The Ghan overland train opens up to the public Great Southern Rail Hospitality manager Jos Engelaar welcomes visitors aboard the Ghan. Picture: KERYN STEVENS Source: adelaidenow ALL aboard for a whistle stop tour of one of Australia's oldest rail services, The Ghan. The Ghan opens to the public for the first time in four years on Saturday. The last open day attracted about 6000 people. Great Southern Rail's hospitality manager Jos Engelaar has worked for the past 14 years on the service, which stretches 2979km, from Adelaide through the heart of Australia's Red Centre before arriving in Darwin 48 hours later. Nick Bertke's funky remix of a trip through central Australia on the Ghan. He says the open day is an opportunity for people to look over the train's carriages, including the cabins and its premium dining carriage, The Queen Adelaide. Hit Ghan ad goes viral It will also become a pop-up restaurant for the day, the first time it has been open to the public while at the platform, Mr Engelaar says. The Ghan on the journey from Alice Springs to Darwin. The railway line began in 1878 at Port Augusta, eventually making it to Alice Springs in 1929, following the same track as Australia's overland telegraph. It made its way to Darwin in 2004. The landmark train's nickname was coined after the Afghan camel trains that trekked through Central Australia before the advent of the railway. The open day, from 11am to 4pm, will also feature didgeridoo performances, free face-painting, a sausage sizzle and free photos with the train.