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Yes, I am aware what is written on the JB website. Unfortunately, this does not correspond to reality.
In many instances, JB were withholding these choices, forcing passenger to make the Blue Mountain tour and bus ride further to Sydney.
No passengers were allowed to take the train between the Blue Mountains station and Sydney !
We are going back into history, but most if not all of those occasions were when either the 'IP' was badly late on its eastbound journey i.e. from Adelaide to Sydney, or when the Blue Mountains line was blocked (derailment, tree on line etc.)
The Australian Government (both Federal and State) have taken the decision not to subsidise public transport trains on these routes. The 'Journey Beyond' trains are a luxury cruise service - which can be used to get from one place to another but that is not really the primary purpose. The State have decided that, by and large, air travel is the public transport service across the huge distances; no doubt the public have been generally voting that way with their bums for the last 70 or so years anyway.
As has been pointed out 'Journey Beyond' trains are pretty much booked out most of the time, even at their extortionate prices. When these trains charged 'sensible fares' for a normal level of service they weren't that popular (or economic), hence why they were discontinued.
At the other end of the scale, the weekly NSW Trainlink train to Broken Hill looks to be a great bargain at around 60 pounds (or 80 USD for me - I'll be taking it in August) one-way considering the distance travelled.
At the other end of the scale, the weekly NSW Trainlink train to Broken Hill looks to be a great bargain at around 60 pounds (or 80 USD for me - I'll be taking it in August) one-way considering the distance travelled.
At the other end of the scale, the weekly NSW Trainlink train to Broken Hill looks to be a great bargain at around 60 pounds (or 80 USD for me - I'll be taking it in August) one-way considering the distance travelled.
yes, if you want to see and experience the Outback - take the one-weekly Xplorer train from Sydney to Broken Hill - for a fraction of the price of the Indian Pacific.
You can actually walk from Broken Hill station to the Line of Lode Miners Memorial.
I plan on going in first class anyway as it is part of a longer-distance trip across Australia (the Broken Hill to Adelaide and Adelaide to Perth legs will be handled via flying) so I'll have quite a bit of baggage. No plans to use the Discovery Pass as this is the only Trainlink journey I'll be taking.
I'll be riding those EMUs. I plan on heading out to Katoomba on a Sunday, spending a day in the Blue Mountains, and then picking up the train to Broken Hill from Katoomba Monday morning.
yes, if you want to see and experience the Outback - take the one-weekly Xplorer train from Sydney to Broken Hill - for a fraction of the price of the Indian Pacific.
You can actually walk from Broken Hill station to the Line of Lode Miners Memorial.
And here we go again—yet another Indian Pacific train has been cancelled. This time it isn't heat or fires, but heavy rain that has shut down the railway line between Perth and Adelaide. You could argue it isn't Journey Beyond's fault, but the issue is that these 'extraordinary' events seem to happen quite often. That’s little comfort to the affected passengers who paid top dollar for a 'premium train experience,' only to end up stuck in hotels, buses, and planes.
This what you get for paying thousands of UK Pounds.
Journey Beyond is only operating a single rake for the Indian Pacific train - that leads to massive consequences, if the line is cut somewhere between Perth and Sydney.
21.02.2026 Perth-Adelaide-Sydney (this train departed Perth, never made it to Adelaide/Sydney, and turned around back to Perth)
Passengers, who are booked on these trains, received cancellation notices.
23.02.2026 Adelaide-Sydney
25.02.2026 Sydney-Adelaide-Perth
Due to significant flooding north of Port Augusta, South Australia on the Trans Australia Railway, this sole east-west Adelaide/Melbourne/Sydney to Perth (and also north to Darwin) line is cut so no freight or passenger trains can operate.
Replacing track panels will take in excess of a week: if more rain falls, longer.
WA isolated again as railway suffers third major flood since 2022.
www.stockjournal.com.au
Huge amounts of groceries and everything else Perth, Western Australia and the rest of that geographically large state needs are stuck with nowhere to go. Road transport can handle some, but far from all, and I assume road hauliers put their rates up 500 per cent when the TAR is out of action. The main highway to Darwin, Northern Territory was also cut at the weekend: I don't know if it is again open.
For once, USA private equity owned 'Journey Beyond' has published information on its site. NB: no mention of compensation:
To this latter: maybe surprises you, but-as this is clearly a thing beyond control of any railway running trains on it, the general EURopean rules also state that its either money back-and no more, or rebook, if possible on a later date without surcharge. In english (sounds very, very funny in our continental ears) this is named ´act of God´. There is NO further´compensation´ due. But of course I see this is OZzieland, otherwise known as AUStralia ´down yundah´ so they may have other regulations.´
Was it not that around a century ago all those-quite isolated- big AUS cities where planned on the sea-thus having ports- so that ships could do that freight forwarding? Thats what a close friend, born and grown up over there, once explained to me.
Unfortunately, Australia doesn't have a rail passenger right legislation as we have in Europe.
Well, I recommend everyone to check the terms & conditions carefully before booking. There is a "bomb" in the t&c.
In case of a "force majeure" event, passenger are not entitled to a cash refund. Reading the t&c I assume that the rain and heat event are classified as "force majeure".
I am talking about a cash refund, not compensation. Passengers are only entitled to a "credit note", and only to the amount that Journey Beyond recovered from third parties.
7. FORCE MAJEURE
Prior to travel If:
(a) in our reasonable opinion we (either directly or through our employees, contractors, suppliers or agents) determine that your Journey cannot safely, lawfully or reasonably proceed due to a Force Majeure event; or
(b) you give us notice no more than 14 days prior to commencement of your Journey that you cannot reasonably participate in it due to Government Restrictions, then we may:
• reschedule your Journey, but only if you are agreeable to the rescheduled arrangements;
or • cancel your Journey, in which case our contract with you will terminate.
If we cancel your Journey, neither of us will have any claim for damages against the other. However, we will issue you with a Credit Note equal to the Journey Price received by us. Please note that our ability to issue you with a Credit Note may be dependent on our suppliers issuing corresponding credits to us. We cannot guarantee that our suppliers will issue corresponding credits.
In such circumstances we may instead pay you a cash refund of the Journey Price received by us less:
(a) unrecoverable third-party costs and other expenses that remain payable by us for your Journey Services;
(b) overhead charges incurred by us relative to the Journey Price; and
(c) fair compensation for work undertaken by us in relation to the Journey until the time of cancellation. For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, an illness, the development of a medical condition or the failure of any commercial transportation not included in your Journey is not considered a Force Majeure event.
Depends on where you are. In Victoria the operators have to meet the punctuality and service delivery targets or it's a free daily ticket for passengers who meet the criteria.
Trains like the Indian Pacific, The Ghan are not public transport and will be covered under travel insurance. They are more like tourist train.
Was it not that around a century ago all those-quite isolated- big AUS cities where planned on the sea-thus having ports- so that ships could do that freight forwarding? Thats what a close friend, born and grown up over there, once explained to me.
While reluctant to go off topic, Australia was settled from 1788 - Sydney first, Melbourne about 1835 - with all capital cities bar Canberra close to the coast. Today, around 85 per cent live within 50 kilometres of the coast. Large inland cities are rare: Albury/Wodonga on NSW/Victorian border, Toowoomba in Queensland and Wagga Wagga in NSW are three.
Pakenhamtrain is correct. In NSW there will only be free travel if the government so decrees in any particular circumstance.
Most of Australia is in the tropical or tropical convergence zones. Summer is cyclone season. Very heavy rains can fall at any time and reach down into the warm and cool temperate zones as well. It is with good reason that a large area of SW Queensland is known as "the channel country" During the cyclone season waters can run down many miles wide and very deep and remain inundated for weeks at a time. At other times the country will be dry and barren.
The country north and west of Port Augusta is "outback" territory and can be subject to severe weather disruptions.
It's a disgrace that Crestview Partners of New York USA that owns Journey Beyond only issues travel credits, or at best offers a partial refund depending upon its suppliers coming to the party.
JB would have business insurance to cover many events including Force Majeure.
Travel credits can be useless because often 'Indian Pacific' and the seasonal 'The Ghan' or 'Great Southern' are booked out months in advance in the class of travel that the stranded passenger wants.
If fares rise, is the passenger liable for further costs?
While the majority of 'Indian Pacific' and the other two's passengers are apparently Australian, it's even harder for overseas tourists who've booked as they may not want to again visit Australia, or cannot do when there are occasional sleeping compartment vacancies.
JB has just purchased numerous further tourism assets from a listed Oz company, Kelsian Ltd. Tourists can expect price rises at these sites. The purchase was waved through by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, despite JB effectively having a monopoly at some sites.
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I've been going through several travel insurance policies.
Do you know a policy provider which will cash refund the total train fare in case of a force majeure event ? I haven't found any. All I found where policies, which cover hotels, flight etc. in case of a train cancellation, but won't cover the actual train fare.
Severe weather can happen anywhere in the world. A big Atlantic storm may close down large parts of the UK rail network, as well.
The issue is that passengers can rightly so expect a free refund or free rebooking in case of a train cancellation.
Not so in Australia - that's why I am reiterating my warning against booking "luxury train" tickets with Journey Beyond Rail.
For a AUD 10,000 "luxury train" ticket you may only receive a Perth-Sydney trip in buses and planes. This happened to 4 Indian Pacific roundtrips alone this year 2026.
For a AUD 10,000 "luxury train" ticket you may only receive a Perth-Sydney trip in buses and planes. This happened to 4 Indian Pacific roundtrips alone this year 2026.
I'm not very impressed with Australian consumer law if it lets them have it both ways - prices for a luxury "experience" but if they can't provide that all they have to do is offer alternative transport.
I would have thought a lot of people on their trains from overseas would have booked through a travel agency as part of a package. I wonder if that puts them in a different position.
I'm not very impressed with Australian consumer law if it lets them have it both ways - prices for a luxury "experience" but if they can't provide that all they have to do is offer alternative transport.
I would have thought a lot of people on their trains from overseas would have booked through a travel agency as part of a package. I wonder if that puts them in a different position.
Usually a good insurance broker can sort out a bespoke policy like this. You might need to pay a bit more than standard travel insurance, but it's definitely available.
Usually a good insurance broker can sort out a bespoke policy like this. You might need to pay a bit more than standard travel insurance, but it's definitely available.
Journey Beyond Rail (JBR) recommends nib Travel Insurance Distribution Pty Limited.
However, nib's policy does not cover these aforementioned cases: a full cash refund if a train is cancelled.
Anyway, I can try to contact insurance brokers, but I predict they would tell me that in case of a train cancellation, it is expected that the train operating company is obliged to cash refund the tickets.
After reopening on Friday 27 February at around noon local time, the Trans Australia Railway has been shut again in the Watson area given there's more washaways and water over the track as further rain occurred.
There is a works train and an approaching tamper in the area. While unstated, I get the impression from the limited information that this closure may be of shorter duration. Please don't take that as Gospel.
The Journey Beyond site continues to state 'the service departing Perth on Sat 28 February is intended to operate.' It should be departing about now, but I don't know if it's suddenly been cancelled.
I am not up to date with remote area line closures.
I am not favourably impressed with JBR and their treatment of passengers. Last tuesday afternoon I travelled up to Broadmeadow (Newcastle) to view the loading of passangers and passage of The Geat Northern.
Passsengers had been offloaded after breakfast at Maitland and bussed to the wineries for the day and were reboarding for an overnight run to Melbourne.
The empty cars came into patform 3; the shortest platform; to avaoid disrupting timetabled services. The timetable provided 25 minutes for the exercise. With 3 stops and irregular arrival times of the busses their was much fussing about on the paltform. Departure was over 10 minutes late. Passengers were fussed about on the platform in the hot sun and over 30degree temperatures.
I was on the following service to Sydney (an express) and wondered where they would refuge the Great Northern so we could overtake. For us to follow it would have meant long delay on Cowan Bank. 5 miles at avge 1 in 40.
It was refuged at Gosford. The next refuge available was at Cowan where a Brisbane-Melbourne freight was refuged.
Whe I alighted at Hornsby the GN was more than 30 minutes behind us.
I am not up to date with remote area line closures.
I am not favourably impressed with JBR and their treatment of passengers. Last tuesday afternoon I travelled up to Broadmeadow (Newcastle) to view the loading of passangers and passage of The Geat Northern.
Passsengers had been offloaded after breakfast at Maitland and bussed to the wineries for the day and were reboarding for an overnight run to Melbourne.
The empty cars came into patform 3; the shortest platform; to avaoid disrupting timetabled services. The timetable provided 25 minutes for the exercise. With 3 stops and irregular arrival times of the busses their was much fussing about on the paltform. Departure was over 10 minutes late. Passengers were fussed about on the platform in the hot sun and over 30degree temperatures.
I was on the following service to Sydney (an express) and wondered where they would refuge the Great Northern so we could overtake. For us to follow it would have meant long delay on Cowan Bank. 5 miles at avge 1 in 40.
It was refuged at Gosford. The next refuge available was at Cowan where a Brisbane-Melbourne freight was refuged.
Whe I alighted at Hornsby the GN was more than 30 minutes behind us.
I have been on its southbound Brisbane to Adelaide journey and agree re how long it takes passengers to board at Broadmeadow. 'JB' tries to emulate Amtrak rather than learning from how other operators have done things in Australia for years. For instance on 'The Overland', the conductor checks the tickets on the platform of passengers who join en route, holding up the train: V/LIne and NSW TrainLink more sensibly check tickets once passengers have sat down.
The 'Indian Pacific' ex Perth on Saturday 28 February was by Sunday 1 March stopped at Rawlinna, Western Australia for an evening meal. There is specially installed seating at this unattended crossing loop.
However given the line beyond (i.e. on the way to Port Augusta and Adelaide/Sydney) is likely inoperable for another few days due to washaways and other track under water, the 'IP' will have to return to Perth. This part journey doesn't fully compensate for the huge amount of the advertised trip that won't occur, so doc7austin 's observations remain valid.
Let's recap: in the calendar year 2026 almost 50% of scheduled departures of the Indian Pacific train were extremely disrupted. We should not forget the heat-related cancellation in January.
Let's recap: in the calendar year 2026 almost 50% of scheduled departures of the Indian Pacific train were extremely disrupted. We should not forget the heat-related cancellation in January.
Disruptions included terminating at Lithgow, NSW due to Sydney's Central station yard being reconfigured.
The Saturday 28 February eastbound 'Indian Pacific' is now at Cook, South Australia. It has a loco on each end. It's will head back to Perth as the line further east remains closed.
The 'JB' website does not discuss how Wednesday 4 March's Sydney to Adelaide train will not run, as the site only mentions Monday 2's Adelaide to Sydney being inoperable.
In years gone by, a scratch set could have been found for at least some passengers.
We are aware of an issue with emails from the Forum to Microsoft-based email accounts (hotmail/outlook/live.com email addresses). This is being looked into currently, thanks for your patience meanwhile.
www.journeybeyondrail.com.au
