Rail travel in Australia
Photo: Gracchus250, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Although trains in Australia are not as ubiquitous or frequent as in East Asia or Europe, travelling in Australia by train could be an interesting way to cross the country. Unfortunately, outside the main Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne corridor, Australia's sparse population means the rail network is considerably underdeveloped; outside Victoria, trains usually take longer than driving yourself, and in the case of Journey Beyond, more expensive than flying. A journey across the Outback by train, however, is an experience in itself, and allows you to admire the sheer vastness of the Australian Outback, which may be more difficult if you're driving.
Passenger rail only exists on the Australian mainland – Tasmania and other offshore islands do not have railway lines, or if there are, these are exclusively used for freight or are heritage railways.
Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle and the Gold Coast also have tram or light rail systems but they are not covered in this article.
UnderstandPrior to the advent of the automobile and air travel, trains formed the backbone of Australia's transportation network, and were frequently used to travel from country towns to their respective state capitals.
StationsLike in North America and Europe, rail operators in Australia built grandiose railway stations as a symbol of progress and the status of rail travel.
Long distanceAs most of the rail infrastructure in Australia is government-owned, delays on Australia's long-distance trains are generally not as bad as those in the United States or Canada, though people used to the punctuality of…
Suburban railSuburban commuter rail services are available in Australia's five largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Rail passesThere is no national rail pass that covers all of Australia. However, some states do have their own rail passes that may save some money if you're travelling extensively on trains.
Heritage servicesAustralia is also home to private companies that run tourist services on otherwise-disused or freight-only lines, using old equipment (such as steam locomotives and/or vintage carriages) that have been refurbished.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rail travel in Australia" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Gracchus250, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons