Indian Pacific - Passenger Facilities

Passenger Facilities

The train originally offered only 52 first class sleeping berths and 96 second class sleeping berths. The train was limited to 144 passengers as this was the number that could be serviced by three sittings in the 48 seat dining car.

From 1973 the accommodation was altered to provide 88 first class sleeping berths and 64 second class. The club-cafeteria car also provided a small number of second class seats for short distance travelers on the Commonwealth Railways segment.

From 1975 Australian National provided full sitting carriages west of Port Pirie on two journeys per week. The New South Wales Government Railways initially resisted providing sitting accommodation over the whole journey, but sitting carriages owned by the State Rail Authority of New South Wales were included between Sydney and Port Pirie from 1980, with Australian National providing sitting carriages further west. Sitting carriages provided by Australian National became part of the full through service from Sydney to Perth in 1988.

The train currently has three classes, branded as Platinum, Gold Kangaroo and Red Kangaroo. The Platinum Service was introduced in 2008 as a premium class of travel. The Gold Kangaroo, the former first class service, features either roomette or twinette sleeper cabins, with complimentary meals in the restaurant car.

Red Kangaroo service, the equivalent of economy class, features either airline-style 'sit-up' seats similar to other Australian trains, or dual-berth shared sleeper cabins. It also has its own restaurant car.

The train also has a Motorail service to carry passengers' motor vehicles.