please return to the travel agent who made your booking for any changes or amendments, as they retain ownership of your booking with Journey Beyond. For guests with bookings directly with Journey Beyond, please contact our Travel Centre team on 13 21 47 for any changes or amendments.
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You will receive your cabin and carriage number upon check in. While cabin and seat numbers are assigned as a behind-the-scenes process in the weeks leading up to departure, this allocation can occasionally change in the lead up to your departure due to operational reasons.
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You will receive your travel documents at the time of booking with Journey Beyond or through your travel agent. Your Final Travel Documents will be sent to you or your travel agent 30 days before departure. We recommend you have a printed or digital copy of these Travel Documents with you when you check in and throughout your journey.
ONBOARD QUESTIONS
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Journey Beyond follows state guidelines and health authority advice regarding social distancing and masks in terminals and on board trains.
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As our journeys are all-inclusive you will not need to buy anything unless you choose to purchase an Off Train Experience upgrade or souvenirs, which you can do onboard utilising our EFTPOS or credit card facilities. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any cash out on our trains.
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Luggage limits apply for both carry on and checked luggage. These limits vary depending on the level of service you are travelling in and by train. Please visit our what to pack page for more details.
While on board The Ghan, Indian Pacific or Great Southern, you can access one piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag or briefcase per person, and store this within your cabin.On The Overland, you can bring one cabin bag per person onto the train.
Checked luggage cannot be accessed during your rail journey, and will be stored on a separate part of the train. Checked luggage limits apply.
The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern:
- Platinum Service (per person): 3 x 30kg
- Gold Service (per person) 2 x 30kg
The Overland:
- Red Premium (per person): 2 x 30kg
- Red Standard (per person): 2 x 20kg
Please Note: If you are travelling on a Journey Beyond Rail Holiday Package that features our sister company, Outback Spirit, please be aware that there are strict luggage limitations for these tours.
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It’s your holiday and we want you to be comfortable so smart casual attire is recommended.
We also recommend:
• Warm clothes for Outback Experiences as mornings and evenings in the Outback can be cool
• Hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes for your Off Train Experiences
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Travelling from one end of the country to the other can provide a variation in climates.
When travelling on The Ghan, temperatures vary significantly so make sure to pack for both cooler and warmer temperatures.
• Darwin or Katherine: mid-30 degree temperatures
• Marla or Manguri: 4 degree nights/early mornings
When travelling on the Indian Pacific, temperatures vary significantly so make sure to pack for both cooler and warmer temperatures. This is also dependent on the time of year.
• Adelaide and Perth: during summer months, temperatures can average around 30 degrees
• Nullarbor, Rawlinna and Cook: during winter months, temperatures at night can average as low as 5 degrees
It is best to pack everything you need plus a warm jacket or jumper, enclosed shoes, a hat and sunscreen into your carry-on luggage.
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All our services are air-conditioned, with the temperature averaging 22 degrees.
We recommend packing layers of clothing for the different temperatures (inside and outside the train).
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No, smoking is not permitted on any of Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions services.
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Limited Wi-Fi is available in the Outback Explorer Lounges and Platinum Club carriages.
Please note that Wi-Fi availability is dependent on mobile network coverage, and as we travelthrough some remote locations it may not always be available.
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No, the only animals permitted on Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions rail journeys are specially trained dogs for the vision and hearing impaired.
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Travelling The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern, 240v household outlets can be found in the cabin.
Travelling The Overland, a limited number of outlets are available in Café 828.
*As our electricity is supplied from diesel generators and may be subject to fluctuations, we recommend the use of a surge protector when plugging in your devices.
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In your cabin when you first board the train, you will find a card with the breakfast, lunch and dinner meal times for your journey. Your On-Board Attendant will advise you of the process. If you have any special requests regarding meal times, please speak with a member of our OnBoard team.
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Most special dietary requirements can be accommodated – including vegetarian, gluten free, lactose free and vegan. Please ensure this is advised at the time of booking. For further information, please contact our Travel Centre on 13 21 47.
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While The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern make a number of stops in regional and remote areas for Off Train Experiences and to pass other rail traffic, we are not able to offer the opportunity for guests to leave the journey at these locations. Selected major towns and cities en route at which the journey may be left are advised on our timetables. Regional travel remains available aboard The Overland, which forms part of the public transport network in Western Victoria.
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To ensure your safety and well-being, our staff members onboard are trained to administer basic first aid. We also have a specially modified wheelchair onboard for those who have mobility issues or require a carer. You can also check in your wheelchair, walking frame or scooter to be stored as luggage to save you arranging alternate assistance yourself.
For guests requiring mobility assistance onboard, please review and complete our Fitness to travel form
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The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern have a Gold Access Cabin available for wheelchair bound/physically impaired guests travelling in Gold Service. This cabin is subject to availability and assessment of the guest’s Fitness to Travel.
See Gold Service Access Cabin for more details.
All fares and journey information are correct at the time of publication but subject to change.