What's the cheapest and fastest way to get from Melbourne to Sydney by train?

Question

Name of company. Prices. Time it takes.

Answer 1

Its faster to fly than it is to travel by plane. The train will take about 11-12.30hrs ($90-100), car roughly the same, and flying takes around 1hr 20mins and costs between $127-$229 (Qantas) depending on the time you fly and the deal you get.

Answer 2

Yup countrylink XPT, use it a fair bit and love it.

$91.18 inc GST

It takes 11hrs to 12hrs30mins depending on which service you choose (they cost the same but one leaves in the morning and travels all day and the other leaves at night and travels all night)

Answer 3

@iansand: you're right. Flying is even cheaper. I once paid only around AUD 24 (think that had been a very,very special price then - a few years ago).

But if you want to take the time, travelling by train might be nice even at the price of AUD 91.

Answer 4

Contact Countrylink - they've got all the answers you need.

Answer 5

There is only one way to get there by train. As the others said, contact Countrylink. It's a horrible trip. I've done it once, and the bus twice. The bus is better. They're all much the same price, but check the different companies as their timetables differ. Greyhound and Firefly, not sure if there are others. The other respondants are right about flying though. The best option of all.

Answer 6

Fly.  If you pick your times and fares it will probably be as cheap, if not cheaper, and a heck of a lot faster.  You will not see much scenery, however.

Answer 7

take an amtrack