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Sydney↔Canberra $27, Sydney↔Melbourne or Brisbane $45, with $1 Kids Tickets @ NSW TrainLink

1080

Available until 15 December. Includes 40kg bags. Can be combined with $1 fares for children under 15. A cheap way to travel that also avoids the need for airport transfers.

So 1 adult and 3 children (age 15 or under) can travel from Sydney to Canberra for a total of $30.

Cheaper than this deal from last year.

There's also $36 fares between Sydney and Dubbo, Armidale, Casino, Grafton, Griffith, Moree and Broken Hill.

NOTE: These prices include 10% off for booking online. Also the evening and daytime train to/from Canberra is $27 but the noon train is $36.

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closed Comments

  • +7

    Does that symbol mean return or each way?

  • +2

    Each way price (but available both ways).

  • +28

    If they had a Japanese style bullet train so it only took 3 hours they might have more takers..

    • +1

      This will never happen whilst the railway is above ground.

      • +1

        Underground rail project is being postponed and Queenslanders are not sure what is going on here. Bugger!

    • +34

      I must be hungry because I read "Japanese style buffet train", and thought "YES! That would be so awesome and definitely make the trip seem shorter! \o/ "

  • +14

    Is cheap but 14-15 hours Sydney to Brisbane would kill me.

    • +11

      Chuck in half an hour and that's a flight to Los Angeles

    • +7

      I did this trip as a kid and its a day in my life i will never get back

  • +11

    They'd need to have free Wifi to get my kids on board; even at $1.

    • -2

      do your kids get free wifi in the car/bus/plane? don't think so…

      • +1

        But it does not take that long in a plane. Airports have free wifi.

    • +1

      Why does a kid need wifi? Neither 3DS or iPad require internet.

      • +4

        Haha circa 2012 thatd be fine. They could play angry birds the whole way. All the new stuff the younguns do now seems to need a connection.

      • Why does a kid need a 3DS or iPad?

        • +6

          Why kid?

        • @the69thhokage: Thanks God my and your parents didn't ask this :)

        • @the69thhokage:
          Sometimes you accidently forget the condom.

        • +18

          Why does a kid need a 3DS or iPad?

          For a 15 hour train journey? Ha ha, they don't need to have it, you need them to have it, mate…

        • +3

          What happened to 'I spy…' and '1000 green bottles'?

        • @newdad: i want to neg you for that. that was my childhood car trips and "are we there yet", this is the song that never ends,. i'm grateful for technology

      • YouTube is what the kids want

        • +3

          That's what youtube red is for… allows you to download content for offline watching

        • @TheGMan:cant predict what content they want to watch at a particular time.

        • +7

          YouTube is what the kids want

          Too bad? Dam this generation of kids are spoiled turds. 1 day without YouTube is a huge problem? Smh.

          Least when I played Pokemon Yellow on family road trips, I was actually learning to read.

        • +1

          @PainToad: Heh, last road trip I had (couple of weeks ago) I brought my PSP along and played Pokemon Emerald through gpSP. I'd have to buy an extended battery x 2 to do Sydney -> Melb though

        • @PainToad:generations change, you are just getting old.

        • -1

          @captobvious:

          generations change

          Change is fine. A demanding self entitled generation is not.

  • +4

    People should know Sydney - Canberra train takes longer time than bus.

    • A ridiculously long time. 6 hours or something. Why is that?

      • +2

        Because the rails are close to crumbling resulting in plenty of speed restrictions.

        • +2

          This is worst then some of the third world countries.

        • @Kamsi: Which ones specifically? Not that third world/first world is a good indicator as to whether train travel is financially feasible - geographically Australia isn't really suited to long distance trains, and I dare say wouldn't have them at all if it wasn't for the old tracks being there!

    • Are you sure? This timetable for Train 631 says it's a little over 4 hours: http://www.railmaps.com.au/tripdetails.php?tripid=%271.Z3.1-…

      Apparently the Greyhound is also 4 hours: http://www.greyhound.com.au/travel-info/popular-routes/sydne…

      • +2

        Grayhound stops in the Southern Highlands. The Murry's bus is 3:15 to Sydney Airport, or 3:30 to Central station. And it runs every hour, rather more often than the trains. Both bus companies stop in Civic, the train station is over in Kingston, so you'll need a taxi/uber/friend to get into town as well.

        • +5

          Yes train slightly longer around 4 hours v 3h 30 murrays but sometimes murrays even takes 4 hrs depending on traffic.
          Train you can get up and walk around and even have a wine which is a plus :)

        • I'd MUCH rather spend 4 hours on a train than 3.5 hours (assuming traffic is ok) on a bus!

      • What I was thinking of was actually 10 hours, not 6. But I was selecting Canberra, West Row, Civic on this website:
        https://bookings.nswtrainlink.info/NASApp/Odyssey/booking/ne…

    • +4

      As someone who does this train trip semi-regularly, it is just over 4 hours (plus the inevitable delays, which average between 10 and 30 minutes). Still, I'd much rather be on a train where I can get up, walk around, visit the buffet car, use the bathroom etc, than be stuck on a Murrays or Greyhound, which have much less comfortable seats and are usually packed at the times I travel. When I used to take the bus, I also seemed to keep ending up seated next to a 'wider than usual' fellow traveller. On the train, the seats are older, but seem wider and have a lot more legroom.

  • +6

    Nope never getting on that train again. Last two times I used it was hell. Wouldn't recommend unless you can sleep on uncomfortable seats, through kids going crazy all night.

    • +2

      I hear you. I spent Brisbane to Sydney (well, Casino to Sydney) just above a patch of the train that screeched at every turn. Also learned that I can't sleep sitting up.

      Their 'first class' is not much better. There are fewer people in it, but when we travelled in it, it was SO dirty and there was rubbish everywhere. The normal city trains were cleaner.

      • +1

        And then you get drunken idiots being abusive to one and all, swearing to each other at the top of their lungs, playing loud music and generally being a nuisance (on our Bris - Syd trip one was locked up and put off the train at Taree). Assuming it was possible to sleep in those chairs, there's zero chance of it ever happening.

        Plus on hot days the train runs at low speed because the tracks buckle, so you don't get into Sydney till midnight…

        The trip would probably be ok if you did it at daytime and maybe broke it up with a stopover in Coffs.

        • +3

          idiots being abusive to one and all, swearing to each other at the top of their lungs, playing loud music and generally being a nuisance (on our Bris - Syd trip one was locked up and put off the train at Taree)

          I wish they did this on ordinary trains…

        • +10

          @mgowen:
          🚅Free entertainment🚄

          A couple was asked to leave a long distance train I was on in Queensland, for taking too long having sex in the showers. Quickies were permissible apparently. Another for smoking & it wasn't tobacco…
          My kind of passengers😀

          Caught the Queenslander from Cairns to Brisbane in April as had cheap ticket (returning from Japan for $249 return - was given free dinner & breakfast on flight). Met an attractive psychologist who showed me her thought provoking tatts. Her philosophy of life was across her arse & I always like to discuss people's philosophies… I woke from a short nap to find a coffee & KitKat she'd bought me. She left her down pillow so I could sleep on that 24 hour trip. Ah such sweet dreams💃

          Even got a free pizza later as dining car said it was not up to usual standard & wouldn't charge me - but tasted fine. I didn't even know train food had standards😯

          🚆Train travel can be fun😀

        • +1

          @Infidel: I had no idea they had showers. Pretty fancy. I wonder if that's only for people travelling in berths.

        • +3

          @peterpeterpumpkin:
          For all passengers on long distance in Queensland, not sure of NSW. Liquid soap included, just supply towel.

          🚄It would almost be inhumane (on the other passengers) if you couldn't wash on a 24 hour long train ride🚄

        • +3

          @peterpeterpumpkin: On the XPT, the sleeping berth section has a shower/toilet combo to share between two cabins. The cabins each hold 2 per night (bunk beds down) or 3 as a daysitter (beds packed away) - some first class passengers are lucky enough to be bumped up to daysitter status due to seating allocations. More details: http://www.nswtrainlink.info/your_journey/on_board/seating

          Caveat: the showers might sound fancy but are miniscule, if I put my elbows out they would touch each wall.

        • @blerk:
          Queenslander train showers for those sitting in economy are big enough, with the shower for disabled people being huge. (No one in wheelchairs during my trips.)

          Not recommended on any rough sections of track, as you need to hold on rather than enjoy a good suds up.

    • +4

      I usually enjoy train travel around the world. Its usually relaxing watching the scenery, being able to walk around & have a chat. I got a similar deal a while back & decided to try Sydney to Brissie (bus last section).

      Never again - mainly single parents (most likely on discounted pensioner fare) with many uncontrolled young kids playing noisy crap electronic games at full volume non-stop. I had my earphones pulled out of my ear by one - destroying it, so no escaping the chaotic noise. I was told I was lucky it wasn't school holidays! Never got to sleep.

      Flying is better, faster, and may be cheaper on special. Of course there's the time, inconvenience and expense of getting to/from airports.

      • mainly single parents (most likely on discounted pensioner fare) with many uncontrolled young kids

        Unfortunately this is everywhere, be it movies, shops, restaurant, park, plane, cruise et al. There's no escaping useless parents.

        • -2

          wow, talk about mummy issues

        • +1

          @dtc:

          Typical parent, it's someone else with the 'issue'.

        • +1

          @dtc:

          Kids learn respect for others / conduct in public places through their parents and discipline…

          Nothing to do with mummy issues.

          Parent's don't like others talking to their kids, but its the parents responsibility to ensure their kids understand how to conduct themselves appropriately, rather than let the train, restaurant or movie become a playground (which it isn't)… it seems the onus is on others to always remind or ask parents to ask their kids to behave properly…. why is that so

        • +1

          @klownz:

          why is that so

          Because the notion of waiting to have children is gone. People pop kids out when they're not ready and expect them to be everyone elses responsibility. From them misbehaving, to paying for childcare.

      • sounds brutal

  • +1

    I can see how to Canberra is a good deal, but 11 hours to melbourne, I don't think so.

    Its on a reclining chair….

    • Few people drive to Melb as well…
      It might fancy few. I prefer by air though.

      • +2

        I do it with the clan often enough. It's only 8 hours and a tank of fuel each way, you can leave when you want, have your own car when you get there, throw whatever you want in the boot, strap the bikes to the back, etc. Much more value than the train in so many ways unless you are going on your own for a very short stint, in which case flying makes sense.

  • +1

    Australian trains are pretty bad considering its a western nation. Dont even bother with intercity

    • considering its a western nation

      This is relative to where you look from :) On a standard 2D world map, we're on the east and most of world is on the west.

      I know, I know, you just meant Western as in a developed country. But if we are talking about trains, we are nowhere near as developed unfortunately.

  • +2

    the views get monotonous, the seats uncomfortable, they only recline a tiny bit. no internet, air con not poor, its a horrible experience if a feral decides to use their free pension ticket the day you go because you will be stuck in a confined space with them. food is awful, if jail is your thing its perfect for you, its just not worth it find some flights instead.

    • +2

      This is exactly my experience when travelling to visit my dad in rural NSW.

      Some disgusting fat bogan pensioner sat next to me reeking of stale beer and got mad and swore at me when I didn't want to talk to him (had earphones in and was watching a movie before he even boarded).

      Fat bogan throws a hissy fit and goes to get more beer from the food/drink carriage, cool mate you aren't intimidating anyone…fun times.

  • +6

    Australia is so behind with the trains. The bullet train talk since the 1970s, nothing has happened to-date. Oooopppppssss, we have very short sighted politicians.

    • I know but something wrong because they are all millionaires and billionaires. Is being a politician an investment?

    • In a country with 20 million people and the size of Europe? Yeah, totally economical.

      • +1

        doesnt need to be over the whole continent. SYD to MEL could easily support one but then all the airlines would be complaining.

        • As much as I'd love one, when you can fly Sydney to Melbourne for $100 return in 2 hours, there just isn't the benefit there. Sydney to Canberra I can see being worth it, but I'm not sure how often that route is used in general.

        • +2

          @yaziyo:
          2 hours… unless you just want to visit both airport terminals that's not much use for anyone. Average flight time is 1h35m.

          We're not all the Kerrigan family living in "The Castle" next to the airport😀 Most business travellers (where the profit is) want to travel to CBD area. New airports are being pushed further from CBD.

          Try travelling CBD Sydney to CBD Melbourne in 2 hours… you could easily spend 2 hours just in traffic & airports.

          Talk ages ago was for 3 hour CBD to CBD fast train. Based on Japan Rail experience, that would seem possible.

          But the initial costs & fare price may be too high, given the comparatively small combined population of about 10M.

          Still Sydney-Melbourne is fourth busiest air route in world with close to 8 million passenger movements in 2015 Fast ground transport could reduce the pollution, noise, congestion, and lost productivity. But transport operators like airlines won't like it.

      • Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra is one of the busiest flight route in the world.

  • Where about in Brisbane can I catch this train to Sydney folks?

    • +4

      Roma Street Station

    • +3

      Roma Street Station is departure point for all long distance trains (& buses) in Brisbane.

      Brisbane XPT: daily daylight train from Brisbane – travel time 14 hours

      Otherwise bus to Casino & Casino XPT to Sydney - 1 ticket: daily overnight service from Casino to Sydney with sleeping car attached travel time 11 hours – coach connections to/from the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

  • Read the previous "deals" as to why this is not worth it. you've been warned.

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