NSW Train Link
NSW Train Link
2.9
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2.9
105 reviews
Excellent
22
Very good
21
Average
20
Poor
10
Terrible
32
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c00ky0ne
4 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Did the return trip to Melbourne. Trains are from the dinosaur era, even first class cars are outdated, recliner seats but not very comfortable, not even basic power points to charge your devices when nearly every man and his dog travels with a smartphone or tablet these days. Coffee in a bag is $4 same with a tea bag. Worst of all train was late arriving at the destination in both directions not just 10-15 minutes but 45 minutes to an hour late. Apologies were made on the PA but basically passing the buck saying it was "beyond their control"
Written 25 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mobilekiwi
Dunedin, New Zealand138 contributions
June 2024 • Solo
This is the third time I've done this trip over the space of about 12 years and it's gotten worse each time. It's the train service between Australia's two largest cities, and should be a flagship, but doesn't come even close.
Checking bags, there is a rigorously enforced 20Kg limit - on a train that weighs hundreds of tonnes, and where any lifting for staff is minimal - so put your bags in the racks at the end of each car and keep an eye on them. It's a slow trip and while the last trip was 2 hours late, this one was only 45 minutes late. The food is terrible, so plan on bringing your own: sandwiches where the bread is made of what tastes like cardboard, and being given a cup of hot water and a sachet of instant coffee crystals to mix yourself, is just not acceptable these days.
Checking bags, there is a rigorously enforced 20Kg limit - on a train that weighs hundreds of tonnes, and where any lifting for staff is minimal - so put your bags in the racks at the end of each car and keep an eye on them. It's a slow trip and while the last trip was 2 hours late, this one was only 45 minutes late. The food is terrible, so plan on bringing your own: sandwiches where the bread is made of what tastes like cardboard, and being given a cup of hot water and a sachet of instant coffee crystals to mix yourself, is just not acceptable these days.
Written 19 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guide66808185035
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Solo
Travelled 5 hours and was not impressed. The train was ancient so didn't have any wifi, charging or usb ports. Tray table and surroundings were gross and dirty, and only 1 toilet was open for the whole economy (shared for males and females). The positives were that the staff were friendly and I had more than enough leg room as a short person, but first class didn't appear any better. Overall I was expecting a lot better and was very let down by the experience.
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FlyGripen
Zurich, Switzerland1,132 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
The NSW Trainlink booking system stopped in 1980. Reservation and confirmation by phone with an eternally long queue would be more user-friendly via app. The journey to the station by long-distance bus was chaotic; first, to make a pilgrimage around the station to find the bus stands, refer by guide to a bus allocation desk with paper lists, assignment to wrong bus, seats disassembled inside and still arrived at the station.
The stations are all still the same as in the 1950s except for the digital displays for trains on the Perron. The railway cars have remained technically and visually stationary as in the 1960s. There are no sockets, Wi-Fi, digital displays in the car. The polite staff gives everything through on speaker. The old seats are adequate for long journeys like annodazumals on the plane. Air conditioning to 15 degrees requires warm long clothes to be put on. Hot and cold meals and drinks can be picked up in the dining compartment. Better to leave out the “coffee” is just a bag of hot water. Near the axles, at the beginning and end of the car it shakes strongly. We liked it overall, like a nostalgia trip through Australian nature.
The stations are all still the same as in the 1950s except for the digital displays for trains on the Perron. The railway cars have remained technically and visually stationary as in the 1960s. There are no sockets, Wi-Fi, digital displays in the car. The polite staff gives everything through on speaker. The old seats are adequate for long journeys like annodazumals on the plane. Air conditioning to 15 degrees requires warm long clothes to be put on. Hot and cold meals and drinks can be picked up in the dining compartment. Better to leave out the “coffee” is just a bag of hot water. Near the axles, at the beginning and end of the car it shakes strongly. We liked it overall, like a nostalgia trip through Australian nature.
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Written 28 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avojo
Charters Towers, Australia9 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
Awful experience. Absolutely disgusting. We were told of the disruptions when it was too late to change our travel arrangements as by then, flights and other options were sold out and we had to get back home to Queensland. So we got on the train yesterday afternoon knowing we would be stopping at Grafton at 1am to travel by “luxury coach” the rest of the way to Roma Street, Brisbane. The air conditioning was not working and I was sweating so bad. My daughter didn’t even try to sleep. We were woken at midnight and offered a horrible coffee and “breakfast” (at midnight) which we couldn’t eat because they don’t cater to dietary needs. I’m dairy free and my teen daughter is coeliac and breakfast was regular cornflakes and dairy milk. We then got off the train at Grafton and they were very disorganised. They had 2 buses with one going directly to Roma Street which was full before we could get on and the other was stopping at Casino first. They also were unprepared for disabled passengers, so the bus we went on had delays as they figured out how to get 2 wheelchair using passengers on board when only one section was designated for a wheelchair. That caused a further hold up with us waiting in the line where 2 passengers then decided to try and get as many smokes as possible in without moving away from others. Once on the “luxury coach” it was very uncomfortable. We were squished in with people who were clearly sick and were coughing everywhere and one even said “it’s just a flu” and spent the trip coughing everywhere in an enclosed bus. One of a number who were sick.
We paid for first class sleepers to avoid being near others. Out of the 4 of us, we have varying disabilities and medical conditions with 3 on NDIS. We saved all year and booked long ago, paying this off with the rest of our holiday since the beginning of the year. We paid for first class sleepers to get us to Roma Street and it didn’t happen. The bus was dirty with one of us actually sitting on chewing gum and discovering it later. The toilet was gross and not working. But it was being closed in, cramped together with people who were sick that really topped it off. We chose this because my daughter has not been on a train with a sleeping berth. She still didn’t get the exact.
We paid for first class sleepers to avoid being near others. Out of the 4 of us, we have varying disabilities and medical conditions with 3 on NDIS. We saved all year and booked long ago, paying this off with the rest of our holiday since the beginning of the year. We paid for first class sleepers to get us to Roma Street and it didn’t happen. The bus was dirty with one of us actually sitting on chewing gum and discovering it later. The toilet was gross and not working. But it was being closed in, cramped together with people who were sick that really topped it off. We chose this because my daughter has not been on a train with a sleeping berth. She still didn’t get the exact.
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Passport58911059799
2 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Don't do it! I did receive a message a few weeks beforehand to say that the first 3.5 hours of the train trip to Albury would instead be on a bus, due to track maintenance, and we needed to leave half an hour earlier due to this. However we got to Albury to be told by the bus driver that the train didn't make it there to meet us and we would instead get another bus driver to continue driving us to meet the train. He wasn't sure how long it would take but it could be another 3-4 hours. We then got an email to tell us that the ENTIRE train trip was now going to be by bus due to staffing issues. We then sat at Albury station for almost an hour while they divided us up onto different buses, and the drivers waited to be told what stops they were going to. We had no stops for food or drink for the last 9.5 hours of bus travel! We didn't have a lot of food on us as we had planned to purchase it on the train. We were told there would be no refunds as we still got from A to B, even though it was nowhere near the same service, and we paid for an actual TRAIN journey, plus it ended up adding an extra hour and a half onto an already long journey. Communication could definitely be improved - we should have been told upfront that it was going to be a bus for the entire journey - and should have been given the option to cancel, or at least we could have stocked up with an adequate amount of food and drink!
Written 2 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penina M
Melbourne, Australia53 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
"If you have the patience for a slower journey, this trip is worth it. Considering the cost, it's excellent value compared to peak season plane tickets. I often travel with my three young children, all under 4, on the train overnight. We opt for economy seating at $98, which is nearly the same as first class. There isn't a significant difference between the two, so I save a few more dollars. Here's a tip: I book 1 adult, 3 infants, and 2 four-year-olds, When purchasing additional tickets, this ensures my kids have an entire row to themselves. This strategy eliminates bickering and provides extra space for them to relax and nap. The journey from Sydney Central to Melbourne Southern Cross can be challenging with young kids, but this arrangement makes it manageable. The train itself is old and lacks wifi or charging points, so come prepared. Despite its simplicity, the experience of being surrounded by nature is wonderful. I cherish these trips as a chance to disconnect from technology and the hustle of city life. Reading during the journey adds to the pleasure of switching off."
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miranda h
3 contributions
Aug 2023
XPT from Sydney to Brisbane August 2023. Paid for one cabin with two beds for myself and elderly mother. Due to arrive in Brisbane around 5am.
Hauled out of bed at midnight and told to pack immediately and get on a bus at Grafton. Staff were very impatient even though we were half asleep and could not find our clothes.
Staff refused to tell us the reason. Train was running on time so must have been a staffing issue as staff were supposed to board at Grafton.
According to other reviews this appears to occur a lot and NSW rail do not seem to care enough to fix this repeating problem. They do no care that they regularly haul people out of bed in the middle of the night. They do not offer compensation to people who paid for beds or first class seats.
When I initially boarded, the cabins were nice and the view from the windows was good. I was wondering why more people did not book sleeper cabins. Now I know.
Advice : if you are travelling on the XPT between Sydney and Brisbane, don't bother to pay for a bed or first class seats as you will likely end up sitting on a bus anyway.
Hauled out of bed at midnight and told to pack immediately and get on a bus at Grafton. Staff were very impatient even though we were half asleep and could not find our clothes.
Staff refused to tell us the reason. Train was running on time so must have been a staffing issue as staff were supposed to board at Grafton.
According to other reviews this appears to occur a lot and NSW rail do not seem to care enough to fix this repeating problem. They do no care that they regularly haul people out of bed in the middle of the night. They do not offer compensation to people who paid for beds or first class seats.
When I initially boarded, the cabins were nice and the view from the windows was good. I was wondering why more people did not book sleeper cabins. Now I know.
Advice : if you are travelling on the XPT between Sydney and Brisbane, don't bother to pay for a bed or first class seats as you will likely end up sitting on a bus anyway.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olivia J
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Solo
absolutely appalling, every time i catch this train its over an hour late!! first class and economy have absolutely no difference your honestly just paying extra for fun. no charging points as stated on its website. but can’t get over how late it’s always running i make my plans around the time it says it will arrive and then it delays by hours.
Written 18 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
L'étranger
Melbourne, Australia17 contributions
Apr 2022
Some of you may know that Australian passenger train system may not meet your high quality train criteria like other countries. (ie. S.Korea, Japan, UK, France, Spain etc.)
However if you don't mind long distance train trip, and if you would like to see Australian outdoor, I would recommend travel by train between Melbourne-Sydney. Even though it is 11 hours long trip, I had been enjoying looking at Australian outdoor and beautiful country farm with lots of castles, and experiencing little bit of different terrains and vegetations.
However, I would love to see some improvement in the future especially food, seats, noise control, and vibrant of this old train. I was travel by First Class carriage. It doesn't seem much different with economy class seat. Perhaps bit more incline seat and leg room with paying more $35. There is no wifi services for this train, yet I was disappointed that there is no power point to charge laptop, mobile phone and other electrical devices.
Very friendly and approachable staff made my journey a lot more enjoyable. They are working very hard to control our luggages and keep this journey safer. One passenger smoked joint (or maybe just cigs) in the toilet and staff notified us immediately.
I have asked many people if they are interested in 11 hour train trip, most people says "No, it is too long" or "the train seems very old". I have been told there are new train service will be introduced in near 2030. I hope we can shorten this long hour journey (No need to be bullet express train, just around 8 hours seems ok) with better service train by then.
However if you don't mind long distance train trip, and if you would like to see Australian outdoor, I would recommend travel by train between Melbourne-Sydney. Even though it is 11 hours long trip, I had been enjoying looking at Australian outdoor and beautiful country farm with lots of castles, and experiencing little bit of different terrains and vegetations.
However, I would love to see some improvement in the future especially food, seats, noise control, and vibrant of this old train. I was travel by First Class carriage. It doesn't seem much different with economy class seat. Perhaps bit more incline seat and leg room with paying more $35. There is no wifi services for this train, yet I was disappointed that there is no power point to charge laptop, mobile phone and other electrical devices.
Very friendly and approachable staff made my journey a lot more enjoyable. They are working very hard to control our luggages and keep this journey safer. One passenger smoked joint (or maybe just cigs) in the toilet and staff notified us immediately.
I have asked many people if they are interested in 11 hour train trip, most people says "No, it is too long" or "the train seems very old". I have been told there are new train service will be introduced in near 2030. I hope we can shorten this long hour journey (No need to be bullet express train, just around 8 hours seems ok) with better service train by then.
Written 12 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the coach alternative like..if the train cannot run?
Written 25 February 2020
I was picked up at Southern Cross Station, MEL and seated on an air conditioned bus.
The bus stopped in small train stations to pick up passengers.
We reached Albury around noon.
I will say that the train part of the journey was more comfortable with a pantry car, choice of food, airline type toilet and more leg room.
Written 25 February 2020
Well said.
I agree.
I was amazed at the huge crowds flying inter-city at the Domestic Terminals at the Australian Airports .
Laid back lifestyle could also include laid back surface travel.
If locals do not patronize the well run surface transport like NWS TransLink , the infrastructure build over many decades will go waste.
Remember the Overland between MEL and ADL.
Written 24 February 2020
Our rail services are abysmal. It’s a joke really. This week an ‘express’ train between Sydney and Melbourne derailed and killed 2 unfortunate people. The train was travelling at 100 kms per hour apparently 7 times the recommended speed.. what a joke! You could walk it faster !!
Written 24 February 2020
I have traveled on the MEL - SYD XPT-624 Day Train in end Jan 2020.
I had booked the ticket online and had absolutely no issues in the booking.
I traveled in the Day Train because I wanted to see the country side and not clouds under me.
The Train staff were polite, the food was pretty good ( no fish and chips though) and the co-passengers were friendly.
A day well spent.
The transfer by bus from Southern Cross to Albury was super smooth.( A 1/2 liter bottle of mineral water on the bus would have been welcome, though)
Written 24 February 2020
Hello, We are travelling from Melb to Sydney by train to vary our flight from Rome to Cairns. However to our dismay the dimension requirements for our flight is different. We have chosen a lower total dimesion due to this as our luggage is the sum dimension of 155 cm and your sum dimension is 180. However we cannot buy suitcases with the exact same individual dimension...e.g. 60 high x 70 long x 50 cm wide. Will our bag be accepted as the total dimension of 155cm is below your total of 180 cm. This query is urgent as we are leaving very soon.
Written 1 October 2019
Hello, We are travelling from Melb to Sydney by train to vary our flight from Rome to Cairns. However to our dismay the dimension requirements for our flight is different. We have chosen a lower total dimesion due to this as our luggage is the sum dimension of 155 cm and your sum dimension is 180. However we cannot buy suitcases with the exact same individual dimension...e.g. 60 high x 70 long x 50 cm wide. Will our bag be accepted as the total dimension of 155cm is below your total of 180 cm. This query is urgent as we are leaving very soon.
Written 1 October 2019
Just bring it on board, do not check it in. There is suitcase storage at the end of each sitting car, and there are also luggage racks. You will not have a problem.
Written 6 October 2019
Does the Melbourne - Sydney train offer a 'public seating car' where you can sit in lounge seats and tables with meals, similar to the Overlander & Indian Pacific trains?
Written 26 August 2019
Simple answer is no. However, there is a kitchen/pantry car from where you can buy drinks, snacks and collect your meal. Then bring your food and drink back to your seat or sleeper cabin. There is no table/chair in the kitchen/pentry car
Written 27 August 2019
We are a family of five, 3 children aged 9 and below. We are considering taking first class train ride from Melbourne to Sydney overnight, is it advisable? Will the seats be comfortable and safe enough for the children sleep?
Written 7 July 2019
Unlike the previous comments, I found the seats to be very comfortable. It reclined well (not 100% flat) but comfortable for a sleep. There was a lot of leg room. If you are in the 1st row, you can put some large suitcases in front of you and really stretch out your legs on a horizontal position.
The hot food is not satisfactory. It takes 1 hour to heat up, limited in supply and taste awful. I would suggest getting some hot meals before boarding. You will be the envy of everyone as the people around you wished they did the same. Bring a flask or reusable cup with a tight lid. The staff are happy to give you hot water. There were yoghurts, fruit tubs and sandwiches which looked decent.
Bring a head pillow, dress warm, use the toilet at the initial part of the journey. Towards the end of the trip, the toilets are not the best.
I am sure your children will enjoy it especially if it is a day journey. And for the enjoyment of others, please bring headphones for your children. I and several others had to listen to 8 hours of pinging and shooting on a child's electronic plaything.
Written 8 July 2019
What do people think are the best seats on xplorer services. I was in seat 34 and it was BAD!
Written 10 May 2019
You were probably in car B or car C: this varies according to destination. On the Internet, there is a scan of 'XPlorer seat diagrams' so look it up and choose one youself.
I prefer to be in the middle of the car and if the train's busy, to have an aisle seat (meaning I don't have to step over someone else). However the window seats have the advantage of a sort of ledge.
Written 10 May 2019
MirandaProrus' answer requires claification.
There are two rail operators on the Albury to Melbourne Southern Cross route.
NSW Train Link (see its website) has two return XPT Sydney - Melbourne expresses a day, taking a typical three hours 15 minutes for the 315 kilometres from Albury to Southern Cross or vice versa. It charges fares by three seasons: peak (Christmas plus school holidays), shoulder and off peak.
V/Line (see its separate website) has three trains a day each way from Albury to Southern Cross. It is the sole operator to also stop at Wodonga railway station.
V/Line also has some road coaches on weekdays that connect with trains at Seymour, but the through trains are more comfortable.
NSW TrainLink XPTs are about 45 minutes faster for the complete journey, and unlike V/Line, NSW TrainLink sells alcohol (and A$9.50 meals to be consumed at one's seat, depending on the time of day) from its buffet car.
I recommend first class on the XPT. It has extra legroom (seat pitch) and normally very well behaved passengers. Car A, the sleeping car is used on the daylight XPTs as a 'daysitter' with three seats per private cabin. You can request these seats by calling 13 22 32 in Australia for the cost of a local call 0700 - 2200 hours daily. Staff are helpful.
For frequent travellers, NSW TrainLink has a six month first class Discovery Pass for A$550: unlimited rail and coach travel on its extensive (and growing) network to and from Brisbane/Sydney/Broken Hill/Griffith/Canberra/Gold Coast/Melbourne and many other stations or road coach stops.
Written 20 March 2019
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