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Rail Explorer Pass

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  • 1. Description

    The Rail Explorer Pass provides a flexible and economical way to experience the vast continent of Australia aboard the Indian Pacific, The Ghan and The Overland trains. This economy (Red Service Day/Night Seat) pass allows 6 months unlimited travel with stopovers throughout the entire Great Southern Rail network.

    In total, the Pass gives access to over 6739 kms of railway providing Pass holders with the opportunity to explore both coastal and Outback Australia including Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie, Perth and surrounding regions.  Stopovers are permitted. The pass is not available for travel on Sydney CityRail, the Melbourne Met, Victoria's V-Line, TransAdelaide or Western Australia's TransWA services.

    Pass holders travel in economy Red Service Day/Night Seats and guests have access to the Dining Carriage where a selection of meals and snacks are available for purchase. Seating is in comfortable two abreast reclining chairs upholstered in pure woollen cloth trim. There is ample legroom and the seats can swivel to face each other. Showers and toilet facilities are available at the end of each carriage and towels and soap are provided for each guest.


    *** Book before arriving in Australia and save up to 10% on the price! ***
    *Please allow an additional 2 working days for the processing and issuance of this Australian rail pass*

    Passengers are requested to arrive at their first station of travel at least 90 minutes prior to departure to have their Voucher exchanged for a Pass and validated for travel. Pass exchange stations for the Rail Explorer Pass are: Perth, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Katherine, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney. Additional Fuel Surcharges apply on all Great Southern Rail trains on reservation. No discount is available for seniors/ students/ backpackers/ children.  You may upgrade to Red Premium Seating on The Overland on payment of a supplement but no upgrades are available on The Ghan or Indian Pacific.

    Pre-booking, amendment or cancellation of all train/coach bookings is required at least 48 hours in advance. To ensure you obtain maximum value from your pass, you are strongly advised to reserve space on as many sectors as possible before travel (and at least 48 hours) or before arrival in Australia if your itinerary is known. You can pre-book any journeys onto your pass in advance through ourselves for a small per journey charge, plus any fuel and upgrade surcharges should these be applicable.




  • 2. Eligibility

    The Rail Explorer Pass is not available to Australian passport holders, only to international visitors with foreign passports. Clients are advised to carry their passport with them at all times as railway staff may wish to check it against the passport numbers endorsed on the pass.



  • 3. Eligibility for Saver


  • 4. Discount

  • 5. Validity

    Representing outstanding value for money, the Rail Explorer Pass allows 2 or 3 months' unlimited travel throughout the Great Southern Rail Network. Use of this pass must begin within 6 months of the date of issue and be completed within either 2 or 3 months from the first validity date (first date of travel), depending upon which pass is chosen. The services available are:-

    The Ghan - the legendary journey into the heart of Australia, travel between Adelaide, Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin through the spectacular Outback to the Red Centre of the continent
    Indian Pacific - travel between Sydney and Perth via Adelaide, across the Nullabor Plain and the Blue Mountains through some of Australia's most beautiful landscapes
    The Overland - the scenic, stylish and comfortable way to travel between Adelaide and Melbourne »




  • 6. Terms and Conditions

    The Rail Explorer Pass is issued to and accepted by the person named on the ticket, subject to the Railways Acts By-Laws, Regulations and General Conditions of Carriage in force in each Railway System to which the travel applies.

    The Rail Explorer Pass is valid for use on specified rail and coach services operated by the following Railway Systems - Great Southern Rail (Red service day/ nighter seats); Queensland Rail (economy seats), CountryLink (economy seats). It is not valid on any Metropolitan services or North Queensland Tourist Train services.

    Travel must commence and the pass validated within 6 months of the date of purchase.

    Travel must be completed within the stipulated length of time (that is either 3 or 6 months) from the date of validation endorsed on the pass at the initial departure point.

    The holder may upgrade to travel in first class, business class or Red Premium Service seats and sleeping berths on payment of the applicable upgrade amount.

    The Rail Explorer Pass is only available for purchase by bonafide overseas visitors to Australia. A passport must be produced at the time of purchase to verify the customer  is a resident of another country and is not a resident of Australia.

    A reservation is essential prior to the use of the pass and entitles the customer to only one allocation on any service. The travel pass is a receipt only and does not guarantee travel. A reservation for each individual sector of travel is necessary to obtain a valid travel ticket.

    The Rail Explorer Pass must be presented with the passport of the holder at the ticket office of the departure point of the initial journey for validiation and endorsing of the total period of availability on the pass document. The passport with ticket is to be produced by the holder for all subsequent journeys at either the ticket office or to onboard staff for verification.

    The Rail Explorer Pass is available at the published rate and no further concessions apply.

    The Rail Explorer Pass may be subject to a fuel price surcharge per sector booked on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland.

    The Rail Explorer Pass is non transferable and only one customer per pass only.

    Refunds and Ticket/Pass Changes
    There is no refund on partially used, lost or stolen passes. We strongly recommend that your travel insurance protects you against loss or theft of your rail pass.

    If the pass is returned for cancellation or alteration before the first date of travel listed on the pass, then we have a standard 20% cancellation/alteration fee in addition to an administrative charge per ticket, in all cases.

    Cancellations and alterations can only be made when we receive the pass/ticket prior to the first date of travel.

    Duplicate or replacement passes/tickets cannot be issued under any conditions.



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