In front of the station building is a paved area 60 metres (200 feet) long, but sealed hardstanding extends for a kilometre (1100 yards) to accommodate all carriages of the train on the single track.

The current Darwin station opened on 4 February 2004 when The Ghan operated the first passenger service on the newly constructed line from Alice Springs.

[4] As the first locomotive in the Northern Territory, it was used during construction of the Palmerston and Pine Creek Railway and for 63 years more on the line.

In 2008 the NT Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club substantially refurbished Sandfly for display, and since 2010 it has been in the former Qantas hangar in Parap alongside the club's historic trucks, traction and stationary engines and fire engines.

[5][6] The sole passenger services to Darwin are provided by The Ghan, which as of 2021[update] operated weekly in each direction.