From September, the number of carriages on the Indian Pacific will be increased from 29 to 36 as part of a $12 million refurbishment. The additional carriages will extend the length of the train from 750 metres to around 880 metres, boosting the capacity to 260 passengers and crew.

The Indian Pacific, Australia’s legendary transcontinental train connecting Sydney and Perth, typically carries between 150 and 200 passengers per journey. Because the train is focused on "Slow Travel" luxury rather than mass transit, the emphasis is on space and high-end service. The train itself can be remarkably long, often exceeding 700 meters (nearly half a mile) in length, consisting of roughly 25 to 30 carriages, including sleeper cars, lounge cars, and the "Queen Adelaide" restaurant cars. In 2026, the passenger manifest is divided between Platinum and Gold Service guests, with each receiving all-inclusive dining and off-train excursions. While the physical capacity could technically hold more, the operators maintain a lower passenger count to ensure that the dining rooms and social lounges never feel overcrowded. This low-density approach is part of what makes the 4,352-kilometer journey across the Nullarbor Plain one of the most exclusive and coveted rail experiences in the world, often booking out more than a year in advance.