opal 8 journeys

NSW Government confirms changes to Opal travel smartcard

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THE free-travel perk enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of NSW commuters will soon be a thing of the past.

The NSW Government announced on Wednesday they will fully implement the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) recommendations to axe no-cost travel for Opal card users after eight journeys have been completed in a week.

From September, Opal holders will pay for all their journeys. But after they have used trains, trams, buses or ferries eight times in a week any new travel will be come with a half price discount.

It’s a move that the regulator warned would see frequent commuters shelling out 20 per cent more on travel as the popular weekly travel reward is axed. The Greens said the reward’s withdrawal was “short sighted”.

But in a case of taking with one hand and giving with the other, people whose journeys involve changing modes — from say a bus to a train — will pay less with a deduction of $2 on the second and any subsequent trips made in a one hour period.

Fares in NSW have also been frozen until mid 2017.

“Today is a monumental shift towards making interchange cheaper on public transport, and making the entire system fairer,” NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said on Wednesday.

“We want to see greater integration on the transport network as we invest billions in the Metro, light rail, new rapid bus lines and modern trains and ferries.”

$300M IN LOST REVENUE

The minister also flagged further alterations to Sydney’s bus network little more than six months after the biggest change to buses in the city’s CBD in decades to make way for a new light rail network.

Currently, NSW commuters don’t pay a cent for fares after they’ve completed eight journeys in a week. But a report by IPART, released earlier this month, recommended the perk be axed .

The Opal fare loophole leads to $300 million in lost revenue as people take advantage of free journeys. Passenger fares, IPART said, only covered a quarter of the $4.8 billion annual cost of providing public transport, the rest coming from taxpayers.

Mr Constance said revenue from fares now covered “well below 20 per cent” of the cost of public transport in NSW and was only used by 30 per cent of travellers.

“Were giving away $300m of free travel at the moment. We’re still going to be able to incentivise people with discounts after eight trips but at the same time it can’t continue given the loss we experience in terms of revenue.”

Greens NSW MP and Transport spokeswoman Dr Mehreen Faruqi disagreed and said the Weekly Travel Reward’s removal would serve as a “disincentive to use public transport,” especially on weekends.

“This is an incredibly shortsighted move from the government. People who are dependent on public transport rely on this rule for transport affordability.

“This is a step backwards and a fifty per cent discount is simply not enough,” she said.

Single and return fares will remain at current levels until July 2017 while daily, weekly and Sunday fare caps will also stay as now.

The introduction of a $2 ‘transfer discount’, from September 5, would cut fares for commuters who have to change during the journey, said Mr Constance.

Regular travellers using a bus and train to travel from Northmead to the city 10 times per week would save more than $10 a week. While the popular journey from the CBD to Bondi Beach would cost $12 less, for 10 trips, with the new discounts.

CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES

But making it cheaper to change from one mode to another could lead to changes in the network as the Government uses the fare reforms to push people onto trains at major interchanges.

“What’s the point of running a bus along an existing rail corridor, which is what we‘re doing at the moment, duplicating services, when we can incentivise people to use a bus and then a train?,” asked Mr Constance.

He singled out bus services from Edgecliff, in the city’s east and Epping in the northwest, to the CBD, as ripe for change. However, he would not confirm when the bus changes would take place.

Passengers in southeast Queensland have a similar travel reward to NSW but only after nine trips a week. Myki users in Melbourne have free travel early in the morning and a daily fare cap of $7.80, significantly less steep than the $18 proposed in NSW. However, Victorians have no weekly travel reward.

In March, the NSW Government closed down another popular, but more laborious, loophole that allowed people to reach their free trips faster and more cheaply.

Dubbed “Opal running”, people tapping their cards at different but nearby stops many times in quick succession would soon get to the magical eight trips but with the lowest fare.

Sneaky travellers had been jumping off the bus and back on another to score extra journeys, or taking short trips to increase their tally in the public transport ticketing system.

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Getting around sydney with an opal card.

Last updated: 25 June 2023

Originally published March 2019. Are you planning a visit to Sydney Australia soon and looking for the best way to get around Sydney like a local? Well, you’ve come to the right place because I’m going to share everything you need to know about using the Opal Card (the public transport system card) to travel all across Sydney quickly and easily.

The Opal Card , similar in nature to London’s famed Oyster Card, allows users to simply tap in and out across various modes of public transport, including the train, bus, ferry, and the light rail (basically a tram) networks. The Opal Card is ideal to get you from your hotel on the city circle line to Sydney Harbour and the sensational Circular Quay to capture views just like these.

Oh and speaking of Circular Quay, if you’re interesting in finding out why Circular Quay is my favourite place in Sydney then check out the link here . One suggestion is that after you’ve spent time in Circular Quay then I suggest that the next evening you head over to Darling Harbour to soak up the atmosphere. 

How Does the Opal Card Work?

Once you pick up your Opal Card (details on how to do that below) you simply TAP ON at the Opal Card touchpad located at the entrance gates of the trains and ferry terminals and at the front of the buses and the front & middle of the light rail.

When you have arrived at your stop, you will need to TAP OFF in order to pay the correct fare. You’ll see the touchpads as you exit so you just need to remember TAP OFF but the good news is that you’ll see everyone else do it plus you’ll hear the chime when someone taps off so chances are you won’t forget…  

All in all, it’s a fairly straightforward system.

Opal Card for Tourists: Getting Started

Here’s what you need to do;

Step 1: Purchase an Opal Card from either online  or in person from any number of retailers  including newsagents and convenience stores.

Step 2: Choose the amount of credit that you need initially. I opted for a $10 Opal Card to get me started. The card itself is free and it’s packaged with a credit amount so the $10 package I purchased included the Opal Card and $10 credit.

Step 3: Use the Opal Card on your first train/bus/ferry/light rail and enjoy your Sydney travels

Tip: If you’re visiting Sydney for a few days and looking to travel around (and let’s face it, who wouldn’t?) we recommend starting off with a balance of $50 (£30) which will be enough for 3 days of substantial travel due to the Daily Cap  (more details below)  

Opal Card for Visitors: Which One? 

There are different types of Opal Cards available to you depending on whether you meet the criteria. The most common type is the Adult Opal Card which is used by anyone over the age of 16 and generally pays full fare.

The other types of Opal Cards available include;

• Child (50% of adult fare and available for children aged 4-15 inclusive)
• Concession (50% of adult fare and available for eligible full-time tertiary students)
• Gold Senior/Pensioner (Fares capped at $2.50 for seniors with a NSW Seniors Card)
• School (Designed specifically for school children)

There is one final type of Opal Card which you may encounter during your Sydney travels and that is the Opal single trip tickets . Like its name implies, it’s designed for single one-time tap on/tap off journeys on the train, ferry, and light rail services on the DAY OF PURCHASE only. If you want a single one trip ticket for the bus then you need to purchase it on board (except on prepaid buses).

To be honest, I don’t really think you’re going to get much use out of single use Opal card if you’re visiting Sydney, you’re better off picking up an actual Opal Card that you can top up as needed.   

Getting Around Sydney: Where Can I Use It?

The Opal Card can be used extensively in the Sydney city centre and metropolitan area but also includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter and Illawarra areas.

Here are the specifics if you’re looking to travel outside of Sydney during your stay.

• All NSW TrainLink Intercity services
• All Sydney trains
• All buses in the Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter and Illawarra
• All Sydney ferries and Stockton Ferry in Newcastle

To Register or Not Register

If you purchase your Opal Card from a retailer then there is no need to register and you can start using it straightaway which is great however it does mean that you miss out on some of the additional benefits available .

Benefits include;

• Auto Top Up which means when your balance drops below $5 it will automatically top up to a predetermined amount (great to avoid some embarrassing moments on the bus)
• Opal Card Protection means that if your card is lost/stolen then you can have your balance transferred to a new card
• Activity Statement means you can access and download your travel history
• SMS/Email Alerts can be activated for account updates

Opal Card Prices: Topping Up Your Balance

There are a variety of ways to top up your Opal Card balance;

• Online – www.opal.com.au
• Phone – 13 67 25 (13 OPAL)
• Vouchers purchased through retailers

However, the EASIEST option is using the Opal top up machines located in the train stations

Opal Top Up: Daily Cap

One of the best things about using the Opal Card is the daily cap which means that your daily travel will be capped at $16.10  (weekly $50 cap for an adult), perfect for visitors to Sydney who rely on a variety of public transport to get around.

Oh and if you do use the daily cap then you’ll be happy to know that your fare will never exceed $50 for the week and there is also the Sunday Travel Cap which means that all day travel on Sunday is capped at $2.80. 

Weekly Travel Reward

One really cool benefit of using the Opal Card is when you complete 8 journeys between Monday and Sunday then the fares for the rest of the week are half price! The exception is the airport which isn’t included in the half price offer.

Opal Trip Advantage

As a visitor to Sydney you’re probably going to be heading from one side of the city to the other and the best news about that is when you use an Opal card on a single mode of transport and make multiple changes within 60 min of the last time you tapped off then it all counts as a single fare, which is pretty sweet. The only exception to this is using the Manly ferry.

The Opal Card Travel App

And just to make things a little more manageable, the Opal Card has an app which is available on both Android and iOS.

The app allows you to check your balance, top up your Opal Card, plan your journey (perfect for a full day of sightseeing), and keep up to date with any service disruptions.

Sydney Airport Transfers & the Opal Card

There are many ways to get from Sydney International (and Domestic) Airport to the city and back again but the train still remains the simplest option . It is what Roma and I use every time we’ve ever travelled in and out of Sydney, travelling via Central Station. 

Once you clear immigration and customs then all you need to do is follow the signs to the trains and you’ll arrive at the ticket office in no time. The good news is that you can purchase an Opal Card from the ticket windows at both the international and domestic terminals which makes it nice and easy.

The cost of an adult fare from Sydney International Airport is $17.90 and child fare is $14.40 so when you purchase the Opal Card make sure you include a minimum top up amount to cover the airport fare. Children under 4 travel for free.

The reason why airport train fares are much higher than the rest of the line is because the fare includes an extra surcharge called a Station Access Fee . The Station Access Fee for an adult is $14.90 and for a child is $13.20. Standard train fare is much more affordable as no other station attracts this Station Access fee surcharge.

Final Thoughts

The Opal Card has been running in Sydney since 2013 with more services added in the following years and it’s at a stage now where it now the dedicated public transport service across Sydney and the greater NSW area.

This means that if you’re planning a visit to Sydney and intend on using public transport on getting around then you’re going to need to get yourself an Opal Card. But hopefully now after reading this post you can see that the Opal Card system is easy to use , easy to manage, and will get you to where you want to go.

And if you’re looking for some great suggestions on where to visit in Sydney then make sure you check out Roma’s post on her favourite places in Sydney

Have you visited Sydney?  Did you use the Opal Card?

Born and raised in Sydney Australia and currently based in London, I absolutely love exploring the UK and Europe at every opportunity. It still thrills me that all it takes is an hour flight to be in a new country with a completely different history, language, food, and culture that is just waiting to be experienced. We started our blog, Roaming Required, as a way to keep in contact with family and friends, and over the last 10 years, the blog has grown and evolved and it remains a real passion project. We've travelled a lot in the 10 years living in London and there's still plenty more to experience. So, why not join us for the adventure and come roam with us!

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Some of the links used on Roaming Required are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase then may earn a small commission, at absolutely no additional cost to you. This helps keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ and the content being created. We sincerely thank you for your support.

Comments (2)

Hey, Russell. Welcome back to Sydney! This is such a comprehensive guide about the Opal card. I have been using it as well and it is really convenient to have. It is also easy to use like you said.

Thanks for the warm welcome back, Glen! We had a wonderful trip back to Sydney, a great trip home! I’m really glad to hear that you enjoyed my post on the Opal Card, just made it so easy to get around. Thanks so much for the kind comment.

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With Opal Card travel 8 journeys and get travel free Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian on February 28, 2014 announced the NSW Government had reached a major milestone, with the Opal electronic ticketing card now available at 120 train stations.

“From today, customers can use Opal at another 26 train stations, including Western Sydney stations to Richmond and Emu Plains,”  Ms Berejiklian said.

“This marks a significant milestone for communities across Sydney, especially Western Sydney, as we provide cheaper fares for customers, modernise the way people use public transport and put an end to the Monday morning queue for a ticket.”

Opal now operates on train stations from the City Circle to Emu Plains, Richmond, Casula, Hornsby, Wyong and Bondi Junction, plus  Carlingford and Olympic Park.

The Opal card is available on all Sydney Ferries services and on two bus routes, giving tens of thousands more customers a cheaper, faster and more convenient journey.

“100,000 Opal cards have now been registered by customers, with more than 30,000 cards registered in the last three weeks,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Customers have made nearly four million journeys using an Opal card so far. Last week more than 335,000 Opal journeys were made by customers.

“Opal will make a huge difference for customers by giving them lower fares, weekly travel rewards, daily caps and discounts for off-peak train travel,” Ms Berejiklian said.

For example, for an Opal card customer travelling from St Marys to Town Hall the single adult fare is now $6.30 and $4.41 off-peak, compared to $6.80 with a paper ticket.

For a regular Penrith to Town Hall train commuter a weekly paper ticket costs $52.00, and with Opal you only pay $50.40 plus you are rewarded with free travel on any mode for the rest of the week after eight paid journeys.

“The weekly travel reward is a huge bonus for regular commuters ”“ it means that people travelling to work and home each weekday will be able to travel anywhere on the network for free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The Opal card provides train customers with numerous benefits, such as:

• Cheaper fares with a discount of up to 13 per cent compared to single MyZone paper ticket fare.
• Off-peak discount of 30 per cent on the Opal full fare for all journeys taken before or after the weekday morning and afternoon peaks, as well as all day on weekends.
• $2.50 daily cap on Sundays for Opal card customers ”“ travel all you want on Opal stations and it will cost no more than $2.50 per person.
• Daily travel cap of $15.00 from Monday to Saturday ”“ you can travel as much as you like anywhere in a day and know it will cost no more than $15.00.

By the end of 2014, 40 ferry wharves, more than 300 train stations and more than 5,000 buses will have Opal operating in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter, Illawarra, and Southern Highlands, with light rail coming on line in 2015.

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24 of the world’s most incredible train journeys

Jan 2, 2024 • 11 min read

As you cross the continental US aboard the California Zephyr, you’ll see prairies, deserts, mountains and canyons galore © Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock

From cutting through the countryside to connecting a country’s great cities, the world’s best railway journeys offer entirely new perspectives on a destination.

Train travel always delivers plenty of magic. Sometimes it’s in the cars, as you meet fellow travelers, or as you eat and sleep with the sound of wheels rolling on the steel rails beneath you. Sometimes it’s outside, in the landscape the train traverses – offering an adventure, an experience, an insight into the heart of a nation.

Our upcoming book,  Amazing Train Journeys ,  rounds up the world’s greatest railway rides. Pulled from its pages, these 24 train journeys are truly first-class.

1. The Reunification Express, Vietnam

Start:  Ho Chi Minh City End:  Hanoi Departs: Daily Distance:  1072 miles (1726km) Duration:  Two days

This is one of Southeast Asia ’s best-loved railways – and one of the  most epic overnight train journeys in the world . There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam ’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines.

2. The California Zephyr, USA

Start:  Chicago End:   San Francisco Departs: Daily Distance:  2438 miles (3924km) Duration:   52hrs 40mins

For soaking up the scenic grandeur of the North American continent, nothing compares with Amtrak ’s California Zephyr , one of the US’ best train journeys . This classic three-day ride travels across prairies, deserts, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada on its way from the Midwest to the West Coast.

3. The Lake Titicaca Train, Peru

Start:  Puno End:  Cuzco Departs: Three times a week Distance:  241 miles (388km) Duration:  10 hours

Traversing the Altiplano, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the bustling heart of the ancient Incan empire, the railway from Puno to Cuzco cuts a ponderous but picturesque path through the snow-dusted peaks and voluptuous valleys of the Andes, across the epic Peruvian plains , passing hardy bowler-hatted llama farmers and traveling through remote towns and villages.

4. The Beijing-to-Lhasa Express, China

Start:   Beijing End:   Lhasa Departs: Daily Distance:  2330 miles (3750km) Duration:  40 hours

From the futuristic architecture and imperial wonders of Beijing, the Z21 train transports its passengers from the neon lights of urban China  across the Tibetan plateau , where it glides past grazing yaks, fluttering prayer flags, snow-capped mountains and boundless blue skies. At your destination, magenta-robed monks await. 

5. The TranzAlpine, New Zealand

Start:   Christchurch End:  Greymouth Departs: Daily Distance:   139 miles (223km) Duration:  4hrs 30mins

Under five hours, this journey is surely one the world’s finest and most scenic one-day train rides. Commence the TranzAlpine experience in Christchurch, before speeding along the Canterbury Plains and climbing quickly through the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps, then descend through a thrilling tunnel to emerge among the lakes, streams and rainforests of the South Island ’s West Coast. 

6. The Bergensbanen, Norway

Start:  Oslo End:   Bergen Departs: Four times a day Distance:  308 miles (496km) Duration:   6hrs 30mins

This astonishing train is one of Europe’s best railway rides  – and one of the least well known outside of Norway . It covers the spectrum of the Nordic country’s natural splendor: climbing canyons, crossing rivers, burrowing through mountainsides and traversing barren icescapes.

7. Tazara Railway, Tanzania and Zambia

Start:  Dar es Salaam End:  Kapiri Mposhi Departs: Twice a week Distance:  1160 miles (1860km) Duration:   46 hours

Few trains in the world offer the chance – and we should point out that it’s a chance rather than a guarantee – of spotting big game from your seat. The Tazara ( Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority) does just that. The highlight, though, is the chance to spend two days watching everyday life out of the window, and enjoying the clamor and chaos when the train pulls to a halt – scheduled or unscheduled.

8. The Sunset Limited, USA 

Start:   New Orleans End: Los Angeles Departs: Three times per week  Distance: 1995 miles (3211km)  Duration:  Two days

The ultimate American railroad ride: east to west, coast to coast, clean through from the bars of New Orleans to the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. If you’ve always dreamed of crossing the States, but don’t much relish the prospect of two weeks spent cooped up in an automobile, then a ride on the Sunset Limited is the answer. Sit back and let America’s landscapes buzz by: from Louisiana’s bayous, past the high-rises of Houston, across the deserts of Texas and Arizona , over the Californian hills all the way to LA’s golden beaches. Saddle up, partner: it’s gonna be quite a ride.

9. The Caledonian Sleeper, UK

Start:  London (Euston) End:   Fort William Departs: Daily Distance:  509 miles (819km) Duration:  13hrs 30mins

Segueing from the sooty suburbs and crowded concrete-lined cul-de-sacs of central London to the crisp air and soaring vistas of the Scottish Highlands via one overnight train journey epitomizes the romance of rail travel. Enjoy the buffet-car banter, be lulled to sleep by the rhythm of the rails, then wake up to bedside views of towering granite peaks. 

10. Mombasa to Nairobi, Kenya

Start: Mombasa Ends:  Nairobi Departs: Daily Distance:  360 miles (579km) Duration:  5hrs 10mins

The Nairobi–Mombasa railway route is among Africa’s most legendary: it even helped foster the modern concept of safari. The rickety old railway has undergone a rebuild in recent years with smart new stations and a new track laid across the Kenyan savannah . What hasn’t changed is the spellbinding journey, with trains departing from Mombasa and passing in the shadow of Kilimanjaro to the cusp of the Great Rift Valley.

11. Tangier to Marrakesh, Morocco

Start:   Tangier End:  Marrakesh Departs: Daily Distance:  360 miles (580km) Duration:  5hrs 15mins

Nothing can fully prepare you for the magnificence Morocco ’s most evocative city – from the clamor and spectacle of the central square, Djemaa El Fna , to the primary colors of the Jardin Majorelle ; and from the peaceful madrassa of Medersa Ben Youssef to the mad profusion of alleyways. There’s no doubting that a railway journey down the spine of this North African nation is a profoundly uplifting experience.

12. The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

Start:   Vancouver End:   Banff Departs: Twice a week Distance:  594 miles (957km) Duration:  37 hours

Clattering across the wild Rocky Mountains along a pioneering 19th-century railroad, this train journey is all at once a geological field trip, sightseeing adventure and wildlife safari. It promises cinematic views of Canada ’s quintessential mountain landscapes, plus a bevy of engineering marvels, from dizzying bridges to logic-defying tunnels. And with luck, you might even spy a bald eagle, moose or grizzly bear. 

13. Alexandria to Aswan, Egypt

Start:   Alexandria End:  Aswan Departs: Daily Distance:  670 miles (1100km) Duration:  16 hours

A ride from Alexandria to Aswan means you will travel the length of Egypt 's rail network – and also undertake an odyssey in the company of the great Nile River , with chances to disembark and explore the relics of empires along its banks . Do keep in mind that, for all their plus points, Egyptian trains are not always known for punctuality. 

14. The Serra Verde Express, Brazil

Start:   Curitiba End:  Morretes,  Paraná Departs: Daily Distance:  42 miles (68km) Duration:  3hrs 30mins

One of Brazil ’s most spectacular train journeys, the Serra Verde Express starts in the architecturally bold city of Curitiba and winds its way through dramatic mountain passes covered with tropical rainforest before it drops you in Morretes in the lush state of Paraná. The half-day trip takes in canyons, jagged mountain peaks and verdant lowlands, and the slow-going locomotive allows plenty of opportunities to photograph the cinematic backdrop while traversing some 30 bridges and chugging through 14 tunnels. Aside from the captivating scenery, the journey provides a fascinating glimpse into the past as it trundles through tiny stations dating back to the late 1800s.

15. The Darjeeling Toy Train, India

Start:   New Jalpaiguri End:   Darjeeling Departs: Daily Distance:  55 miles (88.5km) Duration:  7–8 hours

India ’s narrow-gauge steam railways are the stuff of legend, and the bottle-blue Darjeeling Toy Train is the nation’s lead engine. The ride from the Bengal plains to Darjeeling travels past emerald-green tea plantations and precariously balanced, tin-roofed townships, while clouds tumble down the looming massif of Mt Khangchendzonga. Steam engines are now only used for a small section of the route, yet this iconic mountain journey still serves up a sizable slice of history.

16. The Hokkaidō Shinkansen, Japan

Start:  Tokyo End:  Hakodate Departs: Daily Distance:  512 miles (824km) Duration:  4 hours

The Hokkaidō Shinkansen , one of Japan’s iconic bullet trains , takes you from Tokyo to Hakodate, the southern port of Hokkaidō . Along the way, it zooms past picturesque scenes of rural Japan , through mountains and under the sea. The route is only part of it, though: riding the shinkansen – with its food trolleys and staff who bow upon entering and exiting the train car – is a classic Japanese experience.

17. Colombo to Badulla, Sri Lanka

Start:  Colombo End:  Badulla Departs: Daily Distance:  181 miles (292km) Duration:  9–10 hours

One of many unforgettable things about Sri Lanka is the variety and intensity of the color green throughout the year . And for train aficionados, there is no better way to appreciate the country’s full, verdant spectrum than an all-day rail journey from Colombo’s urban gardens at sea level to tea plantations in the Hill Country , via brain-spinning sensory doses of jungle and forest, paddy field and palm tree, mountain and valley, national parks…and human habitation, too. Expect to move slowly – and enjoy one of the most scenic train trips in the world.

18. Bangkok to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore

Start:   Bangkok End:  Singapore Departs: Weekly Distance:  1200 miles (1900km) Duration: Three days

A railway journey from Bangkok to Singapore spans three countries, three capital cities, and – without disembarking once – can be completed in under three days. But to go so fast would be to miss the point of this artery along the Malay Peninsula – a line suited to capricious roaming. You always have the option to hop off – to see tropical islands, to scale the cool heights of tea plantations, and to linger in a trio of metropolises that are each entirely different.

19. The Glacier Express, Switzerland

Start:  St Moritz End:  Zermatt Departs: Daily (in season) Distance:  180 miles (290km) Duration:  8 hours

Switzerland is a nation of rail fanatics . And if the Swiss could pick one definitive ride, the honor would surely go to the Glacier Express . This eight-hour journey from ritzy St Moritz to Matterhorn-topped Zermatt unzips the lovely Alpine terrain in the country’s south, corkscrewing up to wind-battered mountain passes, teetering across 291 bridges and rumbling through 91 tunnels. It intentionally moves at a snail’s pace so you take in those out-of-this-world views of meadows, forest, falls and mountains – all through panoramic windows. 

20. The Bernina Express, Switzerland & Italy

Start:   Chur End:  Tirano Departs: Daily Distance:  96 miles (156km) Duration:  4hrs 30mins

We can wax lyrical about the glacier-capped mountains, waterfall-draped ravines, jewel-colored lakes and endless spruce forests glimpsed through panoramic windows on Switzerland’s Bernina Express – but seeing is believing. Rolling from Chur in Graubünden to Tirano in northern Italy , this narrow-gauge train often tops polls of the world’s most beautiful rail journeys. The line has even made UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites – and with good reason.

21. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, England, France, Switzerland and Italy

Start:  London End:  Venice Departs: One to six times per month Distance:  1300 miles (2090km) Duration:  Two days

The promise of traveling from London to Venice cocooned in luxury while sitting in twinkly dining cars with fine china and silver cutlery is surely one that endures in the hearts of all rail enthusiasts. While the Orient Express’ various other 20th-century routes are sadly long gone, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers a tantalizing sample of the original on a trip that is surely the best journey back in time ever. But this route gained a new rival in 2023 with the Orient Express La Dolce Vita service  – and, in 2025, a new service on the original route is scheduled to hit the rails .

22. Nova Gorica to Jesenice, Slovenia

Start:  Nova Gorica End:   Jesenice Departs:  Daily Distance:  55 miles (89km) Duration:  Two hours

Here is a near-perfect railway adventure that most people have never heard of. The Bohinj Railway connects two places whose significance can be lost to modern travelers. An unassuming regional train rattling out of a faded-grandeur halt on the Italy– Slovenia border doesn’t even hint at what’s to come. The journey is a spectacular tour of Slovenia’s upland highlights from Nova Gorica, climbing through mountain towns and villages along the Soča River , passing through superb Alpine scenery close to Lake Bohinj , and on past world-famous Lake Bled to Jesenice.

23. The Ghan, Australia

Start:   Adelaide End:  Darwin Departs: Twice a week Distance:   1851 miles (2979km) Duration:  54 hours

Cutting vertically across the Outback heart of Australia , straight through the desolate deserts of the Red Centre, the Ghan is one of the southern hemisphere’s most unforgettable train journeys. This cross-country train service has provided a vital link between Australia’s north and south coasts, traveling north across the country from well-to-do, orderly Adelaide to the tropical, croc-filled creeks of Darwin. Luxurious and legendary, it’s Australia’s elegant version of the Orient Express.

24. Cannes to Menton, France

Start:   Cannes End:  Menton Departs: Daily Distance:  34 miles (55km) Duration:  1hr 20mins

It’s the stuff that travel dreams are made of: a slow train skirting the French Mediterranean coast, through towns whose very names resonate with glamour – Cannes, Antibes , Monaco . On one side of the tracks lies that sparkling sea; on the other, dramatic cliffs interspersed with the gorgeous coastal towns of the French Riviera . You can make a long day of this short trip, hopping on and off to explore a street market, linger at an outdoor terrace, take a breath of history and get a taste of luxury.

This article was first published Aug 5, 2019 and updated Jan 2, 2024.

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