Australia / New Zealand - Any upcoming changes?

[RailExplorer]

Lithgow definitely doesn't - 99% sure Katoomba doesn't either. Nobody will physically stop you getting off earlier. You'll have a valid ticket to be on board.

Can second the brewery at Katoomba. Was an excellent antidote to the rather brutal heat when I visited.

I was at Katoomba a couple of months ago. No barriers, a quaint station, depending on timings you've got quite a nice brewery Mountain Culture next door too.

Thank you both. I guess I'll go for the first station I can purchase then, and just get off at Katoomba. My 2 week trip is possibly a bit too hectic but I'm alone and usually prefer hectic over calm!

 

[LesS]

I would not do that. It is a fineable offence.
There is an hourly service to Katoomba with no need for reservations.
You would find Tarana a very uninteresting tiny community. Rydal would be very marginally more interesting.
If it is an XPT journey you are seeking, then a day return to Bathurst would be the most appropriate on the western line.

 

[Seanesheep]

I follow Kane's Trains on Facebook and Instagram, and he's shared some videos of test runs for the new bi-mode units that will replace the XPTs.
Don't know when they'll start but I hope it's not before I'm there in April.

 

[Richard Scott]

I follow Kane's Trains on Facebook and Instagram, and he's shared some videos of test runs for the new bi-mode units that will replace the XPTs.
Don't know when they'll start but I hope it's not before I'm there in April.

They've been testing for a while and no sign of them entering service yet. They're still spending money refurbishing XPTs (at least they were last year) to prolong their lives for a couple of years. Even talk of the XPTs carrying on after new trains introduced.

 

[railfan99]

Thank you both. I guess I'll go for the first station I can purchase then, and just get off at Katoomba. My 2 week trip is possibly a bit too hectic but I'm alone and usually prefer hectic over calm!

Probably a good idea to have a polite chat to the passenger attendants once on board as sometimes with XPTs, they only open some of the car doors. Given you're not meant to alight at Katoomba, they may not announce which doors.

 

[Richard Scott]

Back again with more questions. Looked at timetable for Melbourne to Swan Hill, I'm hoping to cover this on 31st March. Timetable issued for then states Swan Hill trains stop at a few stops between Melbourne and Bendigo. If did morning one out to Castlemaine, looks like I can intercept return. Have I got this correct? If did manage that what's the chance of the evening return having a different loco from the incoming one in the morning?

 

[Tester]

Back again with more questions. Looked at timetable for Melbourne to Swan Hill, I'm hoping to cover this on 31st March. Timetable issued for then states Swan Hill trains stop at a few stops between Melbourne and Bendigo. If did morning one out to Castlemaine, looks like I can intercept return. Have I got this correct? If did manage that what's the chance of the evening return having a different loco from the incoming one in the morning?

Yes that looks feasible (0927-0949)

I don't know the rosters, but I would say a fair chance.

If you travel no further than Raywood (two stops beyond Bendigo) and don't use regional buses, you can do everything on Myki, which makes life very easy. The mobile version (currently Android only) avoids the $6 Myki charge, but given the fares, don't begrudge that!

 

[railfan99]

Back again with more questions. Looked at timetable for Melbourne to Swan Hill, I'm hoping to cover this on 31st March. Timetable issued for then states Swan Hill trains stop at a few stops between Melbourne and Bendigo. If did morning one out to Castlemaine, looks like I can intercept return. Have I got this correct? If did manage that what's the chance of the evening return having a different loco from the incoming one in the morning?

If the down runs late - unlikely - you could change over at Kyneton (a lovely bluestone station building that had interlocked gates until 2005).

At Castlemaine, if your initial train arrives in platform 2 (an island platform - 3 is for Victorian Goldfields Railway) - you will use the subway to get to pl.1 for the up Swan Hill at 0949. The VGR has interesting semaphore signals and track layouts visible from the island platform.

The Swan Hill trains are the only remaining broad gauge regular trains with a buffet on board.

 

[jupiter]

I’m actually on the Greymouth to Christchurch as I type this. The weather has been fabulous and the scenery tremendous. Highly recommended.

 

[Richard Scott]

Yes that looks feasible (0927-0949)

I don't know the rosters, but I would say a fair chance.

If you travel no further than Raywood (two stops beyond Bendigo) and don't use regional buses, you can do everything on Myki, which makes life very easy. The mobile version (currently Android only) avoids the $6 Myki charge, but given the fares, don't begrudge that!

Thanks for info, was planning on buying a return ticket to Swan Hill to at least get outward reservation, assume can then use it all day as is maximum capped fare?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Feb 2026 ==

If the down runs late - unlikely - you could change over at Kyneton (a lovely bluestone station building that had interlocked gates until 2005).

At Castlemaine, if your initial train arrives in platform 2 (an island platform - 3 is for Victorian Goldfields Railway) - you will use the subway to get to pl.1 for the up Swan Hill at 0949. The VGR has interesting semaphore signals and track layouts visible from the island platform.

The Swan Hill trains are the only remaining broad gauge regular trains with a buffet on board.

Thank you for that, sounds interesting, glad you mentioned it.

 

[Tester]

Thanks for info, was planning on buying a return ticket to Swan Hill to at least get outward reservation, assume can then use it all day as is maximum capped fare?

Yes that is correct.

 

[Richard Scott]

Yes that is correct.

Thank you, think that's what I'll do, then.

 

[Springs Branch]

. . . . If did morning one out to Castlemaine, looks like I can intercept return. Have I got this correct?

I'm planning exactly this jaunt on Saturday 14th & will report back if any issues arise.

Thanks for info, was planning on buying a return ticket to Swan Hill to at least get outward reservation, assume can then use it all day as is maximum capped fare?

You might want to consider booking a seat in the ACN carriage, at least for the outward leg. These are former (now declassified) First Class coaches used in the reservable part of the train and have reversible-direction 2+2 seating with more elbow room compared to 3+2 face-to-face seating in the rest of the train.

You can easily identify this carriage in the on-line booking seat selection page by all 2+2 seating, and the local cognoscenti tend to book these seats first. Not sure if any of the seats in the ACN car should be avoided due to restricted view (window pillars plus curtains). Do any locals know if any particular seat numbers to avoid in the current ACNs?


Former First class seating on board V/Line ACN type carriage.
Philip Mallis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

[railfan99]

Thank you, think that's what I'll do, then.

If you buy the paper ticket prior to the day of travel, you can also use it to travel to Southern Cross via Metro (suburban) trains, trams or buses.

 

[Richard Scott]

I'm planning exactly this jaunt on Saturday 14th & will report back if any issues arise.

You might want to consider booking a seat in the ACN carriage, at least for the outward leg. These are former (now declassified) First Class coaches used in the reservable part of the train and have reversible-direction 2+2 seating with more elbow room compared to 3+2 face-to-face seating in the rest of the train.

You can easily identify this carriage in the on-line booking seat selection page by all 2+2 seating, and the local cognoscenti tend to book these seats first. Not sure if any of the seats in the ACN car should be avoided due to restricted view (window pillars plus curtains). Do any locals know if any particular seat numbers to avoid in the current ACNs?


Former First class seating on board V/Line ACN type carriage.
Philip Mallis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thanks for info. I'll look into that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2026 ==

If you buy the paper ticket prior to the day of travel, you can also use it to travel to Southern Cross via Metro (suburban) trains, trams or buses.

Thanks, probably buy on line.

 

[Tester]

Thanks, probably buy on line.

Which works exactly the same for travel to Southern Cross.

 

[Richard Scott]

Which works exactly the same for travel to Southern Cross.

Brilliant, thanks.

 

[railfan99]

If you have time, Richard, I highly recommend a trip on Melbourne's route 109 tram from Southern Cross (Collins St stop at Spencer St) to either Port Melbourne (cruise ship terminal, and the former home until 1987 of Australia's first railway - station building intact) or Box Hill, but make sure it's a Citadis C class tram as you can sit up the front with a good view.

 

[John R]

Just completed the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington. Splashed out on Scenic Plus class and well worth the extra imo, with a 7 course menu throughout the journey, and much more space (most tables of four were only occupied by two.)

 

[RailExplorer]

Update.

So I'm on The Overland right now to Ararat. What fantastic value for 11.40AUD and that includes the return on a VLine service. The guy in the ticket office at Flinders Street told me just to show the one-way ticket (and as it was the maximum fare in the Victoria area, I wouldn't need to pay more), but then he was kind enough to reprint the ticket to show a return trip as well.

As for the VLine loco hauled Swan Hill service. That'll have to be for another year as they are doing engineering works on the line until 8th March. Never mind.

Also had a ride on the Puffing Billy Railway from Belgrave to Menzies Creek. Two of the trips yesterday were substituted by diesel (10:00 and 14:15).

Off to Sydney tonight on the XPT. And I am hopeful of an on-time arrival as I'm booked on the Robertson train tomorrow - an hour after the XPT arrives. If it looks like it's going to be a close one, I can always get off earlier though.

Thanks for all the useful tips on this thread, and I hope the above is of some use to somebody too.

 

[LesS]

I hope you have a sleeping berth on the XPT otherwise it will be an uncomfortable night.
At the time of this posting departure time from Melbourne has passed and the train is still in the platform.
Sydney Trains are reporting delays at Junee due to blocked track; whatever that means. The morning trin from Melbourne is currently at Goulburn and 35 minutes late. With poor track from there into Sydney it could be up to an hour late into Central.

I sincerely hope that RailExplorer makes the Robertson service in the morning.

Heavy rain is forecast for Sydney tomorrow afternoon.

 

[railfan99]

Off to Sydney tonight on the XPT. And I am hopeful of an on-time arrival as I'm booked on the Robertson train tomorrow - an hour after the XPT arrives. If it looks like it's going to be a close one, I can always get off earlier though.

The Sydney-Melbourne XPT arrived tonight at about 1910, 35 minutes late. The northbound to Sydney departed at about 2040 hours, so already about 50 minutes late. Happy travels!

I hope you have a sleeping berth on the XPT otherwise it will be an uncomfortable night.

While a sleeping berth is best, first class seats on the XPT for night travel are comfortable: good legroom, sufficient padding and between c.2130 and daybreak/c.0600, the overhead lights are extinguished and the carriage is dark (except when passing through or at stations).

 

[LesS]

My Train Tracker showed it leaving Melbourne 66 minutes late. Over an hour was lost between Benalla and Wangaratta in NE Victoria.
As I write it is approaching Campbelltown 190 minutes late.
If he is quick, RailExplorer can change to the Robertson special there. It is due to stop there at 9.24. XPT is currently at Malden.
The official reason for running late is difficulties loading passengers in Melbourne. This is a regular excuse and is not plausible beyond a small amount of time.

Why over an hour was lost after Benalla needs an explanation. This section is common for mechanical breakdowns to occur although it is probably the easiest length of track over the whole distance. I suspect a mechanical failure of some kind. Perhaps RailExplorer can tell us more soon.

 

[Springs Branch]

So I'm on The Overland right now to Ararat. What fantastic value for 11.40AUD and that includes the return on a VLine service.

I'm planning on doing the same trip on Monday 16th. Out from S/Cross on The Overland, returning via Ballarat, booked via the V/Line website.

Couple of questions for @RailExplorer based on their recent experience:-

1) Are you still expected to 'check in' at the Journey Beyond desk at S/Cross at least 30 mins before The Overland's departure time when travelling on a V/Line ticket? (This was the case some years ago, last time I made a "proper" interstate journey on The Overland. A boring 30 mins sat locked inside the train going nowhere, waiting for departure time)

2) V/Line's booking site has allowed me to pick a specific seat number. I've read on another forum that this is only a dummy seat assignment, and JB staff will likely assign you a different seat on the day to suit their convenience. Basically, if the train is not too busy, they'll pack everyone into one coach to avoid 'dirtying' another of the vehicles.
Has this been your recent experience? Did you get the seat you were expecting from your V/Line ticket?

3) Was The Overland on time into Ararat, and were you able to connect to the 11:48 Vlocity back to Melbourne?

Thanks!

 

[RailExplorer]

I'm planning on doing the same trip on Monday 16th. Out from S/Cross on The Overland, returning via Ballarat, booked via the V/Line website.

Couple of questions for @RailExplorer based on their recent experience:-

1) Are you still expected to 'check in' at the Journey Beyond desk at S/Cross at least 30 mins before The Overland's departure time when travelling on a V/Line ticket? (This was the case some years ago, last time I made a "proper" interstate journey on The Overland. A boring 30 mins sat locked inside the train going nowhere, waiting for departure time)

2) V/Line's booking site has allowed me to pick a specific seat number. I've read on another forum that this is only a dummy seat assignment, and JB staff will likely assign you a different seat on the day to suit their convenience. Basically, if the train is not too busy, they'll pack everyone into one coach to avoid 'dirtying' another of the vehicles.
Has this been your recent experience? Did you get the seat you were expecting from your V/Line ticket?

3) Was The Overland on time into Ararat, and were you able to connect to the 11:48 Vlocity back to Melbourne?

Thanks!

Hi, so the answers to your questions...

1) I checked in at 08:00 outside the coach (departure is at 08:05). There was a guy with a clipboard there. I have no idea what anyone else did but I got the feeling that there was no other way to check in (unless you also had luggage to check in perhaps). Up until 08:00 I had been wandering up and down the platforms taking photos.

2) The seat you book means nothing - in my case anyway. I was assigned coach C but in reality I sat (was told to sit) in coach E. Coach C, from what I can remember was actually the restaurant carriage. I had 2 seats to myself, and actually many many more seats on top of that to pick from to the first stop after Melbourne. I spent half the trip in the restaurant carriage anyway. They did there best to spread people around the 3 standard class carriages to get even loadings per coach.

3) Yes I could have made the 11:48. We arrived at 11:43. By the time I filmed the departure, it was 11:46. But I still had time to walk to the VLine train and film that departing too. I needed a stretch of legs so opted to catch the 14:28 back to Melbourne. There's no need to book so just get on the first available. I wouldn't however expect that to be a guaranteed connection if you most be on the 11:48!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Mar 2026 ==

My Train Tracker showed it leaving Melbourne 66 minutes late. Over an hour was lost between Benalla and Wangaratta in NE Victoria.
As I write it is approaching Campbelltown 190 minutes late.
If he is quick, RailExplorer can change to the Robertson special there. It is due to stop there at 9.24. XPT is currently at Malden.
The official reason for running late is difficulties loading passengers in Melbourne. This is a regular excuse and is not plausible beyond a small amount of time.

Why over an hour was lost after Benalla needs an explanation. This section is common for mechanical breakdowns to occur although it is probably the easiest length of track over the whole distance. I suspect a mechanical failure of some kind. Perhaps RailExplorer can tell us more soon.

So yes, we departed Melbourne late - either a point failure or signalling failure. Well, there was an original delay of about 15 minutes as they still hadn't loaded the passengers into standard class at departure time. But the majority of the delay was caused by the signalling or points failure.

Then we lost another 1.5 hours or so at night at Benalla. Supposedly there was a member of staff taken ill. And the waited for an ambulance to arrive. There was one women outside the train who had probably walked the length of the train 100 times whilst we were at a stand. No announcements at all though - only in the morning were we told what happened.

I did alight at Campbelltown. And picked up the Robertson Express from there. It ran non stop to Moss Vale, then reversed out the station, and used the triangle to Robertson. Not really sure why it went into Moss Vale in the first place! On the way back I was dropped off at Picton. Loco ran flat end forward to Sydney.

And today I visited the NSW Rail Museum (walked from Tahmoor). It was a Thomas Day but 4807 was working one end of the train between Thirlmere and Buxton (James was at the other end). They also had Rail Motor No. 18 doing short shuttles. A very enjoyable day overall.

Tomorrow I fly to Cairns. And then I'll make my way south back to Sydney by train over a week with a few stops.

XPT Comfort - the lights were kept off all night even at station stops much to my suprise! And standard class was comfortable enough. Breakfast sold out pretty quick so get in there quickish if you want that. The bacon and egg role was pretty good. Coffee was free due to late running.

 

[railfan99]

XPT Comfort - the lights were kept off all night even at station stops much to my suprise! And standard class was comfortable enough. Breakfast sold out pretty quick so get in there quickish if you want that. The bacon and egg role was pretty good. Coffee was free due to late running.

Was the XPT well or poorly patronised?

Apologies for the huge delay - you were unlucky. V/Line Benalla station staff go home at 2100 hours so shameful a staff member had to allegedly wait so long for an ambulance.

 

[RailExplorer]

Was the XPT well or poorly patronised?

Apologies for the huge delay - you were unlucky. V/Line Benalla station staff go home at 2100 hours so shameful a staff member had to allegedly wait so long for an ambulance.

XPT was full as far as I could tell.

 

[Elmers End]

That is a truly brilliant summary

That is a truly brilliant summary for NZ. I really really appreciate all that info.

I could in theory fit in both Aus and NZ on the same trip, but feeling it will be rushed - very rushed.

Thank you very much again.

I would agree, a very fulsome and accurate summary. I have just returned from a trip to NZ and went on all 3 of the Kiwirail loco-hauled 'tourist' trains.
Expensive to be sure but very interesting.
The Ta Huia flew by heading north when we were going south on the Northern Explorer. It was running as a push-pull working, loco propelling.
The Tranzalpine ran as a 12 vehicle formation with a single loco but through the tunnel after Arthur's Pass another pair was added front and rear. The tunnel is 8km long with a 1-in-33 gradient.
You might wish to consider flying via USA to Auckland to avoid the Middle East issues.

 

[35B]

I would agree, a very fulsome and accurate summary. I have just returned from a trip to NZ and went on all 3 of the Kiwirail loco-hauled 'tourist' trains.
Expensive to be sure but very interesting.
The Ta Huia flew by heading north when we were going south on the Northern Explorer. It was running as a push-pull working, loco propelling.
The Tranzalpine ran as a 12 vehicle formation with a single loco but through the tunnel after Arthur's Pass another pair was added front and rear. The tunnel is 8km long with a 1-in-33 gradient.
You might wish to consider flying via USA to Auckland to avoid the Middle East issues.

I'm looking at a trip, but Vancouver is quite appealing as a way to avoid the US

 

[RailExplorer]

I would agree, a very fulsome and accurate summary. I have just returned from a trip to NZ and went on all 3 of the Kiwirail loco-hauled 'tourist' trains.
Expensive to be sure but very interesting.
The Ta Huia flew by heading north when we were going south on the Northern Explorer. It was running as a push-pull working, loco propelling.
The Tranzalpine ran as a 12 vehicle formation with a single loco but through the tunnel after Arthur's Pass another pair was added front and rear. The tunnel is 8km long with a 1-in-33 gradient.
You might wish to consider flying via USA to Auckland to avoid the Middle East issues.

I generally fly on Chinese based airlines to Asia (and in this case further to NZ, and currently to Australia) due to routing and costs. And in fact have already got tickets from London to Auckland. Paid about £590 return. China Southern, China Eastern, Shenzhen and Air China are all good. Beijing Capital Airlines far less so!

Australia wise - my plans for Queensland Rail pretty much failed entirely due to the flooding in Queensland. I had hoped to catch the Spirit of Queensland from Cairns to Gympie, and then the Spirit of the Outback from Gympie to Brisbane. Plus a few shorter trips on loco hauled options. But it's pretty much all been cancelled except the tilt train services.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway was good however. The first working out from each end has the same pair of locos, so if you want both pairs of locos - you'll need to do the first train out, and second train back (or vice versa).

Currently waiting for the action on the Mary Valley Railway to start, and then heading back on Queensland suburban trains to the Gold Coast, bus to Byron Bay (will do the short Byron Bay Train), and then via Casino for a XPT to Sydney. XPTs not running to Brisbane this weekend due to engineering works!

Sadly there's been a lot more cancellations than I expected (VLine Engineering works and Queensland Rail due flooding). Plus the totally unreliable XPT service which meant photography ideas went out the window. Still expecting something else to go wrong too!!!!!