Northern Territory, South Australia join forces to lobby Commonwealth for Ghan concessions

THE Northern Territory and South Australia will jointly lobby the Commonwealth to maintain concessions for The Ghan

The Ghan for Holidays of Australia in Escape 31/5/15

THE Northern Territory and South Australia will jointly lobby the Commonwealth to maintain concessions for The Ghan.

Great Southern Rail has flagged it will reduce services from July next year in response to the ­abolition of a federal government subsidy for aged pensioners and war veterans.

READ: GHAN SERVICES BETWEEN DARWIN AND ADELAIDE CUT

READ: FUNDING FOR GHAN TV DRAMA

Ghan services between Adelaide and ­Darwin will be halved to once a week year-round, instead of only during off-peak periods.

Speaking in Alice Springs on Friday, SA Premier Jay Weatherill said he had support from Chief Minister Adam Giles to seek reversal of the decision.

“The Ghan is one of the great railway journeys of the world,” he said.

“We want to build on this tourism experience, we don’t want it going backward.”