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The seats along both sides of the carriage were configured in pairs, allowing couples traveling together the convenience of sitting together. The seats allocated to Martin, Aitken, and Blaine were empty. A young Japanese backpacker occupied one pair and an elderly woman another. The third set of two was vacant.
It was peak tourist season in the Northern Territory and there were almost two thousand passengers on the Ghan, which worked out to about one hundred passengers per carriage. Those who weren’t passing through the various carriages on their way to another location on the train seemed to gather in the Red Gum lounge car. They mingled together in small groups, soaking up the ambiance of their surroundings and enjoying the unique experience of pre-dinner drinks while the Australian
