Train Fares in Australia

[Envoy]

I have just been looking at train fares between Sydney Central & Newcastle - which is 160Km north. No booking ahead nonsense to get low cost fares - just a straight system based on peak & off-peak. Mind you, the trains seem to be a lot slower than ours and make many more stops for such a long run.

The fares seem to be incredibly cheap.

http://www.sydneytrains.info/tickets/fare_calculator.htm

 

[Matt Taylor]

Fares are generally cheap, provided you avoid the Airport Line!

 

[stuartmoss]

It might be even cheaper if you get an Opal Card.

 

[ian959]

Remembering of course that this is basically an outer suburban route rather than an InterCity route in the British sense (despite Sydney Trains calling it such)...

Note that the trains no longer go in to Newcastle itself, they now terminate at Hamilton with a bus connection to Newcastle itself. All thanks to the redevelopment of prime sea front land in Newcastle, which will see the eventually replacement of the heavy rail line with a light rail line (subject to ongoing legal matters).

 

[LesS]

Are you planning a visit?

If so, then on arrival at the Airport buy and Opal card. There is no deposit. For fares there is a daily cap of $15. It is valid on trains except NSWTrainlink services requiring reservations; as well as buses and ferries. Opal cards cannot be purchased at station ticket offices. Within 12 months all ticket offices will have been closed (except the airport stations).

As to Newcastle; by all means make a trip but since the line truncation it is better to change for the next train to Maitland. There is much to see and do including the long, heavy coal drags.

 

[Envoy]

Are you planning a visit?

If so, then on arrival at the Airport buy and Opal card. There is no deposit. For fares there is a daily cap of $15. It is valid on trains except NSWTrainlink services requiring reservations; as well as buses and ferries. Opal cards cannot be purchased at station ticket offices. Within 12 months all ticket offices will have been closed (except the airport stations).

As to Newcastle; by all means make a trip but since the line truncation it is better to change for the next train to Maitland. There is much to see and do including the long, heavy coal drags.

No, not planning a visit but if I should ever make it down under, your advice is most useful.

 

[Addington]

In our terms, going to Hamilton from Sydney, while one of the longer journeys, at 160km's, its not a long way. Opal is rapidly becoming the only way to travel.

Coal trains in the Hunter are awesome. 100 odd wagons long, between two and four engines on the front, and they run very frequently. If you go to Berefsfield, the coalies can go all the way back to Thornton.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

i loved the xpt between sydney and newcastle the line views are great

 

[Addington]

Agreed, the line is particularly picturesque between Brooklyn and Gosford.

The XPT's are great for short journeys. But the 11 hour train trip to Casino, along the slow, curving tracks, and looking at nothing but trees, gets a bit boring after a while

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Try doing the Brisbane trip the day after doing the Melbourne trip!

 

[Addington]

Ummmm....no, I think not When the Brisbane XPT started in 1990, I thought the 0615 arrival was bad. Then when Queensland ditched daylight saving, the summer arrival went to 0515. Right now, with daylight saving again in force in NSW, the arrival in Brisbane has returned to a very early 0353.
Pass. That's why we have Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Tiger.

 

[Stonesourscotty]

I love the XPT i love NSW Trains in general to be honest i think the trains in nsw come second to my love of the NRL as the best things in NSW the XPT's and Warratahs are by far the best trains i traveled in NSW.
I only used Tiger Qantas and Emirates in Aus i know Tiger have an awful reputation (think Ryanair of Australia without the Irish tackiness) but personally i love Tiger Cheap fares good legroom and most importantly good Victorian Cider on board from the Yarra Valley!