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Train Stations

Australia's intercity passenger rail is limited relative to the country's size, with journey Trainer operating the Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth, 4,352 km, 65h), The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin, 2,979 km, 54h), and the Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide, 828 km, 10h). These long-distance trains are operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions as premium tourist experiences rather than everyday transport. NSW TrainLink, Queensland Rail, V/Line (Victoria), and Transwa (Western Australia) operate regional passenger services within their respective states. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide all have suburban commuter rail networks. Sydney Trains carries around 1.3 million passengers daily and is Australia's busiest urban rail system. The Sydney Metro is expanding rapidly, with the Metro West and Metro City & Southwest projects opening in the mid-2020s. Melbourne's metropolitan train network (Metro Trains Melbourne) is Australia's second largest. High-speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne has been studied extensively but no concrete construction plans exist as of 2025. Bookings for long-distance trains are via journeybeyondrail.com.au; state rail services use their respective apps and websites (e.g., transportnsw.info, ptv.vic.gov.au). The Opal card (Sydney), myki (Melbourne), and go card (Brisbane) are the contactless transit cards for urban networks. Australia is not covered by Eurail; domestic rail passes are available from some state operators.

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Stations

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Main Stations

1

Operators

No

High-Speed Rail

Rail Infrastructure

Track Gauge

1435 mm

Electrification

25 kV AC

Operators

NSW TrainLink

Regional · 160 km/h

Stations

Station City Type Connections

Frequently Asked Questions

The Indian Pacific runs 4,352 km from Sydney to Perth (or vice versa) in approximately 65 hours (2 nights, 3 days). It crosses the Blue Mountains, the Nullarbor Plain (including the world's longest straight stretch of railway at 478 km), and the Kalgoorlie goldfields. It is operated as a premium tourist experience with Gold and Platinum sleeper cabins, dining, and guided excursions.
The Ghan runs 2,979 km from Adelaide to Darwin (or reverse) through the heart of Australia in approximately 54 hours (2 nights). Named after Afghan cameleers, it passes through the Flinders Ranges, Alice Springs, and Kakadu country. Like the Indian Pacific, it is a Journey Beyond premium experience. All-inclusive Gold and Platinum class options are available.
The XPT train operated by NSW TrainLink connects Sydney to Melbourne in approximately 11 hours -- much slower than flying (1.5h) or even driving (9h). A high-speed rail link has been studied for decades but remains unfunded as of 2025. Flying is the dominant mode between the two cities.
Sydney Trains (1.3M+ daily passengers, 815 km of track) is Australia's largest. Melbourne's Metro Trains network covers 372 km with 16 lines. Brisbane's Translink network integrates train, bus, and ferry under the go card system. Perth's Transperth has one of the longest light rail corridors in the world (Mandurah line, 87 km).
The NSW TrainLink XPT (Sydney-Melbourne, Sydney-Brisbane) and Queensland Rail Spirit of Queensland (Brisbane-Cairns) offer coach seating at lower prices than Journey Beyond tourist trains. Advance-purchase economy fares on these services can be AUD 60-100. However, budget airlines often offer comparable or lower fares with faster journey times.

Other Countries in This Region

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Data last updated: 2026-02-27