Departure Schedule

Morning departures

Fastest trip11 hrs 18 min

Longest trip11 hrs 18 min

Earliest08:30

Latest08:30

Departures1

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Evening departures

Fastest trip10 hrs 57 min

Longest trip10 hrs 57 min

Earliest19:50

Latest19:50

Departures1

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Travelling from Melbourne to Sydney by Train

The Melbourne to Sydney train is one of Australia's great rail journeys — a relaxing ride between two of the country's largest cities. NSW TrainLink operates the XPT as a regular intercity train service — all Melbourne to Sydney trains operated by this train operator run between Southern Cross Station and Sydney Central Station. The train departs twice daily — a morning service at 08:30 and an overnight service at 19:50. Journey time is around 11 hours. Find out more about the distance from Melbourne to Sydney and explore the reverse route too.

The XPT offers Economy Class with spacious reclining seats, air-conditioned carriages, and power outlets. First Class seats provide extra legroom and a deeper recline. The buffet car serves hot meals, snacks, and beverages on both services. The overnight service includes sleeper cabin options — a great way to save on a hotel room and arrive in Sydney refreshed. Please note there is no public Wi-Fi on the XPT and mobile reception can be limited along parts of the route.

Compared to flying, the journey from Melbourne goes city centre to city centre — Southern Cross Station to Sydney Central Station. No airport transfers, no boarding queues, no luggage limits. Train tickets start from €98 for Economy Class. With Rail Ninja you can book up to a year in advance — the earlier you plan, the cheaper the fare.

Melbourne to Sydney trains Information

Melbourne

Southern Cross, AustraliaMelbourne AIrport terminal, Australia

866 km

Sydney

Sydney Central railway station, AustraliaSydney International Airport terminal, AustraliaSydney Central Bus station, Australia

10 h 57 m

Shortest travel time:

£109

Lowest ticket cost:

Avg. daily departures:

08:30

Earliest departure:

19:50

Latest departure:

Popular questions about trains from Melbourne to Sydney

The Melbourne to Sydney train ride takes approximately 10 to 11 hours. The shortest journey time is 10 hours 57 minutes. The daytime XPT departs Southern Cross Station at 08:30 and arrives at Sydney Central Station in the early evening. The overnight service departs at 19:50 and arrives the following morning around 07:00 — a convenient option if you want to sleep during the journey and arrive in Sydney ready to explore.

The adult fare for Economy Class ranges from approximately €98. Sleeper cabins on the overnight XPT cost more but include a private space with a bed and shared shower facilities. The earlier you book, the cheaper the fare. Tickets are available through at Southern Cross Station, or via Rail Ninja up to a year in advance.

The XPT (Express Passenger Train) is the main train service between Melbourne and Sydney, operated by NSW TrainLink. All Melbourne to Sydney trains operated by this train operator run between Southern Cross Station and Sydney Central Station. The XPT is a classic long-distance Australian coach with spacious reclining seats, a buffet car serving hot meals and snacks, and air-conditioned carriages throughout. The XPT was built in 1981 and provides a retro-style service experience. It runs twice daily — one daytime and one overnight service.

It depends on what you're after. Airlines offer flights from Melbourne to Sydney from as little as $50, taking just 1.5 hours in the air. But it makes sense to factor in waiting at the airport, check-in, boarding, and baggage — door-to-door time is often 4–5 hours. Driving from Melbourne to Sydney takes around 9 hours. The train ride from Melbourne goes directly from Southern Cross to Sydney Central with no waiting, no security queues, and no luggage limits. The overnight service is particularly good value: you travel while you sleep, save on a hotel room, and arrive in the morning ready to go.

The Melbourne to Sydney train departs from Southern Cross Station (Spencer Street) in central Melbourne, easily accessible by tram, suburban train, and bus. In Sydney, trains arrive at Sydney Central Station, which connects directly to the Sydney Metro, buses, and light rail. Both stations are in the city centre, making onward travel straightforward.

Yes — the XPT operates a nightly overnight service departing Southern Cross Station at 19:50 and arriving at Sydney Central Station around 07:00. The sleeper option is available only on the night train and includes private cabins with shared access to a compact shower and toilet. The sleeper sells out quickly, so book early especially for weekends and school holidays.

The distance from Melbourne to Sydney by train is approximately 866 km (538 miles). The route passes through regional Victoria and New South Wales, including towns like Albury-Wodonga on the state border. The journey offers scenic views of the Australian countryside — a relaxing and enjoyable ride from Melbourne to Sydney.

There are three main ways to travel from Melbourne to Sydney — by train, bus, or plane. The bus journey takes approximately 12 hours and is operated by Greyhound Australia and Firefly Express, with tickets starting from $67. Flights leave from Melbourne Airport and arrive at Sydney Airport, taking as little as 1.5 hours. The Sydney train is a bit slower than flying but goes directly from Southern Cross Station to Sydney Central Station — a more relaxing and enjoyable way to travel between the two cities.