train journeys from melbourne

Train Journeys from Melbourne

Melbourne to adelaide.

Melbourne to Albury

Melbourne to bairnsdale, melbourne to ballarat.

Melbourne to Bendigo

Melbourne to brisbane, melbourne to cairns, melbourne to canberra, melbourne to darwin.

Melbourne to Echuca

Melbourne to geelong.

Melbourne to Gold Coast

Melbourne to Hobart

Melbourne to horsham, melbourne to melbourne airport (avalon), melbourne to melbourne airport (tullamarine), melbourne to mildura, melbourne to mount buller, melbourne to perth, melbourne to phillip island.

Melbourne to Sale

Melbourne to shepparton, melbourne to swan hill, melbourne to sydney, melbourne to traralgon, melbourne to wagga wagga, melbourne to wangaratta, melbourne to warrnambool.

Things to do in Melbourne with kids

10 Day Trips From Melbourne By Train For A Family Day Out

Just a short train ride away from Melbourne CBD and its surrounds lies a treasure trove of diverse and picturesque destinations waiting to be explored for locals and tourists.

In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the best day trips from Melbourne by train, particularly for families. No need to worry about parking, navigation, or traffic—simply hop on a train, enjoy the convenience and comfort and let the adventure begin! 

Note you’ll need a Myki card and it can be used for Victoria’s regional trains ( V/line ) as well. That means you can travel directly to your destination for less than $10 per person.

Best Day Trips By Train From Melbourne

1. ballarat.

Step back in time with a train trip to Ballarat , a city steeped in gold rush heritage. 

Explore the Sovereign Hill outdoor museum and immerse yourself in the 1850s gold rush experience – read our extensive review of Sovereign Hill for tips on how to make the most of your day. Pan for gold, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage and get your olde worlde portrait taken. If you’re there in winter, don’t miss the Winter Wonderlights  – read our review of Sovereign Hill’s Christmas in July festivities. 

When visiting Ballarat with kids don’t forget to visit the Ballarat Wildlife Park , home to a wide variety of native Australian animals and check if there are children’s activities on at Ballarat Art Gallery . Kryal Castle , a medieval castle experience, is also a 15-minute taxi ride away (read our Kryal Castle review ). 

Read more tips on things to do in Ballarat with kids . 

To discover Ballarat’s rich history, catch a train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Ballarat. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. Upon arrival in Ballarat, you can explore the city on foot or use local buses or taxis to reach specific attractions.

Looking for where to stay in Ballarat ? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

2. Dandenong Ranges

For a refreshing escape into nature, catch a train to Belgrave in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges. 

At Belgrave see a movie at the independent Cameo Cinema (they even have an outdoor cinema in summer) or visit the Belgrave Big Dreams Market that happens on the second Sunday of every month.

Don’t miss the iconic Puffing Billy Steam Railway , a heritage train that chugs through the beautiful forested landscapes. It heads to Emerald Lake where you can alight and ride a floating cycle bike, swim in the swimming pool in summer an explore the Emerald Lake Miniature Railway exhibition.

To explore more of the Dandenong Ranges you’ll need to travel by bus from Belgrave train station. For instance, marvel at the stunning panoramic views from the SkyHigh Mount Dandenong lookout (the 694 bus will take you there from Belgrave station), go bushwalking in the lush national parks, and explore the cute mountain towns of Olinda and Sassafras for tea shops, gifts, galleries and gardens.

To get to Belgrave take a train from Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station or Parliament station. The train journey takes around an hour. From Belgrave, you can easily access various attractions within the Dandenong Ranges, including the Puffing Billy Railway . Buy tickets to Puffing Billy Railway

Looking for where to stay in Dandenong Ranges? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

 3. Werribee

If you’re looking for a day trip from Melbourne that offers exciting wildlife encounters and family-friendly attractions, Werribee is the perfect destination. 

Once you arrive in Werribee, head to Wyndham Park for two stunning playgrounds along the Werribee River. Stroll or scoot along the Werribee River Trail and spot native wildlife and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.

Werribee Open Range Zoo is the big drawcard attraction in Werribee. Just note that the train station is not near the zoo so you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to get there. The award-winning zoo offers an immersive safari experience where you can encounter animals from Africa, including lions, giraffes, zebras, and more. You can even book a Werribee Zoo Deluxe Safari Adventure Experience for an up-close-and-personal encounter!

While you’re in the Werribee Park precinct , visit the Werribee Mansion and State Rose Garden . Explore the grand mansion, stroll through the stunning gardens, and enjoy a picnic on the picturesque grounds.

If your kids are water enthusiasts, head to the Werribee Outdoor Pool during summer, equipped with slides, splash zones, and shallow pools perfect for little swimmers. 

Wyndham Cultural Centre hosts a variety of family-friendly performances, including theatre, dance, and music events. Check the schedule in advance to see what shows or activities are available during your visit.

To reach Werribee, catch a train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Werribee Station. The train journey takes approximately 35 minutes, making it a convenient option for a day trip with younger kids.

Looking for where to stay in Werribee? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

Escape to the coast and discover Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, which offers a delightful blend of coastal beauty and cultural experiences. 

Victoria’s second-largest city is easily accessible by train, and once you’re there stroll along Geelong’s picturesque waterfront precinct, soak in the atmosphere at Eastern Beach and visit the impressive cultural institutions such as Geelong Art Gallery and the National Wool Museum . 

Read more tips on things to do in Geelong with kids . 

For a day trip to Geelong, take a train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Geelong. Trains to Geelong take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and run frequently, allowing for flexibility in planning your itinerary. Once in Geelong, you can easily explore the city’s attractions on foot or catch a local bus to further destinations on the Bellarine Peninsula. On the Bellarine, you can explore the stunning beaches, go for a swim or surf, and explore the charming seaside towns of Queenscliff and Portarlington .

Looking for where to stay in Geelong? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

Bendigo is a city brimming with culture, art, and architecture. 

Catch a train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Bendigo for a journey that takes approximately 2 hours. 

On arrival, explore the awesome Discovery Science Centre , a hands-on science museum for kids. 

Also take the time to visit the renowned Bendigo Art Gallery and the surrounding Arts Precinct, delve into the city’s gold rush history at the Central Deborah Gold Mine or visit the Golden Dragon Museum to learn about Bendigo’s Chinese heritage. 

Or just take a leisurely stroll through the heritage streets, stop for a play at Rosalind Park and soak up the charm that this regional gem has to offer.

Read more tips on things to do in Bendigo with kids .

Looking for where to stay in Bendigo? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

6. Frankston

Arrive in Frankston and you’ll be greeted by stunning beaches. Take a leisurely stroll along the Frankston Waterfront and enjoy picturesque views, relax on the beach with a picnic overlooking Port Phillip Bay and the nearby Frankston Foreshore Playground is sure to delight children. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try watersports such as kayaking or paddleboarding!

Frankston Arts Centre hosts a range of exhibitions, performances, and events throughout the year and Frankston City Centre is where you’ll find a diverse array of shops, cafes, and markets.

To visit the beautiful beachside town of Frankston just catch a train from Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station to Frankston. The train journey takes approximately 50 minutes, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing day out. 

Read more tips on things to do in Frankston with kids .

Looking for where to stay in Frankston ? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

7. Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is a former rail corridor that’s been transformed into a walking and cycling path. The full 38km (24 mile) route goes past farmland, native forests, the Yarra River and several small towns, with food options and old-fashioned pubs en route. 

Trains run to Lilydale from Melbourne’s Flinders Street station. Bus 683 from Lilydale to Warburton generally follows the trail, so you can walk some of the way, starting from Lilydale and then take the bus back to the start when needed. Read more tips on things to do in the Yarra Valley with kids .

Looking for where to stay in Melbourne? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

Woodend is a gorgeous town in the Macedon Ranges and is easily accessed from Southern Cross Station. The train ride takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. 

Upon arrival in Woodend, you’ll be greeted by a charming town surrounded by natural beauty. Start your adventure by visiting the Woodend Children’s Park , a delightful playground where your little ones can climb, slide, and swing to their hearts’ content. The park also has picnic areas, making it an ideal spot for a family lunch, or head to the family-friendly Holgate Brewhouse .

To finish, make sure to stop by the Woodend Ice Cream Company , offering delectable artisanal ice cream flavours made with locally sourced ingredients.

About a 10-minute taxi ride from Woodend is Hanging Rock Reserve . Hanging Rock was made famous by Joan Lindsay’s novel Picnic at Hanging Rock which was later turned into a film and TV series. After browsing its displays the Discovery Centre, climb the path to the top of the rock for magnificent views. 

Read more tips on things to do in Woodend with kids .

Looking for where to stay in Woodend ? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

Another Macedon Ranges town worth visiting is Kyneton , the administrative and cultural heart of the shire region. It is also easily accessed from Southern Cross Station and the train ride takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

Start by exploring the picturesque Piper Street, lined with boutique shops, cafes, and galleries. Try some delicious treats or a leisurely lunch at one of the family-friendly eateries.

For a dose of nature and outdoor fun, head to Kyneton Botanic Gardens . Let the kids run free in the expansive parklands, have a picnic and enjoy the farm-themed playground where kids can swing, slide and climb.

Read more tips on things to do in Kyneton with kids .

Looking for where to stay in Kyneton ? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

10. Castlemaine

Start your adventure by visiting the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens . Explore the lush greenery, enjoy a picnic by the lake, and let your kids run and play in the open spaces. The gardens also feature an award-winning playground with swings and slides, ensuring that your little ones have a fun-filled time.

To immerse yourselves in Castlemaine’s history, take a stroll through the town centre. Explore the historic streets, admire the beautiful architecture, and drop into Castlemaine Art Museum , which often hosts family-friendly exhibitions and interactive programs.

If your family enjoys outdoor adventures, head to Kalimna Park . This natural reserve offers walking trails, rock formations, and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It’s a perfect spot for a family hike or a picnic surrounded by nature.

To reach Castlemaine , catch a train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Castlemaine Station. The train journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Read more tips on things to do in Castlemaine with kids . 

Ready to explore Melbourne and Victoria? Book your stay at one of Melbourne’s best family hotels !

Looking for where to stay in Castlemaine ? Check out the accommodation options to suit your budget on Booking.com .

Melbourne’s best train experiences Visit the Melbourne Tram Museum

About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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The Ghan, Port Augusta, South Australia © Journey Beyond

Australia's best train journeys

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Romance awaits aboard Australia’s lavish long-distance sleeper trains.

By Amy Fraser and Krysia Bonkowski

Four days, three states, two oceans and one train. The Indian Pacific isn’t just any train journey, it’s an epic escape from day-to-day life, an adventure of a lifetime and one of the best ways to experience the true beauty of Australia. Picture the majestic Blue Mountains in New South Wales, the rolling hills and winding streams of Western Australia , the bubble-gum pink lakes of South Australia and the iconic Nullarbor Plain ; you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled and your camera at the ready. Choose to hop on at any leg of the journey, or sit back for an epic four days from one ocean to another along the world’s longest stretch of straight railway.

Over three to four days, the Great Southern sweeps through one of the most diverse corners of the nation – venturing from the lush folds of South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, to the rugged Grampians mountain range in Victoria, past the lazuline shores of the New South Wales north coast and on to Brisbane. Four Australian states in a handful of days; it’s the ultimate way to see the country's ever-changing landscapes, all the while indulging in the world-class luxuries. This all-inclusive journey runs only once a year, across summer. The best part? The itinerary changes with the direction, giving you the perfect excuse to hop back on and do it all anew.

No distractions, no complications – just you and the monumental Australian outback. Traversing almost 3,000km (1,864mi) across some of the most hard-to-reach and jaw-dropping pockets of Australia, the Ghan journey is truly awe-inspiring. Snaking your way through the heart of the outback, you’ll see a new side to Australia – and perhaps yourself. From stylish interiors to indulgent experiences; the Ghan isn't one of the world’s most celebrated train journeys just for the route – it's the whole experience. To top it off, you'll have the opportunity to create your own adventure, choosing between a handful of routes and journeys.

26 hours and 1,300-odd km (808mi) – that’s all it takes to see the soul of western Queensland . As the Spirit of the Outback sleeper train chugs inland from Brisbane, lush greenery gives way to a land tinted gold and bronze by the sun. Between the Australiana-themed dining cars serving Queensland produce and the cattle stations stretching to meet the endless horizon, it’s an experience unique to this corner of the world. A place steeped in lore and legend – the inspiration for bush poet Banjo Paterson’s ballad “Waltzing Matilda” – the Queensland outback still echoes the bushrangers, prospectors, and hardy drovers that once roamed here.

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Australia is a huge country.  And the best way to appreciate its vastness is to cross it at ground level by train, in comfort.  The famous Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth in 3 days, crossing the great Nullarbor Plain in the process.  Don't miss out on a visit to the 'red centre' of Australia around Alice Springs, and there's no better way to reach Alice Springs or Darwin than by the equally famous Ghan from Adelaide.  In the East, comfortable XPT trains link Sydney with Melbourne & Brisbane at affordable prices, and Queensland Railways links Brisbane with Townsville & Cairns.  On this page you'll find train times, fares, how to buy tickets, and advice on what the train & the journey are like for all the main Australian train routes.

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Sydney - adelaide - perth, across australia on the indian pacific.

Australia's biggest train journey, in every sense of the word.  This is a fabulous train ride right across Australia from Sydney or Adelaide to Perth, giving you a real sense of Australia's vastness which flying simply cannot deliver.  With a cosy bed at night in your own room, a restaurant for your meals and a lounge in which to relax during the day, it's a rolling hotel.  Now run by a private company called Journey Beyond Rail ( journeybeyondrail.com.au , known as Great Southern Rail until 2019), the Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth once a week all year round.  The Indian Pacific has only existed since the 1970s, when a standard gauge line was finally completed across the continent from Sydney to Perth, some 4,343km or 2,698 miles.  Today, both the Indian Pacific and its sister train the Ghan use the original stainless-steel coaches built by the American Budd company for the first Indian Pacific trains when they started running in 1973.  Suitably modernised, of course.  This train is well worth including in your grand Australian tour! 

What's it like on board the Indian Pacific?     What's the journey like?

Check times & departure dates at journeybeyondrail.com.au .   Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Perth on the Indian Pacific, see journeybeyondrail.com.au .  The station in Adelaide is Adelaide Parklands, formerly known as Adelaide Keswick.

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and soft drinks, beer & wine.

Note that the Pensioner fares shown on the GSR website are for Australian senior citizens only.

How to buy tickets

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au .

Or you can use the contact & booking form of reliable Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange Indian Pacific tickets for you, wherever you live in the world. You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours.  International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane. 

To buy Australian train tickets in the UK by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

Railpass options

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015.  You need to buy regular tickets to use the IP or Ghan.

Vacations & tours by rail

Railbookers are train travel specialists with offices in the UK, Australia & United States.  They offer customisable tour packages around Australia with travel on some or all of Australia's great trains, with train tickets, stopovers, hotels, transfers and (if necessary) flights sorted for you.

What's a journey on the Indian Pacific like ?

The 'IP' leaves Sydney Central Station in downtown Sydney in late afternoon and threads its way through Sydney's suburban commuterland.  As night falls it climbs up through the scenic Blue Mountains passing through Katoomba, and next morning you'll wake up in arid outback country around Broken Hill.  Look out for kangaroo and emu over breakfast in the train's restaurant car!  The train arrives in Adelaide in the afternoon, with time for a city tour even if you're not stopping off, and leaves again for Perth in the early evening.  The day after leaving Adelaide the Indian Pacific crosses the hot, dusty emptiness of the famous Nullarbor Plain on the longest stretch of straight railway line in the world, 478 km or 297 miles, 'nullarbor' being Latin for 'no trees'.  The train stops long enough for you to visit the tiny community of Cook.  If you've ever wondered what the Middle of Nowhere looks like, this is it!  Once off the Nullarbor you can play 'spot the koala' over dinner as the beautiful evening sun plays over the leafy eucalyptus trees.  After dinner that evening the train used to stop at the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie for 3½ hours, long enough for a walkabout, but is passes through at 3am in its latest timetable.  Next day the train rolls into the pleasant and modern city of Perth, capital of Western Australia.  Congratulations, you've just crossed a continent!

What's it like on the Indian Pacific & Ghan ?

The Indian Pacific & the Ghan use similar equipment.  They both have two classes of accommodation, Gold Service sleepers & Platinum Service sleepers.  Both classes offer proper beds in private rooms with meals included in the restaurant car.  Platinum Service gets you a bigger room with (if you want one) a double bed, with an exclusive Platinum Service restaurant car with small lounge area.  Unfortunately, Red Service sleepers were discontinued in 2015 and Red Service reclining seats the year after, there is now no budget option.  What was originally a mode of transport with aspirations to cruise service at the top end is now an all-cruise train with prices to match.

Gold Service (formerly first class)

Gold Service passengers travel in private sleepers, either 2-berth twinettes for passengers travelling in twos or single-berth roomettes for passengers travelling alone, see the photos below.  The price per person is the same.  There's a restaurant car and a lounge car.

Queen Adelaide restaurant

The fare includes excellent 3-course meals served in the Queen Adelaide restaurant car.  Beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com .

Outback Explorer lounge car

During the day Gold Service passengers can use the Outback Explorer lounge (sometimes two of them) with bar & armchairs, complimentary tea & coffee always available.  The bar in the Outback Explorer lounge serves cocktails, beer & wine.  Since 2013, beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service.  Photos courtesy of Oliver Mann & DiscoverByRail.com

Twinette sleepers

If there's two of you, you'll get a relatively spacious 2-berth sleeper called a Twinette.  The twinette sleeping-cars have a conventional layout with a corridor along one side of the car, with compartments opening off it.  Each twinette compartment has an upper & lower bed which fold away to reveal a sofa for daytime use.  Twinettes have a tiny private bathroom with hot shower, toilet & washbasin.  Your twinette comes with comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.  The photos pretty accurately show the size of the room, with the compact shower & toilet opening off the wall to the left of shot.  Photos courtesy of James Chuang & Oliver Mann.

If you're travelling alone in Gold Service, you'll get a cosy private roomette.  Roomette sleeping-cars have a corridor snaking through the centre of the car in a series of gentle 's' curves with doors to the roomettes opening off both sides of it (the curves in the corridor maximise the space in each roomette, by making it wider at the head end).  Each roomette is only about 7 feet long by 4 feet wide, big enough for a comfy armchair, a table, and a drop-down sink in one corner, though the drop-down flush toilet originally fitted underneath each sink is now boarded up out of use.  At night, the bed folds down from behind the seat and takes up most of the room.  There's an excellent hot shower & toilets at the end of the corridor.  Roomettes come with a comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.

Platinum Service

The Ghan and Indian Pacific now feature an ultra-luxurious (and expensive!) Platinum Service, with a choice of double-bed or twin-bed sleeper compartments with private shower and toilet and extra space even compared to Gold Service.  As with Gold Service, meals are included in the fare, served in a Platinum Service restaurant car, which has a lounge area at one end.

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Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin

The ghan, to australia's red centre.

The lenendary Ghan is undoubtedly the best way to reach Australia's fabulous Red centre and the iconic Uluru (Ayer's Rock).  Australia's second most famous train, the Ghan links Adelaide, Alice Springs & (since 2004) Darwin, once a week all year round, twice a week from April to October.  By using the train you get a real feel for the scale of the Australian outback, which you simply don't on a plane.  Like the Indian Pacific, the Ghan is now run by Journeys Beyond Rail (formerly Great Southern Rail ), and has the same classes of accommodation & facilities:  Gold class sleepers, lounge & restaurant, see the section above .  Most departures of the Ghan now have an additional class of accommodation, the new super-deluxe Platinum Class complete with double (or twin lower) beds.

The Ghan gets its name from the (supposedly) Afghan camels and camel drivers who used to carry supplies up to Alice Springs before the railway came.  The first railway was narrow gauge, and the old Ghan was notoriously slow, taking 48 hours from Adelaide to Alice.  Only in the early 1980s was this new standard-gauge line opened taking a more direct route.  The journey time has been cut to an afternoon and a night, and the service doubled to twice weekly for much of the year.  Connections are available to/from Sydney and Melbourne using the Indian Pacific or Overland , see the Indian Pacific and Overland sections below.  The railway onwards to Darwin was completed in January 2004, and in February that year the Ghan was extended to Darwin once a week, doubled to twice-weekly in 2006.  Book early, as there has been huge interest in the service to Darwin and bookings have exceeded even the operator's own expectations.

The Ghan Timetable

IMPORTANT:  The Ghan does not run from mid-Dec to mid-Jan.

Off-train excursions happen at the longer stops.

Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Darwin on the Ghan, see journeybeyondrail.com.au .      What's it like on board The Ghan?

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare. 

See journeybeyondrail.com.au for full details of fares.

Apex 6m+ = discounted advance purchase fare, bought at least 6 months in advance.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and (from April 2013), soft drinks, beer & wine.  Meals are extra in Red Service.

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au . 

Or you can use the contact & booking form of Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange tickets for the Ghan for you wherever you live in the world.  You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours.  International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane. 

To buy Australian train tickets by phone in the UK, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015.  You need to buy regular tickets to use the Indian Pacific or Ghan.

What's it like on board the Ghan?

The train has similar classes, sleepers, lounges and restaurants as the Indian Pacific , see the accommodation guide above .

A trip on the Ghan from Adelaide to Australia's Red Centre

Alice springs.

The Alice, as it's usually known, still has a frontier feel to it.  Originally called Stuart and only officially renamed Alice Springs in 1933, it grew up around a telegraph station on the overland telegraph linking southern Australia with London.  The site for the telegraph station was chosen because there was water, a spring  which was named after the wife of Charles Todd, superintendent of telegraphs in Adelaide.  You can still see the telegraph station, now a museum, at the North end of the town.  Next to it (pictured above, at the base of the white rock) is the very birthplace of the town - the original, dried up 'Alice spring'.  Telegraph station museum website .  Northern Territories official visitor website .

Ayer's Rock (Uluru)

You'll want to explore the outback whilst in Alice Springs, including Uluru, the world's largest sandstone monolith.  It's some 275 miles southwest of Alice - the outback is a big place!  It's a fabulous area with lots to see besides Uluru, including the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) & King's Canyon.  You can see Uluru & Kata Tjuta as a 17 hour day trip from Alice (which includes a 5 hour drive each way), but it's far better to book a 2, 3 or 4-day 4-wheel drive camping safari to see more in less of a hurry.  Try www.wayoutback.com.au .  You're no longer allowed to climb Uluru as from October 2019 - it used to be a steep scramble along the tourist track up the least perpendicular part of its sandstone sides.  The website for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru .

Melbourne - Adelaide

The most civilised and pleasant way to travel between central Melbourne and central Adelaide is aboard the twice-a-week Overland , no need to use domestic flights.  It's the third of the 3 trains run by journeybeyondrail.com.au .

No service on 25 or 26 December.

The cheaper fare = advance purchase, limited availability.  The most expensive fare = full-flex rate.

Option 2, buy tickets at 12go.com .

12go is a reliable agency, the process is easy, overseas phone credit cards & phone numbers no problem.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

What's it like on the Overland?

Sydney to melbourne, canberra & brisbane.

Comfortable air-conditioned trains link Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, city centre to city centre, with no need to fly!  These trains are run by NSW TrainLink, formerly CountryLink, formerly the State Rail Authority of New South Wales.  NSW TrainLink runs two comfortable XPT trains every day from Sydney to Melbourne, one by day and the other a time-effective overnight train with sleeping-car.  A similar daytime and overnight XPT service links Sydney to Brisbane, although as trains alternate between Brisbane and Casino, a bus connection is needed to Brisbane on one of the two.  Equally comfortable XPLORER trains link Sydney with Canberra several times a day.  More info & online booking at  transportnsw.info/regional .

Option 1, buy tickets at transportnsw.info/regional . 

Tickets bought online are sent by e-mail.

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas phone numbers accepted.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

Sleepers cannot be booked online , so for sleeper berths either call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 3814 0210 or use the contact & booking form of Melbourne-based agency www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange sleeper tickets for you wherever you live in the world - you'll normally get a reply with a quote within 24 hours.

On board an XPT train

XPT trains might look familiar.  That's because they're based on the UK's InterCity 125, but re-geared to 100mph and with (you'll be pleased to learn) beefed-up air-conditioning.  XPTs have first and economy class reclining seats.  First and economy class seating is virtually identical - if you look really closely and get your tape measure out, you'll find there's 2" more legroom in first and the 1st class seats recline to 40 degrees rather than 28.  But that's the only difference, elbow room and the seats themselves are exactly the same.  So there is little point in paying for first class unless economy is full - or you want that extra recline on the overnight run.  XPTs have a buffet car selling food and drink, including wine.  XPLORERs have similar seating to XPTs and a buffet-bar.

XPT sleeping-cars

The overnight Sydney-Melbourne & Sydney-Brisbane XPT trains have one sleeping-car with 2-berth compartments.  A sofa converts to a lower berth and an upper berth folds out from the wall, with mattress and all necessary bedding.  There's a hot shower & toilet shared between each pair of adjacent compartments, just outside your compartment door.  Book early, as there's only one sleeping-car per train and it gets booked up fast. 

Unfortunately sleepers cannot be booked online, so you need to book at the station or by phone - from outside Australia call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 4907 7501.

Brisbane - Townsville - Cairns

Queensland Railways (QR) operates excellent passenger trains linking Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, branded Traveltrain.  The trains operate on narrow gauge 3' 6" tracks, which explains why you need to change at Brisbane onto NSW TrainLink's standard gauge (4' 8½") trains to and from Sydney .  For more info & online tickets see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND is a new 100mph tilt train with Railbed Class flat-bed seats, Premium Economy Class seats and a lounge car.  Introduced in October 2013, this is a brand-new 100mph tilting train, see the photos below .  For more info see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The old Sunlander was discontinued in December 2014, replaced by the Spirit of Queensland 100mph tilt train.

BRISBANE-ROCKHAMPTON:   There are additional trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton, including a 100mph tilting daytime train.

BRISBANE-LONGREACH:   A train called the SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK runs twice a week Brisbane - Rockhampton - Longreach, with 1st & economy sleepers, economy seats, and restaurant car.  1st class fares now include meals.  See www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au for details.

CAIRNS-FORSAYTH:   A little 1963-tainless-steel railcar works the Savannahlander train from Cairns to Forsayth at 06:30 every Wednesday with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving in Forsayth on Thursday evening.  It returns from Forsayth at 08:30 on Fridays, also with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving Cairns 18:40 on Saturdays.  A 4-day outback rail experience!  It runs March until December, no service in late Dec, Jan or Feb or first few days of March.  See www.savannahlander.com.au for timetable, fares & booking.

Children 15 years and under pay half the adult fare, children 3 years and under go free.

A-Choice fare = fully flexible, refundable.  U-Save fare = advance-purchase limited availability, no refunds.  B-Quick = another advance-purchase fare.

Option 1, buy at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au

You can check train times & fares and book online at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .  This can book economy and railbed class. 

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas credit cards no problem.  12go can book economy seats but may not be able to book railbed class.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

The Spirit of Queensland tilt train

The train has two classes, Railbed class &  Premium Economy class.  All seats have power sockets and airline-style seat-back TV entertainment systems.  All passengers can use the lounge-cafe car, in Railbed class meals are served at your seat.

The Spirit of the Outback

Kalgoorlie - perth, transwa's prospector.

Transwa (formerly known as Westrail) introduced new express diesel trains on the Perth to Kalgoorlie Prospector services in September 2003, running at up to 100mph.  Within a few years, track will be upgraded to 125mph (200km/h), making these trains the fastest in Australia.  For more info, visit www.transwa.wa.gov.au .

Things to see & do

Sydney is a fantastic city.  Take a tour of the opera house ( www.sydneyoperahouse.com ).  Wander through the botanic gardens .  Visit the observation deck of the Centrepoint Tower ( www.sydneytowereye.com.au ).  Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Watson's Bay for fish and chips at Doyle's famous refreshment rooms ( www.doyles.com.au , look for 'Doyles on the beach', for Sydney ferry information see transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/ferry ).  For general city tourist information see www.sydney.com .

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Why not do the incredible Sydney Harbour Bridge climb ? From A$344, you are briefed and equipped for a walk up the girders of Sydney Harbour Bridge, for some fantastic views across the city, from the Pacific Ocean in the East to the Blue Mountains in the West.  The bridge climb tour has been operating since October 1998.  Book your climb online here or visit www.bridgeclimb.com for more information.

The Blue Mountains

Don't forget to visit the museum in Melbourne's old gaol , www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au .  Ned Kelly, Australia's most infamous outlaw, was imprisoned and hanged in Melbourne gaol, and his unique armour was originally displayed there.

Great Ocean Road

Named after the wife of King William IV, Adelaide is a much smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne, and much more relaxed.  Admirably well laid-out by its founder, Colonel William Light, the city centre is surrounded by parkland.  On Montefiore Hill to the north of the centre, you can see 'Light's vision', where Colonel Light stood to map out his plan for the city.  For city visit information see www.cityofadelaide.com.au .

Barossa Valley wine region

Great ocean road by train+bus, every monday, wednesday, friday for just au$ 10.

The Great Ocean Road along the coast from Melbourne is one of the great scenic drives of Australia.  You can hire a car and drive it, or there are various 1-day bus tours from Melbourne.  But rather than endure a bus for the whole day, just AU$ 10 gets you a 1-day tour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays run by V/Line, the regional train & bus operator, using comfortable trains from Melbourne's Southern Cross station, as follows:

You take the daily 09:10 V/Line train from Melbourne's main Southern Cross railway station to Geelong, arriving 10:07.  The train is comfortable and air-conditioned.  Economy seats only, no reservation required.

At Geelong, the train connects with a daily air-conditioned V/Line coach leaving from outside Geelong railway station at 10:20 and running via Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay arriving 12:53.  No reservation required.

At Apollo Bay, you switch buses and join a V/Line Great Ocean Road air-conditioned sightseeing coach.  This runs on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving Apollo Bay at 13:25 and running all along the Great Ocean Road via the Twelve Apostles (30 minute stop), Loch-Ard Gorge (15 minute stop), London Bridge (10 minute stop) and Bay of Islands (10 min stop) to Warrnambool railway station, arriving 16:55.  No reservation is required for this bus.

At Warrnambool, the bus connects with the 17:36 V/Line train back to Melbourne Southern Cross, arriving Melbourne at 21:15.  This comfortable air-conditioned train has first class as well as economy seats, refreshments are available on board.  However, on this train a seat reservation is required.

How much does it cost?

Since 2023, a return ticket from Melbourne to Warrnambool, out via the Great Ocean Road sightseeing bus and back on the direct train now costs an amazingly cheap Aus$ 10 (£5 or US$6), after an election pledge to cap transport fares across Victoria (it used to cost around Aus$87, about £50 or US$62). Children 0-3 (inclusive) go free, children aged 4 to 16 go at the concession rate, Aus$5.

You can easily book this trip online at www.vline.com.au .  Simply click Plan trip/buy tickets and use the journey planner to book a return ticket from Melbourne Southern Cross to Warrnambool Station, making sure it's on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  Make sure you select the 09:10 departure from Melbourne to Warrnambool by train+coach+coach via Geelong & Apollo Bay on the outward leg, and the 17:36 direct train from Warrnambool to Melbourne on the return leg.  You pay by Visa or MasterCard and collect your tickets at any V/Line sales outlet, including at Melbourne Southern Cross station.  If you have any issues booking this, call V/Line on +61 3 9662 2505.

For general tourist information about the Great Ocean Road, see www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au .

Buy at Amazon.co.uk (UK) or Amazon.com (US)

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Australia by Rail from Trailblazer Guides

Accommodation in australia, tripadvisor hotel reviews.

www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels.  It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.

Backpacker hostels in Australia: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places in Australia, at rock-bottom prices.

Flights to Australia

1)  check flight prices at opodo, www.opodo.com, 2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think!  See www.loungepass.com

Travel to Australia without flying

For information on how to travel from Europe to Australia without flying, either overland by Trans-Siberian Railway to the Far East then by freighter, or by sea all the way, see the Australia overland page .

H olidays by train in Australia

Alternatively, companies such as Travelbag can arrange independent travel, with flights and trains as required.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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Australia's top 10 epic train journeys

Taylah Darnell

Editorial Assistant

23 February 2023

From vintage sleepers to steam locomotives, see more of Australia by train with these epic rail adventures.

Forget packed flights where you don’t see anything between points A and B. Don’t even consider the drawn-out car journeys with too much traffic and not enough detours. Long gone are the days of long security lines and not enough room in the boot.

The best way to see Australia is by train, with a jam-packed itinerary and everything you need taken care of. Spread across carriages that traverse Australia’s most diverse landscapes, guests can wine and dine, rest and relax and discover somewhere new. Find 10 of the best (in no particular order) below.

1. The Ghan

Known as one of the most legendary rail journeys Australia has to offer, The Ghan traverses some of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Those choosing to travel on the tracks can pick between Darwin to Adelaide , Adelaide to Alice Springs and Darwin to Alice Springs, each trip being reversible. Both on- and off-train experiences are designed to heighten your experience, from your spacious cabin and onboard restaurant and lounge to the stops you make along the way.

The Ghan is one of the best railway journeys on offer in Australia. (Image: Tourism NT/Steve Strike)

2. Indian Pacific

Go coast to coast on this transformative, transcontinental journey from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide or vice versa. Named after the two oceans it connects, the Indian Pacific charts 4352 kilometres across 65 hours. Enjoy a range of luxe experiences both onboard and off , from Barossa Valley wineries and The Nullabor to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.

Witness some of Australia’s most jaw-dropping landscapes onboard the Indian Pacific. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions)

3. Great Southern

The Great Southern takes guests from one underrated capital city to another in sleek style and comfort. Travel from Brisbane to Adelaide and uncover some of Australia’s best-kept secrets along the way; the Grampians, Hunter Valley and Coffs Harbour . Along the way, indulge in fine dining, premium wines and cosy accommodation onboard as you travel through Australia’s diverse landscape.

Uncover some of Australia’s best-kept secrets on the Great Southern.

4. The Overland

If you’re down for a shorter trip, The Overland is perfect for you. This daylight service travels between two very vibrant but very different cities, Adelaide and Melbourne. Throughout the trip, enjoy visits to small yet mighty Aussie towns like Murray Bridge, Horsham and Geelong . Guests will still enjoy a range of dining options, with semi-reclining seats for your comfort along the way.

The Overland is a daytime service perfect for families. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions)

5. Spirit of Queensland

Take in Queensland’s distinctive landscape on the Spirit of Queensland railway journey, running between Brisbane and Cairns. Enjoy seat service, in-transit entertainment, a galley car, showers and convertible chairs into beds, you’ll arrive at your destination relaxed and refreshed. Along the way, discover the delights of the Whitsundays , Townsville , Bundaberg , and the Fraser and Sunshine Coasts.

The Spirit of Queensland traverses the landscape between Brisbane and Cairns.

6. Vintage Rail Journeys

Vintage Rail Journeys’ three rail tours showcase the diversity of Australia in vintage style. Get comfy on a restored 1960s Aurora Australis sleeping train to explore everywhere from Orange to the Blue Mountains in the Golden West; the Riverina , where you’ll get a taste of Australia’s food bowl; and the North Coast , which serves up a mix of coastal and inland beauty from Port Macquarie to the Northern Rivers.

Take in the verdant views of the Blue Mountains onboard with Vintage Railway Journeys. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Scott Mcgregor’s Railway Adventures

Join Aussie presenter, producer and writer Scott McGregor and his experienced guides on fully escorted train tours across the continent . Head down to Tassie for an 11-night circumnavigation of the island state, relive the golden age of rail and river transport in Victoria on Puffing Billy or ride the Savannahlander and other historic railways in outback Queensland.

Travel onboard the legendary steam train Puffing Billy with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures.

8. Kuranda Scenic Railway

Immerse yourself in the heritage-listed rainforest of Tropical North Queensland’s Wet Tropics , beginning at sea level in Cairns and winding up to the pretty mountain village of Kuranda , at 328 metres. Enjoy locally sourced refreshments as you zoom through one of the world’s oldest rainforests and past waterfalls plunging into deep ravines.

Journey over the scenic Robbs Monument at the Kuranda railway. (Image: Journey Beyond)

9. Puffing Billy

With four epic adventures to choose from, Puffing Billy is the perfect option for families. Whether you pick Belgrave to Lakeside, Belgrave to Menzies Creek, Lakeside to Gembrook or Belgrave to Gembrook, you’re in for a treat. Puffing Billy, known as Australia’s favourite steam train, was built in 1900 and is based in the stunning Dandenong Ranges.

Puffing Billy is known as Australia’s favourite steam train.

10. Spirit of the Outback

The Spirit of the Outback traverses the heartland of Queensland’s outback from Brisbane to Longreach. Delve into the history and culture of the state via towns like Bundaberg and Emerald. All customers onboard can enjoy a variety of amenities. Single- and twin-cabin guests have access to the Shearers Rest lounge.

Delve into the history and culture of Queensland.

Taylah has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of a book or attempting to write her own. When she's not immersed in the world of words, she enjoys spending time amongst nature, hunting for second-hand treasures and watching/playing a good game of soccer.

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Comments (3)

I would love to go on anyone of these rail trips.

Very informative. Please let us know more about sightseeing of Australia’s nature.

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Slow Rail Journeys Book online or call us on 1800 707 677

Experience Victoria by Private Train

Experience the romance of rail travel reliving the elegance of a bygone era. relax in restored sleeping and lounge carriages as we travel from melbourne to some of victoria’s most spectacular destinations..

"Best trip  I've  been on in years.  My expectations were exceeded the second I was greeted on the platform at the Seven-0-Seven check-in"

Upcoming Itineraries

12-13 June: The Murraylander touring the spectacular Northeast Silo Art Trail returning passenger trains to Yarrawonga and Oaklands

6-11 June: The Vinelander returns to Mildura on an epic Slow Rail Journey exploring Outback Victoria

19-21 July: The Riverlander to Deniliquin and the Moama Winter Lights Festival

26-28 July: The Riverlander to Deniliquin and the Moama Winter Lights Festival

15-20 August: Take the path less travelled on the Sunraysia, exploring Mildura, Murrayville, the Murray-Sunset and spectacular Outback Victoria

6-8 September: The Grainlander Steam to Sea Lake and the Spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail

11-13 October: The Grainlander to Manangatang exploring either the northern Mallee Silo Art Trail or attending the 2024 Manangatang Cup

6-8 December: The Winelander exploring the best food, wine and railways of Victoria's Goldfields

"What an amazingly organised trip to an often unvisited but exciting part of Victoria. I loved the opportunity to see the Silo Art trail without the five-hour drive, multiple pack-ups, and other travel pain"

The Grainlander

Tour the Mallee Silo Art Trail in Style. See awe-inspiring silo art,  the  natural wonders of this spectacular region, attend its best events  and  more.

The Vinelander

Explore the best of Mildura Outback Victoria and the Sunraysia onboard the Vinelaner.

The Riverlander

Experience the best of the Murray and Goldfields from viewing spectacular silo art to touring the farm gates of Victoria's food bowl and more.

The Winelander

Enjoy a weekend of food, wine and railways visiting the best wineries, acclaimed restaurants. some of Victoria's 

Single Day Slow Rail Journeys

Short on time but still want to enjoy the best of Regional Victoria and the trademark Slow Rail Journeys service - a single day Slow Rail Journey could be a perfect choice!

Slow Rail Journeys - Supporting Regional Victoria

Slow Rail Journeys has a deliberate policy of supporting and giving back to regional communities, wherever it goes, which is why you will be dining at great local pubs on this journey, not eating pre-packaged meals carried from Melbourne, and why you will be attending local community-run events such as movie nights, agricultural shows and food and wine festivals, using local coach company's to tour and much more. On a Slow Rail Journey you will experience Regional Victoria at its best. 

"A trip to remember. Fully organised, reasonably priced and friendly. Food and company was amazing - a great weekend"

Onboard our Sleeper Train

Sleeping Cabins

Relax in your private onboard oasis aboard a restored Southern Aurora or Overland sleeping carriage as we tour to the most interesting destinations in Victoria.

Lounge and Club Cars

The social heart of the train is the perfect place to enjoy a drink from the bar, socialise with your fellow travellers or simply relax with a book and watch the scenery go by.

Dining aboard a train in a comfortable dining car is one of the great travel experiences. Enjoy locally  sourced  meals in the dining car as Victoria passes by the windows.

"Excellent trip - well organised and provided all that was promised. The food onboard the train was great and the hospitality from Quambatook was fantastic. The evening meal was excellent and efficiently served to quite a large group. Historic trains are popular and it was great to…"

Off-Train Experiences

Gastronomic Experiences

All Slow Rail Journeys feature a bespoke series of gastronomic experiences that highlight the best food in the regions we visit.

Off-Train Touring Experiences

All Slow Rail Journeys feature a number of fully hosted bespoke off-train experiences designed to ensure you fully experience our destination.

"Fantastic trip as all ways with the Seven-o-Seven Operations volunteers. We were well looked after, nothing was too much trouble for the team"

About Seven-O-Seven Operations, Inc

Seven-0-Seven Operations is an independent, volunteer-staffed, not-for-profit heritage rail operator based at Melbourne's historic Newport Rail Yards. The flagship asset of Seven-0-Seven Operations is the steam locomotive R707, "the City of Melbourne", which has been in its custodianship since 1980.   Today, 707 Operations offers Day Tours and multi-day Slow Rail Journeys (featuring sleeping carriages and other facilities) to destinations across Regional Victoria. All trains utilise Seven-0-Seven Operations' volunteer restored and maintained fleet of heritage locomotives and carriages. 

"For a volunteer organisation, this was a very professionally run tour. Everything worked like clockwork"

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7 incredible overnight sleeper train journeys to take in Australia

All aboard! These lush overnight sleeper trains offer a unique way to soak up Australia’s diverse landscape

Whether it’s the Orient Express, Hogwarts Express or even Thomas the Tank Engine, trains are the backdrop of some of our favourite fictional stories – but they make for an even more impressive travel setting IRL.

If exploring Australia is on your bucket list (let’s face it, flights to Europe are exxy right now), you can’t miss the unique experience of an overnight sleeper train. Traversing every state and territory, this form of slow travel is suitable for both the young and young at heart. Plus, trains put less pressure on our environment and can allow you to hop off at your leisure (remember it’s the journey, not the destination). 

From winding through the Whitsundays and exploring the rugged red outback to getting from Melbourne to Sydney in style, we’ve rounded up the best train journeys in Australia.

RECOMMENDED: These four Aussie train trips were ranked among the best in the entire world .

An email you’ll actually love

Overnight train journeys to take in Australia

Easily the most iconic and recognisable overnight train on this list, The Ghan is all about luxury. Named after the first Afghan cameleers that arrived in Australia in the 19th century, The Ghan has been hosting unforgettable (and extremely Instagrammable) train journeys for more than 90 years. 

The Ghan Expedition, a four-day all-inclusive trip running from Adelaide to Darwin, is the train’s signature line and counts itself among the world’s greatest rail journeys . All up, it costs around $3,705, but there are shorter trips to Alice Springs starting from around $1,500 if you’re restricted on budget.

On board, passengers can unwind with a glass of chilled Aussie wine, while tucking into crocodile sausages and taking in the vast landscapes of Australia’s rugged red outback. If you can pull yourself away from the top-quality service, upgrades including scenic helicopter flights and camel rides can be added to your trip, while other experiences including gorge cruises and cycling tours are included in your fare.

Vintage Rail Journeys

Travel in 1960s style aboard a restored vintage ‘Aurora Australis’ sleeping train on one of four regional NSW tours departing from Sydney’s Central Station. Passengers can watch the spectacular scenery roll by the window in their private air-conditioned compartment, fitted with a personal vanity to freshen up before visiting the Lounge Cars for a chef-prepared meal. 

Vintage Rail Journeys’ original and most popular, four-night Golden West Rail Tour travels only twice a year and is a real regional treat, chugging along the Great Dividing Range and through the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and Orange. The hosts also run boutique tours to the Riverina region, known as Australia’s ‘food bowl’, and the beautiful North Coast hinterlands, with two bonus annual tours to Parkes Elvis Festival in January and Repco Bathurst 1,000 in October. Prices for Vintage Rail Journeys four-day tours will set you back $4,495, but you won’t find a holiday quite like this anywhere else in Oz.

Indian Pacific

If exploring Australia’s coastline is more your speed, the Indian Pacific will deliver you to the doorstep of cities with the best beaches in town. The greatest drawcard here is that the train journey is all-inclusive, meaning that once you’ve put your suitcases away, you can sink straight into holiday mode.

The famous transcontinental crossing whisks travellers between Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, with fabled journeys from one to four nights. If you’ve got some cash to splash, opt for the platinum experience with stylish and spacious cabins, full-sized ensuites, panoramic window views, access to an exclusive social lounge, private transfers, world-class food and even a nightcap at turndown. Prices start at $1,500 for a two-night route, or from $2,890 for the signature Perth to Sydney four-night trip.

Great Southern

Despite only launching in 2019, this newer addition to Australia’s sleeper train scene has quickly become a must-do – and for good reason. Cruising between Brisbane and Adelaide, the Great Southern train line is filled with breathtaking views of Australia’s southeast (think sun-kissed beaches, rugged coastlines and buzzing cities).

The only challenge you'll face on the journey is picking which off-train experiences to partake in, with all options included in your fare. You could dine under the stars at a local feast in Coffs Harbour, visit cellar doors in Australia’s oldest wine region in the Hunter Valley, and stretch your legs with a leisurely walk to Venus Baths in the Grampians National Park. The all-inclusive rail journey operates throughout the sunny months and will set you back from $2,200 or $3,200, depending on whether you pick the two or three-night route.

Spirit of Queensland

Whether you’re chasing the sparkling sands of the Sunshine Coast or travelling to the twinkling lights of Brisbane city, the Spirit of Queensland is a convenient and sustainable way to adventure between Queensland’s best destinations. You can jump onboard regular trips from Brisbane to Cairns each week, with stopovers at some of the state’s dreamiest destinations, including the Whitsundays, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast . 

Four routes are fitted out with state-of-the-art RailBeds – plush seats that transform into single beds (think business class on a plane). You can kick back in comfort to watch the latest blockbusters through a personalised entertainment device, while you order chef-prepped meals and drinks straight to your seat. Each seat also comes with bed linen and an amenities pack stocked with local, ethical goods. Fares for the RailBeds start from $ 389.25 , but if you’re on a budget, there are economy carriages with roomy seats (sans the beds) available.

Spirit of the Outback

Think of this train line as the Spirit of Queensland’s richer aunt. Run by the same parent company, the Spirit of the Outback journeys into the heart of Queensland's rugged countryside. Services run between Brisbane and Longreach twice a week, and you can travel the full line ​or stop for a few days in the many classic Aussie towns along the way. 

Dine aboard the all-inclusive Tuckerbox restaurant, decked out with white tablecloths and serving some of Queensland’s best produce, before retiring to your own private cabin – there are single and twin options available – with bed linen, amenities, a washbasin, mirror and wardrobe. Fares start at $ 427 , but if you want to save some cash, the economy carriages have roomy chairs and a dedicated area for meals, snacks and beverages (plus, you’ll get the same stellar views).

NSW TrainLink

It might not be as glamorous, but if you don’t have cash to splash, NSW TrainLink’s sleeper class is a budget-friendly way to get around Australia. Available on long-distance overnight services, the twin sleeper cabins include bed linen, towels and toiletries, so you can arrive at your destination feeling fresh. Plus, you’ll even get complimentary breakfast, media screens and Wi-Fi.

Choose from overnight train trips between Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle, which will set you back a couple hundred dollars – and while it may not be a particularly quick journey, it’s a perfect antidote to the exorbitant prices to fly across the country right now.

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Melbourne to Newcastle Train

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The most beautiful (and budget) train journeys around the world

Posted: 22 January 2024 | Last updated: 22 January 2024

Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand

Taking in some of New Zealand's most dramatic landscapes, the TranzAlpine route from Christchurch to Greymouth travels through some of the most incredible sights on the South Island. The train crosses the Canterbury Plains and travels alongside the Waimakariri River before ascending into the mountains where it crosses the Staircase Viaduct. One-way fares start from £116 ($142) and all the seats line up with the huge panoramic windows and roof skylights.

Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland, UK

Dubbed Britain's most scenic train route, the West Highland Line runs from the Scottish city of Glasgow to Fort William before continuing its journey towards the port of Mallaig. The journey traverses the Scottish Highlands' epic landscape and passes through the remote wilderness of Rannoch Moor. After a brief stop in Fort William, the train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the same bridge the Hogwarts Express crosses in the Harry Potter films.

For an even more authentic Harry Potter experience, there's The Jacobite steam train – it's the one used in the films. In 2023 the train ran Monday to Friday from early April to late October between Fort William and Mallaig. The 2024 season is yet to be announced. A standard adult return ticket costs £57 ($70). Otherwise, regular ScotRail trains between Glasgow and Mallaig run every day and a one-way off-peak fare is around £42 ($51).

San Luis Obispo to San Diego, California, USA

Stretching along the Pacific coastline, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner connects the southern Californian cities of San Luis Obispo and San Diego. It's a comfortable 351-mile (565km) journey taking in stunning ocean views, beaches, rocky coast and quaint towns along the way. The train stops in places like Santa Barbara, Anaheim and Los Angeles so if you have time, you can hop off and explore.

One-way fares start from around £50 ($61) and the full journey takes just over eight hours. Normally, the route offers 13 daily round-trip services between San Diego and Los Angeles, five to Santa Barbara and two to San Luis Obispo so travellers can be flexible with their itinerary, but do check the website for the latest timetables and service updates.

Kandy to Ella, Sri Lanka

Flam to Myrdal, Norway

Often described as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, this journey is just under two hours and takes in some of the most beautiful scenery Norway has to offer. The Flåm Railway travels from sea level at the Sognefjord in Flåm to the Myrdal mountain station, 2,841 feet (866m) above sea level.

Williams to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, USA

The trip on the Grand Canyon Railway begins in Williams, a small town 30 miles (48km) west of Flagstaff. Meandering its way through ponderosa pine forests and open prairie, the train terminates in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park before heading back to Williams. On the way, passengers are encouraged to get into the spirit of the Old West and enjoy the musical entertainment, cowboy characters and other surprises.

One-way fares start from £57 ($70) for a traditional Pullman Class seat up to £195 ($240) for a spot in the luxury dome car which has a private bar service and incredible views. Pick the luxury parlour and you'll be able to step out on the rear platform to see the changing landscape from a different perspective.

Cairns to Kuranda, Queensland, Australia

The two-hour journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway begins in Cairns and takes visitors through one of the world's oldest rainforests. The tropical scenery takes in waterfalls, mountains and ravines as well as one of Queensland's most popular national parks, Barron Gorge. In Kuranda, visitors can tour the historic train station which is more than 100 years old, plus a reptile park and a butterfly sanctuary.

Return fares start from £42 ($52) for adults and £20 ($25) for children. Many opt to take the railway to Kuranda and get the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway back, to experience the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland from a different angle. A combined rail and cableway ticket costs £66 ($81) for adults and £36 ($44) for children.

Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi, Tanzania and Zambia

The TAZARA (Tanzania & Zambia Railway Authority) route is a great way of experiencing a safari without splashing out. The train travels from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to the Zambian town of Kapiri Mposhi through the Selous game reserve, offering a chance to spot elephants, lions, giraffes and more. The journey covers 1,150 miles (1,852km) and takes just under 48 hours to complete.

Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Vietnam

When travelling on The Reunification Express line (also known as the North-South Railway) you don't have to choose between seeing historic cities, charming towns and spectacular coastline – this journey has it all. Traversing more than a thousand miles between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south, the route is one of Asia's most popular train rides. The full journey takes over two days but you can hop on and off at destinations like Hue and Da Nang.

Creel to Los Mochis, Mexico

The Chepe Express , running from the coastal city of Los Mochis in northern Sinaloa to Creel in Chihuahua, is easily one of the most picturesque train journeys you could take without blowing the budget. Throughout the nine-hour trip, the train goes through 86 tunnels and crosses 37 bridges, and traverses the epic canyons of the Sierra Tarahumara, including the Copper Canyon.

Winnipeg to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Part of VIA Rail Canada's Adventure Routes, the Winnipeg to Churchill route (formerly known as the Hudson Bay and before that the Northern Spirits) is the only dry land connection to Churchill from the rest of Canada. The journey stretches 1,054 miles (1,697km) and takes more than two days to complete.

As the train edges its way closer to Churchill, passengers have the chance to spot unparalleled northern landscapes and maybe even a polar bear or two. Travellers can choose between economy class or sleeper plus, which includes meals throughout the trip. One-way fares start from around £150 ($181).

Lima to Huancayo, Peru

The trip takes 12 hours to complete and travels through the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve, one of Peru's most important protected areas with breathtaking landscapes. Those keen to travel should plan the trip carefully as the trains only run eight to nine times a year between April and November. The line is currently closed after a landslide damaged the track between Chaclacayo and Matucana but is expected to re-open in 2024. One-way fares start around £109 ($132).

Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, India

India's only rack railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam is part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India but a one-way ride in first class won't cost you more than £1.40 ($1.70). The train climbs the mountain rather sharply – it has the steepest track in Asia with a maximum gradient of 8.33%. The route takes exactly 290 minutes to go uphill, yet the return journey is 75 minutes shorter.

The route is 28.5 miles (46km) long and passes through many tunnels and over hundreds of bridges. The surrounding scenery includes rocky terrain, ravines, tea plantations and forested hills. The best views are between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, which is famous for its teas.

Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland

Connecting two of Switzerland's mountain resorts, the Glacier Express is a brilliant way of seeing some of the most beautiful views in the Swiss Alps. The scenic route takes in sights like Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the journey, and the Landwasser Viaduct (pictured) – a six-arch bridge which stands at 213 feet (65m) and plunges straight into a tunnel that leads through the mountain. The day-long trip covers 91 tunnels, 291 bridges and offers the chance to take in stunning alpine meadows, mountain lakes and chalets. 

Zermatt to St Moritz, Switzerland

Although you might expect to have to pay dearly for such a stunning train ride, the journey will only set you back around £137 ($169) for a one-way, second-class ticket. You can choose to pay a £44 ($55) supplement for a three-course lunch or you're free to bring your own food, drink and even a bottle of wine on board. There is a food service car and staff come down the train taking orders. The panoramic coaches were specially built for the service in 2006.

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How moving freight by rail rather than road could help Australia reduce carbon emissions

ABC Rural How moving freight by rail rather than road could help Australia reduce carbon emissions

Australia is trying to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but transport emissions are going up, not down.

Could shifting freight from road to rail help get back on track?

About  4 billion tonnes of goods  are delivered across the country each year, mostly by road, but one train can carry the same freight as 54 trucks.

According to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), moving freight on rail produces 16 times less carbon pollution.

It makes sense to move freight by rail, but just 2 per cent of freight on the country's busiest route between Melbourne and Sydney  is on rail, and across the eastern seaboard the figure is just 11 per cent.

That is very low compared to east-west freight, with 65-77 per cent going by rail across the Nullarbor to Perth.

Across Europe the figure is about 20 per cent, in China 15.9 per cent while the United States is more than 27 per cent based on 2020 figures.

Why doesn't more freight go by rail?

ARA general manager of freight and heavy haul Georgia Nicholls said if Australia could make the switch it would deliver huge environmental and safety benefits.

"Shifting just 1 per cent of freight to rail would reduce accident, emission and health costs nationally by $71.9 million a year," Ms Nicholls said.

The trend is going the other way, however, with the amount of freight on rail in decline, according to Ms Nicholls.

"It's largely due to the inefficiencies of a fragmented national rail network, ailing infrastructure and government policy and investment that favours road over rail."

The ARA report  Future of Freight  notes that safety standards, operating rules and the regulations affecting rail are different across the country and there is no national body with a mandate to sort it all out.

So what can be done?

Big new freight sites in capital cities

Australia's biggest intermodal has just been opened in western Sydney to move freight containers from road to rail.

The Moorebank Logistics Park is run by  National Intermodal , a federal government agency that also has a role in the delivery and operation of intermodal terminals in Melbourne and Brisbane, part of the government's inland rail project.

The Sydney site is bigger than the area stretching from Circular Quay to Central Station and it has a direct rail route to Port Botany, the state's biggest container terminal. 

Kerry Schott AO is reviewing the NSW freight system and was the first chair of the Moorebank project. 

She said the new rail link to Botany was going well and the project was "extraordinarily significant".

"The intermodal is amazing with very efficient warehousing and solar panels on the roofs with sufficient power to run the batteries in the locos that are used to go backwards and forwards to the terminals."

Which train lines are efficient?

While Kerry Schott is enthusiastic about Moorebank she is very critical of the rail network in NSW generally and said the Hunter Valley coal line was "probably the only efficient train line in this state".

She said the coal miners, which were all competing with each other, agreed to form a cooperative to load the coal at port and then obtained approval for pricing from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. 

"They then went back to fierce competition but they had very efficient operations at each end of the freight chain."

She said industry shouldn't wait for governments to solve the problem, but should work together to find solutions.

Linfox making the shift

Private trucking companies like Linfox are already making the shift to rail.

CEO Mark Mazurak said the company had been investing hundreds of millions into "intermodal" sites that were co-located with 10 rail locations around the country.

Food is a big part of what they move.

"Everything from lettuces to bananas, from all those locations in those food bowls, we help transport that into market with our refrigerated rail containers and road fleets."

The new intermodals freight hubs have large solar systems on the roof to generate power to charge up a growing fleet of electric vehicles that will help reduce the carbon footprint of the sector significantly. 

Inland rail vital for transition

Kerry Schott filed a scathing report card on the federal government's 1,600-kilometre inland rail project. 

The project is important because it will provide another route for freight on the east coast, but it is facing some big hurdles.

The budget has blown out from $10 billion to more than $30 billion, the project is way behind schedule and only 20 per cent of the line has actually been built so far.

The new line can carry 21-tonne axle loads at a maximum speed of 115 kilometres per hour using double-stacked containers with trains up to 1,800m long.

That is equivalent to 110 B-double trucks, which could double the amount of freight going on rail between Melbourne and Brisbane from 30 per cent to 60 per cent by 2050.

How the Swiss did it

In 1994 the Swiss government decided to cut the number of domestic and foreign heavy goods vehicles travelling through the Swiss Alps.

They brought it down from 1.4 million truck movements a year to 800,000.

Saskia Groen-in't-woud is the chief strategy and sustainability officer at Pacific National, Australia's largest private rail freight operator, and has worked in Europe, China and the Asia-Pacific.

She said Switzerland achieved that result by providing financial incentives for freight operators, government investment in infrastructure and taxation.

"There was a penalty or a weight mechanism that incurred a carbon tax [on road]," Ms Groen-in't-woud said.

A big part of the emissions reduction puzzle are the ports.

About 2.5 million containers come into Australia by ship and getting those onto rail is also a big priority.

Ms Groen-in't-woud worked for global shipping company Maersk and saw firsthand how well freight movements are handled in the port of Rotterdam.

"It's beautiful in motion, it's through purposeful design."

She thinks Australia could achieve the same result through automation, but said industry, governments and unions would need to think differently.

"There's still a lot of fear in Australia about what it means for jobs … and the unions have a duty of care with their members, [but] you've got to have a skill base that keeps pace with the needs and technology."

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Indian Pacific

Perth to sydney or vice versa.

A fabled journey. Follow the path of bush pioneers, gold rush prospectors, and legendary adventurers as you make an epic transcontinental crossing aboard the Indian Pacific.

Perth to Adelaide or vice versa

Timeless travel between two great cities, experience the tremendous beauty of the Nullarbor on this epic three day, two night journey.

Adelaide to Sydney or vice versa

From the mountains to the sparkling coast, discover a world of wonders as you travel between these two great cities.

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Extend the journey with these off train experiences.

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In Pictures

Train of thought: India voters dissect Modi’s politics during long journey

The 22-car thirukkural express appears to be a microcosm of india, carrying passengers from different social groups and religions, with wide-ranging ambitions and grievances..

The 2,900km (1,800-mile) journey from capital New Delhi to Kanyakumari in the south is one of the longest train rides in India, passing through cities, villages, scrub forests and deep ravines.

The 22-car Thirukkural Express appears to be a microcosm of India, carrying passengers from different social groups and religions and with wide-ranging ambitions and grievances – from migrants crammed into sweltering no-frills cars to well-heeled families luxuriating in air-conditioned sleeper cabins, and everyone in between.

Passengers can also be divided by their politics, a topic at the top of their minds as the world’s most populous country holds its mammoth general election, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third term.

India’s economy has grown rapidly under Modi, but the strong-arm tactics he has deployed to push his Hindu-nationalist agenda have sharpened religious divisions in the country of 1.4 billion people – roughly 200 million of whom are Muslim – and raised fears of a slide from secular democracy towards religious autocracy.

Many passengers who bought the cheapest tickets available are domestic migrants. Sitting on steel benches, standing in doorways, or lying on the floor, they travelled between the thriving capital and villages in the countryside, or to other cities, in search of work.

Pardeep Kumar, a bespectacled man who runs a food stall in New Delhi, said the ruling Modi government isn’t doing enough for the poor.

Like millions of Indians scraping by in the informal economy, Kumar has felt the sting of rising food prices. He appreciates the 5kg (11 pounds) of free grains he receives every month from the government, part of a programme to alleviate poverty and help large numbers of the unemployed.

But he would prefer the government focus more on improving education and providing better healthcare.

“We don’t want free food,” said Kumar, who travelled with his family to their village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. With better education, he said, “we can then earn on our own and feed our families”.

Kumar is rooting for the opposition party, the Indian National Congress, which he knows faces an uphill battle against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“For 10 years, all [BJP] did was talk about Hindus and Muslims, temples and mosques,” Kumar said. “And if you raise your voice against this, you’ll be arrested.”

A few berths down, Rishipal Chaudhary, wiry and goateed, disagreed.

Chaudhary, a locomotive driver travelling to the southern city of Madurai for work, believes Modi has improved the country. For example, he said, crime against women is down, and schools are being given better teachers and facilities, changes that have benefitted his daughter.

“I love him from the beginning,” Chaudhary said, an opinion shared by many passengers crowded around him.

As the train cruised through the heartland of India, passing through Agra, a city famous for the 17th-century Taj Mahal mausoleum, a man moved through the aisles, shouting: “Tea! Tea! Get your tea!”

A notch up from basic service, the more comfortable – and only slightly less affordable – sleeper cars were filled with passengers sitting in its lower berths. Some were perched on top of the foldable bunks. They discussed politics to pass the time.

“The times have changed. Ten, 20 years ago, we were one, but now we have been divided,” Haji Abdul Subhan said, his flowing beard buried in the newspaper he was reading.

Subhan, a 74-year-old former railway employee who is Muslim, was travelling to the city of Bhopal in central India.

Many Muslims have experienced discomfort since Modi took office, and Subhan enumerated some of the indignities carried out by the government: razing the homes and shops of Muslim activists as a form of punishment; banning Islamic schools in some states; and restricting the volume of loudspeakers at mosques.

“There is an effort to create problems for us. We can’t even speak freely,” he said.

His voice is cut short by Santosh Kumar Aggarwal, a man in a cotton vest who sat cross-legged on the upper berth and listened to Subhan’s concerns.

“He is talking the language of Pakistan,” said Aggarwal, taking a swipe at Muslims, who make up 14 percent of the population. The stinging suggestion: If you’re unhappy with the government, move to Muslim-majority Pakistan.

A Hindu, Aggarwal has been voting for the BJP for decades. Under Modi, he said, India is reaching new heights.

What about Subhan’s concerns?

“You see, [Muslims] might be facing problems,” Aggarwal said. “We don’t have any problems at all.”

And the razing of Muslim properties? “They [Muslims] grabbed public land under previous governments. That’s why they are crying now,” he said.

As the train chugged south, the terrain was greener, the farms bigger. The homes of the affluent stood out as the landscape rushed by.

On board for a few hours more, the highest-paying passengers pulled freshly starched white bedding from brown paper bags delivered to their berths.

Nikunj Garg, a medical officer, is worried about rising unemployment and trouble in the education system. She believes the quality of life should be improved for all Indians. “It is the small things that matter the most,” she said.

A berth ahead, Samodhra Meena questioned the government’s supposedly female-friendly policies, such as access to clean drinking water and cooking gas, that are a hallmark of the Modi administration, saying they didn’t benefit her family. “I want a change in the government,” she said.

In the same carriage was Mahadev Prasad. Along with his family, Prasad was going to Madurai, one of the most ancient cities in India known for its Hindu temples. He carried with him holy water from the Ganges River as an offering for one of the temples.

Prasad is confident Modi is coming back to power for a rare third term. He hailed the government’s decision to revoke the semi-autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region. And he supports Modi’s increased spending on infrastructure and the decision to build a Hindu temple on top of a razed mosque.

Has his life as a businessman improved?

“All the industries have slowed down. Some are even getting closed in my area,” he said. Yet, for Prasad, Modi has achieved something important.

He draws on a widely accepted theory among Modi supporters to make his pitch: “In the past, Indians didn’t get much respect while travelling abroad. But now we are being respected.”

Vinoth Kumar, who was seated next to Prasad, did not seem quite impressed.

Kumar, a 32-year-old telecom engineer from the southern Indian city of Tiruchirappalli, is scathing of the Modi government. He said divisions based on language, ethnicity and religion are rising because of Modi’s Hindu-first agenda.

Kumar predicts that if Modi wins another term “the country will not be secular”.

At the end of another day, the clamour in the train gave way to whispers. More passengers disembarked before the train made its final stop at Kanyakumari’s sprawling beaches which were becoming crowded with hundreds of men and women stepping into the water’s edge.

They looked to the east, hands pressed together, as the sun rose from the horizon.

May 23, 2024

VIA RAIL UNVEILS ITS PLAN TO TRANSFORM PASSENGER RAIL IN CANADA

MONTRÉAL, May 23, 2024 – Mario Péloquin, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail), unveiled today the Corporation’s strategic plan: VIAction 2030. Through this ambitious plan based on concrete objectives, VIA Rail aims to become a best-in-class operator in North America and a leader in integrated mobility at the heart of the passenger journey in Canada.

Among its 2030 objectives, VIA Rail is committed to:

• Generating savings equivalent to 15% of its operating deficit;
• Reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2005;
• Increasing its capacity by 18%.

“Canada was built by rail, and I fundamentally believe in the transformative potential of this industry,” said Mario Péloquin. “I have the ambition to act now to create meaningful change for our passengers, and this plan gives us a clear roadmap which allows us to aim higher and transform the way we operate.”

The train is the way to the future to, among other things, meet the economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Over the past five years, the Government of Canada has invested more than $3 billion in the modernization of VIA Rail, including the replacement of its Québec City – Windsor corridor fleet to offer a more modern, comfortable, and accessible travel experience. This strategic plan is the logical next step of this major modernization effort and will allow VIA Rail to open the next chapter of its history.

“The five pillars of this plan will enable us, among other things, to improve our operations through innovation and continuous improvement and to collaborate with the various players of the transportation industry to better serve Canadians from coast to coast. Thanks to this five-year strategy, we are convinced that even more people will choose the train as the comfortable, sustainable and accessible transportation solution,” said Vanessa Cherenfant, Chief Strategy Officer.

PROJECTS ALREADY UNDERWAY

VIA Rail has already initiated efforts on several central aspects of this plan and is well positioned to meet its objectives.

• New trains from coast to coast: the federal government’s latest budget confirmed support for VIA Rail to replace its long-distance, regional, and remote trains across the country. Over the coming years, our passengers from coast to coast will be able to enjoy new modern and comfortable trains meeting the highest accessibility standards.
• Integrated mobility at the heart of our vision: VIA Rail aims to position itself as a unifying force for integrated mobility in the country, particularly by contributing to the integration of its stations with the cities’ various transportation networks and by helping densify surrounding neighbourhoods.
• Always improving the customer journey: As part of this plan, VIA Rail wants to improve its service and offer the best passenger experience by, for example, meeting the diverse accessibility needs of its customers and offering one of the first zero-waste experiences on board a train in the world.

To learn more about our strategic plan, we invite you to visit our website: https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/company/strategic-plan