🌏 Oceania

0 countries with railway stations.

Oceania's railway landscape is dominated by Australia, which operates both a transcontinental passenger rail network and several well-regarded urban transit systems. The Indian Pacific runs 4,352 km between Sydney and Perth, crossing the vast Nullarbor Plain on one of the longest straight stretches of railway in the world — 478 km without a single curve. The Ghan, named after the Afghan cameleers who once supplied Australia's outback, covers 2,979 km between Adelaide and Darwin through the red desert heartland of the continent, and is widely considered one of the world's great luxury train journeys. New Zealand's KiwiRail operates two iconic scenic services: the TranzAlpine, which crosses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth through spectacular mountain and river scenery, and the Northern Explorer between Auckland and Wellington. These are primarily tourist experiences rather than practical commuter transport, and run on a limited schedule. Urban rail in Auckland and Wellington provides commuter services, and the country has invested in expanding these networks in recent years. Australia's major cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide — all operate metropolitan rail networks that form the backbone of urban public transport. High-speed rail between Australia's east coast cities has been studied for decades, and the Australian government commissioned a detailed business case in 2023 for a Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane corridor, though no construction timeline has yet been committed to.

Australia's Indian Pacific train covers 4,352 km between Sydney and Perth, including the world's longest straight stretch of railway at 478 km.

The Ghan runs 2,979 km between Adelaide and Darwin and is one of the world's most celebrated luxury train journeys.

New Zealand's TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sydney's rail network is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 815 km of track and 178 stations.

Australia is studying an east coast high-speed rail corridor linking Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.

Countries

Frequently Asked Questions

Both trains are operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions and can be booked through the Great Southern Rail website. The Ghan runs year-round between Adelaide and Darwin (two nights) or as a shorter Adelaide-Alice Springs segment. The Indian Pacific runs between Sydney and Perth, taking approximately four days. Cabins sell out months in advance, particularly for the Red Service and Platinum Service.
Australia currently has no high-speed rail. The fastest intercity train is the XPT between Sydney and Melbourne, which takes approximately eleven hours for a journey that would take roughly three hours by a true high-speed train. A government-commissioned report in 2023 found that a Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane high-speed rail corridor would be economically viable, but no funding commitment has been made.
For intercity travel between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, flying is significantly faster and usually cheaper. The distances involved are vast — Sydney to Melbourne is 878 km, Sydney to Perth is 4,000 km. Long-distance trains such as the Indian Pacific and The Ghan are taken primarily for the experience rather than as practical transport alternatives to air travel.
The TranzAlpine is a scenic day train operated by KiwiRail, running between Christchurch on New Zealand's east coast and Greymouth on the west coast, crossing the Southern Alps via the Otira Tunnel. The four-hour-forty-five-minute journey passes through Arthur's Pass National Park, alpine gorges, and the braided Waimakariri River. It is widely regarded as one of the world's great scenic train rides and operates daily year-round.
Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have extensive suburban rail networks and are among the better options for getting around these cities without a car. Sydney's network is the most comprehensive, with direct airport links and connections to the Blue Mountains. Melbourne's network radiates from the City Loop. Perth's network includes the Mandurah line, which is considered one of Australia's most successful rapid transit investments.
Australia's Journey Beyond offers multi-journey passes covering its long distance trains (The Ghan, Indian Pacific, Overland) that provide discounts for back-to-back journeys. New Zealand does not offer a general rail pass, but KiwiRail scenic journeys can be booked individually online. Neither country has a rail pass equivalent to Europe's Interrail for general network access.