The Pichi Richi Railway at a glance
The Pichi Richi Railway is a heritage railway that links Port Augusta with Quorn at the edge of the Flinders Ranges. It is a day out, not a public transport service. Trains run on selected days only, and the operator's 2026 timetable includes diesel services as well as steam. Do not plan a trip around a steam locomotive without checking which day and which leg you are booking.
The best known trip is the Afghan Express, a return excursion from Port Augusta to Quorn. The Sundowner is a shorter evening trip that leaves from Quorn. This page covers times, fares, booking and access. For the wider region, see our Flinders Ranges guide.
Afghan Express: Port Augusta to Quorn and back
The operator's published times for the 2026 excursion.
Outward trip
The train leaves Port Augusta at 10:30 a.m. and reaches Quorn at about 12:15 p.m. That leaves time in town before the return.
Time in Quorn
The train waits in Quorn for a little over two hours. Quorn has a main street with verandas, a historic bank building and a pedestrian suspension bridge, so you can fill the time on foot.
Return trip
The train leaves Quorn at 2:30 p.m. and is back in Port Augusta at about 4:30 p.m. Single fares are sold as well if you plan to travel one way only.
Quorn: what to do between trains
The stop in Quorn is long enough for a walk around town. Start on the main street, where the shopfronts have verandas, and look for the historic bank building. The town also has a pedestrian suspension bridge. Check the bridge's access before you go, and take water in warm weather.
If you want to go further, Quorn is also on the way into the ranges. Hawker is 64 km from Quorn, and Wilpena Pound is another 64 km beyond Hawker. Our road trips guide has the distances and fuel notes.
Fares in 2026
Fares published by the operator for the current year. Check the timetable for changes before you book.
| Ticket | Afghan Express return | Afghan Express single | Explorer and Sundowner return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | A$126 | A$97 | A$78 |
| Concession | A$115 | A$90 | A$72 |
| Child from 4 years | A$64 | A$48 | A$39 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | A$315 | A$242 | A$196 |
The Explorer and Sundowner fares are lower because those trips are shorter than the Afghan Express. Do not mix the two when you compare prices.
Our picks: Flinders Ranges tours from Adelaide
Multi-day tours from Adelaide that include the Pichi Richi Railway area in their route.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private 3-day Flinders Ranges expedition
A private tour that starts in Adelaide, not Port Augusta. Two nights, a guide and meals between pick-up and return are included; check park entries before you book.
Check availability →
3-day 4WD trip to the Flinders Ranges and Clare Valley
Starts in Adelaide, not Port Augusta. Two nights, a guide and meals between pick-up and return are included; check park entries before you book.
Check availability →Flinders Ranges tours from Port Augusta
Day trips and multi-day tours around Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges, with live prices and availability.
Sundowner and other services
The Sundowner leaves from Quorn in the evening. In the 2026 timetable the departure is at 5 p.m., and it runs on a handful of dates in November. The Pichi Richi Explorer is a further service in the same timetable. Which services run in a given year changes, so treat this page as a guide and the timetable as the answer.
Diesel locomotives work some services, and a few trips combine steam and diesel on the same day. The timetable marks which leg is which, so look there if steam matters to you.
Booking and getting on board
What to know before you buy a ticket.
Book ahead
The operator recommends booking in advance. It is not described as a strict rule, and remaining tickets may be sold at the station on the day. Do not count on that for a busy departure.
Where to buy
You can book online, and tickets are also sold through agents in Quorn and at the Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta. See our Wadlata guide for the centre's opening times.
Access for wheelchairs
The carriages are historic. Entry steps are steep and narrow. Wheelchair users need a folding chair and help getting on and off, according to the booking terms. Talk to the operator before you book.
Getting to the station
Port Augusta is the starting point for the Afghan Express. If you arrive by coach or car from Adelaide, see getting there for the options.
Plan the day around the weather
The excursion fits a cooler day best. Port Augusta's average daily maximum is 34.2 °C in January and 17.9 °C in July, based on the Bureau of Meteorology record for the airport station (2026). Spring and autumn sit in between. Our weather guide has the monthly figures.
In summer, bring water and a hat for the wait in Quorn. Check the weather and the timetable together, because heat and fire danger can affect plans in the region.
Pichi Richi Railway: frequently asked questions
Does the Pichi Richi Railway run every day?
No. It runs on selected days listed in the operator's timetable. Check the current timetable before you plan a trip around it.
Is it always a steam train?
No. The 2026 timetable lists diesel services as well as steam. Some trips use steam for one leg and diesel for the other.
How long does the Afghan Express take?
The outward trip from Port Augusta takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, leaving at 10:30 a.m. and reaching Quorn at about 12:15 p.m. The return leaves Quorn at 2:30 p.m. and arrives about 4:30 p.m.
How much does the Afghan Express cost?
In 2026, an adult return is A$126, a concession return A$115, a child from 4 years A$64 and a family return A$315. Single fares are A$97, A$90, A$48 and A$242.
Do I need to book in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended. Remaining tickets may be sold at the station on departure day, but that is not guaranteed.
Can wheelchair users travel?
Only with a folding chair and assistance, because the entry steps are steep and narrow. Contact the operator before you book.