Introduced to service in 1982 the XPT, short for "express passenger train", has an aerodynamic design and travels between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Dubbo, Grafton and Casino. Hot meals, to order, were popular at lunchtime. XPT - Melbourne to Sydney / First Class Sleeper Overnight NSW TrainLink - Melbourne << View all Melbourne City Centre tours & cruises XPT Cost: A$470 (2 Passengers) On Request Cost: A$470 (2 Passengers) Child Policy: Valid for 01APR22-31MAR24: Point to Point Services: Infant: 0-3 years inclusive - free of charge. [12] 200km/h was the target speed. The train makes 17 intermediate stops, including the original break-of-gauge station at Aldbury where, until 1962, we would have had to change train from the Victorian broad gauge to a standard gauge NSW service. Once in Melbourne, why not check out laneway street art, do an Aboriginal tour of the Botanic Gardens, visit the iconic MCG and check out the historic buildings on Collins Street? However the Australian Rail Track Corporation have only documented plans for a handful of minor deviations to be completed by 2014.[11]. - Luggage can be checked in at all attended NSW TrainLink stations with scheduled Regional services at least 30 minutes before departure and must be clearly labelled.Valid for 01APR22-31MAR24: The scenery, often beautiful, always interesting, the picturesque old rail stations and country towns, all whizzing by, kept us entertained.The carriage had seen better days, but was clean and tidy. Must be packed in a secure and protective bag. The CountryLink XPT travels from Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Dubbo and Grafton. read more. We do see that it is a day train. Various combinations of the route between Melbourne, Canberra, Goulburn, Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast and Brisbane have been the subject of detailed investigation by prospective operators, government departments and advocacy groups. Building on the work of phase 1, it was more comprehensive in objectives and scope, and refined many of the phase 1 estimates, particularly demand and cost estimates. Based on the British HST hauling Budd passenger trailers, the Australian built XPTs entered service on NSW country services in 1982. If rails freight share was to gradually increase to 50%, it would result in a net reduction of 100m litres of diesel being burnt each year, and $150m less spent on road maintenance due to truck damage annually, Laird estimates. Began our 11.5 hour journey from the Southern Cross station in Melbourne concluding at Central station in Sydney.We travelled in first class seats, which are nothing special, but did enjoy the views.It was something different to flying and we saw it as a once in a lifetime experience which we will not redo.We have been on several longer train journeys and this would not rate highly, but cost wise, it is a good deal. Some works have also been made in Melbourne to improve the flow of freight trains into the port. NSW TrainLink reserves the right to refuse travel to any passengers who fail to comply with such requests. There are no electric points and no wifi so come with all electronics fully charged. [9] A different light cluster was fitted along with three high-beam spotlights mounted to the roof. Based on the British Rail designed InterCity 125 (High Speed Train), each XPT set is made up of two XP Power Cars in a push-pull formation coupled to between four and seven carriages. gluten free, dairy free etc) - please place your main meal order in the buffet car as soon as possible after boarding. The original XPT carriages were refurbished in 1992/93 including a repaint in CountryLink livery. 07:30, 10h 48m Express passenger train in New South Wales, Australia, "QR Tilt Train Sets Australian Rail Speed Record", "XPTs Take Over Northern Tablelands Express and South Mail", "XPT trailer cars to be built in Victoria", "Major Passenger Train Changes Commence this Month", "Sydney-Melbourne Daylight XPT Commences This Month", "Murwillumbah XPT to end line faces closure", "Shortlist announced for NSW regional fleet renewal", "Xtra Precise Timing: Secrets of the XPT roster", "Enhancements underway for CountryLink's XPT fleet", "XPT Passenger Cars new livery in service", "Asian Downturn Hits CountryLink XPTs Shed Cars", "Countrylink News XPTs cut to five cars & Xplorers to Broken Hill? The XPT service runs twice a day once in the daytime, once overnight. [43][44] With the closure of the Murwillumbah line, the XPT service was cut back to Casino from May 2004. Carriage coding, features and numbers are as follows: The XPT fleet is maintained at the XPT Service Centre, a purpose built depot south of Sydenham station within the confines of the Meeks Road Triangle. [45][46] In October 2013, with a set isolated west of Lithgow by bushfires, it was deployed on the Outback Xplorer service to Broken Hill.[47]. La adormecida estacin de Yass Junction guarda un secreto inesperado. Are there any flights to Broome from Sydney? 10h. - Push bicycles are accepted. By contrast, driving between Australias two largest cities takes around nine hours if you dont take any breaks at all, and is mostly along the phenomenally tedious Hume Highway. Improving public transport was a major issue in the 1976 State Election in New South Wales and one of the commitments of the incoming Wran Government was to buy new rolling stock for country rail services. Taking Melbourne to Sydney train is definitely one of the most comfortable ways to travel between the two largest cities in Australia. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Contact Transport for NSW for information, feedback, lost property, Opal customer care or regional bookings or follow us on social media. A five-carriage promotional train ran to Melbourne on Sunday 17 February 1985, running four free return shuttles to Tullamarine Loop. Map MS - Rail map of Eastern Victoria and Southern New South Wales. - During the day, sleepers convert to three comfortable seats. Reverse Route. In 1883, the Victorian Railways broad gauge line met the New South Wales Government Railways standard gauge line at Albury at a break-of-gauge. Its often cheaper, too one way flights tend to cost from around $60 when booked in advance. Good value given we would be paying $300+ per section.Seats good, but staff are a little head strong over travelling in seats not allocated to you. Departure Days: Daily (Service 622). The staff were friendly, and went frequently through the carriage collecting rubbish and being cheerful. Initially, all services operated with five carriage sets. Southern Cross Station The train takes eleven and a half hours to cover the 960km (600 miles) between the two state capitals. Unless youve got a genuine fear of flying or want to do things the environmentally-friendly way (in which case, why are you going to Australia in the first place? As a general rule, train services in Australia are set up for commuters. The evening XPT train to Melbourne docked at Sydney's Central station about 40 minutes prior to scheduled departure. I took the NSW Trainlink XPT overnight service from Sydney to Melbourne a few days ago and thought I'd share both the logic behind my decision not to fly and my experience on the . Melbourne - Sydney There's a power car at each end of the train, one pulling and the other pushing. - When travelling with an adult, a child must be in the adjacent seat to the accompanying adult. We hoped the scenery might be enlivened by kangaroos at some point, but this was not to be the case.Australians complain that the trains are old and uncomfortable and patronised largely by 'bogans' (uncouth people). read more, A very comfortable and stress free way to travel It's quicker to take the 1 hour bus journey than to carry on to Goulburn and catch a Southbound train along the Canberra branch. He noted the Albanese governments proposed high-speed rail authority could lead the upgrade, and said he was hopeful the new government would move away from the decades of inaction that has plagued the Sydney to Melbourne corridor. - TrainLink is unable to guarantee connections with other rail or coach services, airline flights or cruise/shipping departure. Tickets available for travel in both directions NSW TrainLink offers daily services that take you from Sydney Central station to Melbourne Southern Cross station in just over 10 hours. I would say that our trains are so far behind Europe trains in technology but it was still a very good trip. Melbourne - Sydney Train. [14], The first full test XPT set ran in January 1982. While a high-speed rail line would take decades to build, laying just 200km of new, straighter track to replace an existing 250km stretch of steam-age railway would deliver a quicker service within four years, according to Wollongong University associate professor Philip Laird. This epic journey takes in sprawling city suburbs and sleepy country towns. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This map covers the Southern part of the State of New South Wales, the Eastern part of the State of Victoria as well as the Australian Captial Territory. Seats are arranged in pairs, airline style, with fold down tables. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays; use the search form on this page to search for a specific travel date. - Passengers may be required to produce photo identification at the time of boarding a NSW TrainLink service. In 1986, agreement was reached to build a fleet of XPTs for the State Railway of Thailand. Relatively high road speeds are possible because the highway now bypasses many of the towns where there were speed limits. There are scores of flights between the two cities every day making it both quicker and more flexible than taking the train. Get a 10% discount when you book online, or up to 20% discount when you book 5 or more days in advance. The drive is only worth taking on if youre planning to make a road trip out of it and make a few detours. Travel time. - TrainLink does not take any responsibility for alterations to the timetables of other transfers operators. Naturally, a slow evolution consisting of many short deviations that can provide benefits sooner will not be equivalent to a few large deviations that could provide bigger bypasses and greater benefit. Melbourne, Victoria. This is an issue, especially when there were seats in our carriage empty for the ENTIRE journey. The XPT service runs twice a day - once in the daytime, once overnight. [22], Initially the XPT carried a fare surcharge compared to parallel locomotive hauled services; however this was abolished from May 1985. [needs update]. Honest tourism information about Australia. Economy Class Seat Economy Class Seat . However, you do need to pay an extra $88 per passenger, per trip to upgrade to the sleeper. A huge disparity in investment between rail and road has existed since World War II. Economy . The sleepy station at Yass Junction holds an unexpected secret. Connecting Services: Sleeper Cabin: The train between Sydney and Melbourne takes 10h 50m. After a night in Melbourne after UK trip we catched the train back to nsw. The train to Sydney from Melbourne and from Sydney to Brisbane is operated by NSW Transport and called XPT Train, driven by diesel engine. However, more ambitious proposals come with greater risk of projects being delayed or cancelled. In August 1979, Comeng was announced as the successful bidder and although the tender had called for 100 vehicles, by the time the contract was signed in March 1980, the order was only for 30, 10 power cars and 20 carriages, enough to form four five-carriage trains with two spare power cars. Despite the 11-hour trip time, the XPT service between Sydney and Melbourne costs as little as $78, with a smaller carbon footprint for travellers than those flying or driving cars on the route, according to Guardian Australia analysis. The XPT power car features a Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, turbo-charged diesel electric engine boasting 1492 kW or 2000 horsepower. Travel to and from Sydney Airport. You can book online. Last month, Guardian Australia revealed patronage between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane has more than doubled in recent months as services are booked to capacity ahead of the Christmas period. It doesnt only have to be high-speed rail costing tens of billions of dollars and taking decades to complete, Laird said. Each item is checked in as one piece. I would like to do the sleeper cabin next time. We would recommend taking your own cool bag of drinks and food.This is a relaxing journey - take books, games, computers to pass the time, and enjoy gazing out of the window. How to use public transport to get around Sydney and NSW. Over the years a number of deviations have been proposed for the track between Junee and Sydney, including between Glenlee and Aylmerton (known as the Wentworth Deviation), Werai and Penrose, Goulburn and Yass (Centennial Deviation), Bowning and Frampton including a bypass of Cootamundra (Hoare Deviation), and Frampton and Bethungra (removal of the Bethungra Spiral). - Collapsible wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches will be accepted in addition to the permitted luggage allowance. Seats are allocated. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Luggage Information: The NSW TrainLink Contact Centre is open daily from 6:30am to 10:00pm Sydney local time. In February 1990, the Brisbane Limited and Pacific Coast Motorail were withdrawn and replaced by XPT services to Brisbane and Murwillumbah. This single track line (with two crossing loops) allows freight trains to travel in and out of the freight terminals during passenger peak times. He estimates freight could move more cheaply between the cities on the upgraded track in 10 hours. Consequently, the vast majority of people travelling between Sydney and Melbourne fly. The XPT from Sydney to Melbourne, with 153 passengers on board, came off the tracks near Wallan, about 45km by rail north of Melbourne, just before 8pm. A 5-kilometre (3.1mi) double track northern bypass of Wodonga has been constructed. He said the Sydney to Melbourne railway has become deficient under the ARTC, and believes a separate authority should now be tasked with upgrading the interstate track. - Shared toilet and shower facilities located between each compartment. The Sydney to Melbourne train is not used as often as it might be. Child: 4-15 years inclusive - child rates apply. Congestion at Melbourne and Sydney airports will worsen, and Australia will be left increasingly out of step with other countries in Europe, North America and Asia, Laird said. Overnight XPT Train CLK621. Laird, who is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and was the inaugural national chairman of the Railway Technical Society of Australasia, believes that the environmental benefit is essential if Australia is to reach its short-term and 2050 emissions targets. How to use public transport to get around Sydney and NSW. It had been due to arrive in. The train heads west to avoid the Snowy Mountains, then takes you south through the border town of Albury and across the Murray River into Victoria. [39], In November 1993, XPTs replaced locomotive hauled stock on the overnight Sydney/Melbourne Express. The number of curves along the entire route have been calculated to be equivalent to rotating the train by 72 circles (36 circles to the right and 36 circles to the left). Cada da, un autobs se conecta con el Daylight XPT para llevar a los pasajeros a Canberra, la ciudad capital de Australia. These allowed the Canberra XPT to commence in August 1983 followed by the Northern Tablelands XPT to Glen Innes and Tenterfield (2 times per week only) in June 1984. Point to Point Services: [38][74][75], Media related to XPT at Wikimedia Commons. But for connecting the big cities, trains are slow, laborious and not especially comfortable. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "ARTC Investment Strategies Project Delivery", "Countrylink XPTs now stop at Seymour and Broadmeadows - Premier of Victoria", "NSW curve & gradient diagrams: section 2, south corridor", "Parliament of New South Wales: Road Transport (General) Amendment (Heavy Vehicle User Charges) Bill 2007", "Australian Very Fast Trains-A Chronology", "Interstate Rail Network Study, Improvements in Superfreighter performance: Sydney Brisbane and Melbourne Sydney Corridors, 2001", "20082024 Interstate and Hunter Valley Rail Infrastructure Strategy Executive Summary", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SydneyMelbourne_rail_corridor&oldid=1131043183, Public transport routes in the City of Melbourne (LGA), All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Articles needing additional references from January 2011, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from May 2019, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 07:47. What are the biggest cities in Australia? Though the rolling stock is quite old and the interior fittings a bit dated, the seating area is comfortable with plenty of legroom. A rail overpass has been constructed which connects the Standard Gauge line near Sunshine with the Standard Gauge line near Brooklyn. All services run direct with no transfers required, and take on average 11h 17m. [11] On a demonstration run to Albury on 6 September 1981 the XPT set a new Australian rail speed record of 183km/h between Table Top and Gerogery in southern NSW, breaking that set by the Western Australian Government Railways' Prospector railcar in 1971. Photo Identification: We did the return trip from Albury Brisbane. - Travel insurance is highly recommended. Wagga Wagga Station. Despite many Australians telling us this journey would be dull and uncomfortable, we enjoyed it very much. In less than 12 hours, you can travel from Southern Cross to Sydney Central Railway Station with a regular intercity train. Tilt trains could travel at 170kmh under the 200kmh considered to be high speed and make the journey between Sydney and Melbourne in about six hours, Laird says, almost half the time it takes the decades-old XPT trains. Sun 04:13. The big question is will this just be more of the endless studies into high-speed rail, or will they get their hands dirty and upgrade (the track).. This includes one overnight stabling in Grafton, between days 2 and 3, and two overnight stablings in Sydney, between days 4 and 5, and days 7 and 1. What is remarkable, in a way, is that this varies hardly at all from Melbourne all the way to the outskirts of Sydney - to the extent that the sudden appearance of a wind farm, about two thirds into the journey, was a noteworthy event. After conducting a statewide tour in March, they were used on Canberra services from 23 April until 18 June 1995 with modified XPT power cars XP2000 and XP2009. Discount is exclusive to tickets bought through this website and applies to seasonal Adult fares. Laird estimates that his plan would cost "in the billions of dollars, not tens of billions" required for high-speed rail projects. [13] This record was broken by Queensland Rail's Electric Tilt Train in May 1999. The passenger trailer cars were based on a Budd design, with the British Rail Mark 3 trailers considered unsuitable. The service departs Melbourne at 08:30 in the morning, which arrives into Sydney at 19:50. Arrive Sydney: 06:59am + 1 day. - Please do not carry valuables, important documents, money or fragile or perishable items in your large/heavy luggage. Seating capacity: 16 plus two wheelchair spaces. - Surfboards, snowboards and skis are accepted. As well, some broad gauge track between Jacana and Albion has been made dual gauge to facilitate a new passing loop. Valid for 01APR22-31MAR24: What can we expect? OvernightXPT Train However, governments would need to quickly embrace the plan. Laird says the environmental benefits will be profound. Infant: 0-3 years inclusive - free of charge. Hand luggage must be stored under the seat in front. [6], In 1983, a further five power cars and 15 trailers were ordered. The use of tilting trains, which can travel through curved sections of track at higher speeds, would allow for travel speeds of up to 170 km/h and reduce the journey time between Sydney and Melbourne to approximately six hours. Review of NSW TrainLink. Going from Sydney to Melbourne by train takes just under 11 hours, with the cheapest one way Sydney to Melbourne train tickets costing about $90. Items are to be stowed in the luggage area. The best ways to save on train fares from Sydney to Brisbane: Please note: Opal cards are not accepted on NSW TrainLink trains. Depart Melbourne: 07:50pm. We travelled in first class seats, which are nothing special, but did enjoy the views. Help with using the Trip Planner or tell us how we can help. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Check-in Information: Melbourne to Sydney train times Trains run once daily between Melbourne and Sydney. Qantas, Virgin Australia and two other airlines fly from Melbourne to Sydney every 20 minutes. Names were occasionally altered; the table below shows the final names (removed circa 2000-2005), with earlier names in brackets.[50]. Introduced to service in 1982 the XPT, short for "express passenger train", has anaerodynamic design andtravels between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Dubbo, Grafton and Casino. Penalties apply. Daily Departures. Contact Transport for NSW for information, feedback, lost property, Opal customer care or regional bookings or follow us on social media. - First Class: 1 piece of hand luggage up to 10kg (total measurement must not exceed 30cm high, 50cm long and 30cm wide) and up to 2 pieces of large luggage no more than 20kg per piece (total measurement must not exceed 60cm high, 70cm long and 50cm wide). There is a double crossover 3 kilometres (1.9mi) further north, another one before Benalla, another before Wangaratta and another at Wodonga West. If seeing Australian scenery is your aim, the day train is a good idea. Find out about Opal orbook NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach services. A modern NSW TrainLink regional express train will help you reach the destination less than 12 hours. Melbourne Balloon Flight at Sunrise 153 Recommended Private and Luxury from AU$569.00 per adult Phillip Island Penguin and Koala Highlights Day-Trip from Melbourne 19 Bus Tours from AU$165.00 per adult Pure Nature - Phillip Island, Penguins & Exclusive Wildlife Sanctuary Encounter 52 Recommended Bus Tours from AU$195.00 per adult 2022 - Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage up to 10kg (total measurement must not exceed 30cm high, 50cm long and 30cm wide) and 1 piece of large luggage no more than 20kg (total measurement must not exceed 60cm high, 70cm long and 50cm wide). How far is the drive from Sydney to Byron Bay? XPT train journey Melbourne to Sydney Review of NSW Train Link Reviewed April 5, 2018 Began our 11.5 hour journey from the Southern Cross station in Melbourne concluding at Central station in Sydney. - Check-in: at least 45 minutes prior to departure. Sydney (Central) Station. A total of 19 XP power cars were built. These were replaced from June 2000 by Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, diesel engines with four low-pressure turbochargers and two high-pressure turbochargers boasting 1,492kW or 2,001 horsepower that had been successfully used by some British Rail High Speed Trains since 1994. [41], In 1995, CountryLink trialled three Swedish Railways X2000 tilting train carriages. Recommended experiences in and around Melbourne. 16K views 5 months ago Today we take a look at NSW TrainLinks XPT Day service, between Melbourne and Sydney. - The crew can serve meals to any customer with a disability that prevents them leaving their seat. Help with using the Trip Planner or tell us how we can help. Any British rail fans will see that the XPT is a copy of the British Rail Intercity 125's Apologies in advance I was a little sick when making this one!Donate a coffee while I travel - https://buymeacoffee.com/joshgoesslowKeep Updated - https://www.instagram.com/joshgoesslow/ - https://www.facebook.com/Josh-Goes-SlowFilmed: 8th May 2022Operator: NSW TrainLinkDeparture: Southern Cross Station - Melbourne, AustraliaArrival: Sydney Central Station - Sydney, Australia Duration: 11.5 Hours Its current share has dwindled to just 2%, Laird said, the result of years of road improvements that have seen trucks dominate the route. Given the Sydney to Melbourne flight takes around an hour and 35 minutes, blowing a whole day of your holiday on a not especially interesting train journey seems absolutely senseless. We booked for slipper which is a cabin for 2 of us. [32], In October 1990, the government announced that eight sleeper carriages would be ordered for use on overnight services to Brisbane, Murwillumbah and Melbourne. [6], The first power car and trailer commenced testing with a stainless steel luggage van in August 1981. Spencer Street, Please leave comments below. The Sydney to Melbourne train journey could be slashed from 11 hours down to just six, and at a fraction of the cost of high-speed rail plans, if sections of the track were upgraded for medium-speed rail, a train expert says. This proposal would also require the construction of three major track deviations in New South Wales. old 47kg/m (94.7lb/yd) rail is being replaced between Melbourne and Albury with new 60kg/m (121lb/yd). The above changes, along with full concrete sleepering of the line and many signalling upgrades should be completed by mid-2012. The adult premium pass is $550 each and child is $275. Applicable child fare to be sold. Undoubtedly it is frustrating for Australians not to have the kind of high speed rail service found in many European countries, that would make this line competitive with the airlines, but for tourists it gives a different perspective on the Australian landscape.
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