Yesterday was an exciting day, with 97 guests setting off on the first Ghan rail journey since the global pandemic began.
After the longest hiatus in its 91-year history, the mighty Ghan with its iconic red and white locomotive will set off from Adelaide for Darwin yesterday (Sunday 30 August) with much fanfare at Adelaide Parklands Terminal.
With 97 guests on board, The Ghan will travel through the Red Centre with its usual off train experiences in Marla, Alice Springs, and Katherine, before arriving into Darwin.
Journey Beyond Chief Commercial Officer Peter Egglestone said although the market has changed, there is still interest in safe travel options.
“We’ve seen significant shifts in booking lead times and markets this year which has been challenging and I want to thank all our loyal partners for their support and commitment over the past months.
“While this has tested our industry, it’s also demonstrated our resilience and we’ve seen a promising increase in bookings since the announcement that The Ghan services would be recommencing.
“Today marks a new chapter in The Ghan’s colourful history and it’s great to be able to offer these journeys as an option for clients who still want to travel this year.
Peter Egglestone, Journey Beyond Chief Commercial Officer
JourneySafe
“We appreciate that some clients may still be concerned about travel and in response to COVID-19 we have worked closely with government authorities and industry to implement our JourneySafe program, which includes extra measures to enhance guest and crew safety while still ensuring we deliver an unforgettable experience.” Mr Egglestone said.
As part of the new measures, guests will be allocated set times to enjoy meals and lounge areas, there will be temperature checks in Darwin and Adelaide and, in another first for the service, Gold Single cabins will be removed at this time, to ensure all guests have access to private ensuites.
“Our crew can’t wait to welcome our first guests back and share the amazing experience of travelling through spectacular and unique parts of Australia, accompanied by world-class food, wine and hospitality.”
Peter Egglestone, Journey Beyond Chief Commercial Officer
Operations have now commenced.
Click here for more information.