All about Train Travel in Australia
Although Train travel in Australia is not as popular as in other parts of the world, it is becoming from year to year a more attractive, environmental alternative way to travelling by car or by bus. Especially for international travellers, train travel can be an excellent way of discovering Australia. In Australia you do not have the super fast trains that you have in Europe or in other parts of the world, nor the high frequency trains. Only in metropolitan areas you have trains riding several times a day the same route. Trains heading into the australian outback, or travelling the coastal areas ride 1-3times a week, depending on the route. This is in first place due to the vastness of the country and secondly to the demand for train travel in Australia.
Let's now have a deeper look at some facts, reasons and benefits of train travel in Australia.
Reasons and benefits of Train Travel in Australia
There are various reasons why people choose travelling by train in Australia instead of air travel or self-driving. Here below I have put together 5 good reasons along with the benefits train travel offer in a vast and remote country like Australia.
- Enjoy the vastness and the diversity of the australian landscape.
This is probably the reason no. 1 for most of travellers who choose to travel by train, so as to fully enjoy the view of the landscape, at a slower and more relaxed pace.
- Add value to the travel itinerary while making the journey a destination of itself.
It is the best way of seeing the outback and coastal landscape in Australia. The perspective and the type of relaxation you get on train has no comparison.
- Combine other ways of transport like air travel or self-driving
If fly and drive is a popular combination, train travel and drive can be added to the australian transport means with a strong development potential for the future.
- The ideal way of transport when travelling alone in Australia
Self-driving, either by car and campervan can be regarded as the ideal way of discovering Australia when travelling in a group. The Australian driving distances can be very challenging for solo travellers though, thus train travel represents an excellent way of seeing much of the country without the hassle and the fatigue of long driving distances.
- An environmental way to Travel Australia
Choosing train travel as the main way of transport for your travel in Australia can help reducing the carbon footprint emissions per passenger. Train travel uses less fuel than air travel thus help solving the climate change in Australia.
Which Trains and Rail Journeys in Australia
Australia is a big country that offers a variety of rail journeys. Some of them, like the Ghan Train, count as the most spectacular rail journeys of the world. However there are many train travel options across the country. Here you find a list of the major australian train journeys. To gain a deeper insight about each single train route, you can click on the links below and read about my experience onboard of different trains across Australia. Here below a short introduction on train travel options divided into australian regions.
Travelling Australia by Train
There are several great rail journeys in Australia that I can recommend. I have been travelling for over 14,000km in 2 months and these below are some of the most spectacular train journeys you can experience on board of the australian rail.
- Discovering New South Wales by train with the XPT and the XPLORER
New South Wales with the Country Link Rail is the australian state with the the most extensive rail service covering most of the coastal and inland territory. I have travelled from Brisbane to Sydney on the XPT and from Sydney to Broken Hill on the Xplorer train. The Sydney-Broken Hill train is in my opinion the most spectacular australian train journey.
- Visiting Queensland with the SUNLANDER, the WESTLANDER, the ROCKY TILT TRAIN
If you are in Queensland and want to make a train experience, then you are in the right place, you can see much of the Sunshine State by train. From Cairns to Brisbane you have a few options to see the coastal landscape on train, as well as to reach some of the remote outback towns and regions. I have travelled onboard of the Sunlander from Cairns to Townsville and Rockhampton, on the Rocky Tilt Train to Landsborough close to Brisbane. And had the opportunity to visit the outback town of Cunnumulla onboard of the Westlander.
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Crossing Australia onboard of THE GHAN and of THE OVERLAND TRAIN
These two trains are known in the world for the long and spectacular train journeys. And they indeed are. If you have the time you should not miss out on one of these unique train travel experience, you can try out one or both destinations covered by the Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs and from Alice to Darwin. Here you can read about my rail experience on the Ghan. The Overland train is another train that takes you from the east to the west coast of Australia. You can travel 3 days from Sydney to Perth and make stops along the way and pay a visit to gorgeous town of Broken Hill, Adelaide and Kalgoorlie.
How to travel by rail in Australia
There are plenty of options if you choose to use travel by train in Australia, first ask yourself this question: for how long do you want to travel, where to and how often. Train travel is usually cheaper than flying, but if you buy single train tickets than it may sum up to the same amount of money as for air travel. So think about it wisely so as to make a decision beforehand if you want to save money and make the most of your train travel experience in Australia. Buying a rail pass can be a good choice if you plan to travel Australia by train extensively.
International Travellers visiting Australia can benefit from the great offer on Australia Rail Passes. The offer is huge and you can choose the pass that better suits your travel itinerary and your time frame. I have travelled 2 months with an Ausrail Pass. Here you can learn more about what the Australia Rail Pass offers.
Great Australian Train Journeys
Here you can read about my experience onboard of some australian trains. Click on the links below that take you to other pages:
My experience on the GHAN TRAIN from Adelaide to Darwin
My experience on the XPLORER TRAIN from Sydney to Broken Hill
My experience on the WESTLANDER from Brisbane to Cunnumulla
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Go to How to travel by train in australia
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Go to Travelling abord the Ghan
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