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from MELBOURNE to ADELAIDE Four nights per week, you can catch The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide.  Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train dpearts Melbourne's Spencer Street station late in the evening, runs overnight and arrives early the following morning at Adelaide's Keswick rail terminal.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Adelaide takes around ten and a half hours. The Overland to ALBURY V/Line operate three trains each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Albury.  The first train departs early in the morning and arrives in Albury late in the morning, the second departs Melbourne in the early afternoon and arrives in Albury late in the afternoon, and the third train departs Melbourne late in the afternoon and arrives in Albury late in the evening.  The journey takes about three and a half hours.  You can also board these trains at Broadmeadows station in Melbourne's suburbs and at other towns along the way.  On weekends the midday train does not operate. V/Line Albury train Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Albury (then on to Sydney).  The journey to Albury takes a little over three hours.  The first train departs Melbourne early in the morning and arrives Albury a little before noon.  The night train departs Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Albury late that same evening. Melbourne XPT to BAIRNSDALE V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Bairnsdale.  There are two trains each day, one departs in the morning and the other in the evening. The journey takes about three and a half hours.  You can also board all Bairnsdale trains en-route at Melbourne's Flinders Street station and at Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the South-Eastern suburbs. V/Line Bairnsdale train to BALLARAT V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Ballarat.  On weekdays there are about ten trains, whilst on weekends there are five or six trains each day.  The journey takes a little over one and a half hours.  You can also board most Ballarat trains at Sunshine station in Melbourne's Western suburbs, and some peak-hour trains will also pick up at North Melbourne. VLline Ballarat train to BENDIGO V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Bendigo.  All trains destined for Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Echuca or Swan Hill will stop at Bendigo station. On weekdays there are about eleven trains, whilst on weekends there are five to seven trains each day.  The journey takes a little under two hours.  You can also board most Bendigo trains at St Albans station in Melbourne's Western suburbs, and some peak-hour trains will also pick up at North Melbourne.  A few trains will also let you off at Kangaroo Flat or Eaglehawk station in the suburbs of Bendigo. V/Line Bendigo train to BRISBANE To travel to Brisbane, you will need to first catch a train to Sydney then change to another train bound for Brisbane.  Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Sydney Central station.  If you prefer travelling overnight, you can catch the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne in the evening, then travels overnight before arriving at Sydney Central station early the following morning.  Then, you can spend a few hours in Sydney before catching Countrylink's Brisbane XPT from Sydney Central station.  This train departs Sydney Central in the afternoon, travels overnight then arrives at Brisbane's Roma Street station early the following morning.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Brisbane, with a few hours to sightsee  in Sydney will take you about a day and a half. Melbourne XPT Brisbane XPT If you prefer travelling in daylight, you can travel to Brisbane by catching Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" departure from Spencer Street station that departs early each morning.  This train travels through the day and arrives at Sydney Central station that same evening.  You can then stay overnight in Sydney before early the next morning catching Countrylink's "Casino XPT" train from Sydney Central station to Casino, then changing to a connecting bus, also operated by Countrylink.  The bus takes you from Casino via the Gold Coast to Brisbane Roma Street station, arriving there late that same evening.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Brisbane takes about a day and a half including an overnight stay in Sydney. Melbourne XPT Casino XPT Countrylink road bus to CAIRNS To travel Melbourne to Cairns by rail  is one of the great rail journeys of Australia, it involves no fewer than three trains.  First, you will travel Melbourne to Sydney, then from Sydney to Brisbane, and finally from Brisbane to Cairns.  If you prefer travelling in daylight, you can travel to Sydney by catching Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" departure from Spencer Street station that departs early each morning.  This train travels through the day and arrives at Sydney Central station that same evening.  You can then stay overnight in Sydney before catching Countrylink's "Casino XPT" train from Sydney Central station to Casino, then changing to a connecting bus, also operated by Countrylink.  The bus takes you from Casino via the Gold Coast to Brisbane's Roma Street station.   Once you are in Brisbane, you then change to one of Queensland Railways (QR) trains up the coast to Cairns.   The Sunlander departs Brisbane's Roma Street Station two mornings per week.   It travels northwards through the day, overnight and through the following day before arriving at Cairns station late the following afternoon.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Cairns takes three and a half days including overnight stays in Sydney and Brisbane  en-route. Melbourne XPT Casino XPT Countrylink road bus The Sunlander If you want to travel overnight, you can catch the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne in the evening, then travels overnight before arriving at Sydney Central station early the following morning.  Then, you can spend a few hours in Sydney before catching Countrylink's Brisbane XPT from Sydney Central station which departs in the afternoon, travels overnight, then arrives at Brisbane's Roma Street station early the following morning.   After spending the day in Brisbane, you can board the Cairns Tilt Train which departs Brisbane's Roma Street Station three evenings per week and travels overnight and through the next day before arriving in Cairns the following evening.  This is arguably Australia's most modern and technologically advanced passenger train, note however that it does not provide sleeping accommodation.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Cairns takes a little less than three days including your sightseeing time in Sydney and Brisbane en-route.  (Note - you could also catch the Sunlander from Brisbane to Cairns - see above.  This would get you to Cairns sooner because it leaves Brisbane leaves soon after you arrive). Melbourne XPT Brisbane XPT Cairns Tilt Train to CANBERRA You can travel from Melbourne to Canberra by train all the way, but unless you have a religious aversion to road transport, there are a number of convenient co-ordinated train-bus routes that are much quicker and more convenient.  The best option is to catch Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train that departs Melbourne's Spencer Street station early each morning destined for Sydney, however you change to a connecting Transborder bus at Yass Junction station inn the mid afternoon for the final leg of the journey to Canberra's jolimont bus terminal.  This journey minimises the proportion of the trip done by bus and is very convenient.  The whole journey will take about eight hours. Melbourne XPT Transborder Bus Countrylink offer a connecting bus service Canberra, however this require you to travel a much greater proportion of the journey by bus than the above option offered by Transborder.   Catch Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train that departs Melbourne's Spencer Street station early each morning destined for Sydney.  At Cootamundra you have to change to a connecting Countrylink bus that basically follows the railway to Yass then diverges down to Canberra's Jolimont bus terminal arriving late afternoon.  The combined train and bus journey from Melbourne to Canberra takes just a little over eight hours. Melbourne XPT Countrylink Bus V/Line also offer a co-ordinated train/bus service from Melbourne to Canberra called Canberra Link - although there is a greater proportion of the journey necessary by bus.   From Melbourne's Spencer Street station, you catch V/line's Albury train, and travel for a little over three hours before getting off at Wodonga.  Then you board a V/Line bus that takes you to Canberra.  The whole journey is about eight and a half hours, however the majority of the trip is by bus.  This service operates at different times on different days of the week: on weekdays you catch the midday train from Melbourne and arrive in Canberra in the mid evening, whilst at weekends you catch the early morning train from Melbourne and arrive in Canberra mid to late afternoon. V/Line Albury train Canberra Link bus V/Line also offer a co-ordinated train/bus service from Melbourne to Canberra via Bairnsdale and Cooma.  Called Capital Link, this service takes quite a different route to the above options, is a little longer, contains more bus travel and operates only on certain days of the week so you will need to check the timetable carefully.  From Melbourne's Spencer Street station, catch the early morning V/Line train to Bairnsdale.  At Bairnsdale, change to a V/Line bus for the remainder of the journey to Canberra where you will arrive in the evening.  This journey will take you about ten and a half hours, of which somewhat less than four hours is by train. V/Line Bairnsdale train Capital Link bus Finally, it is possible to travel the whole way from Melbourne to Canberra by train - but you need to be a real train enthusiast!  You can catch Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train that departs Melbourne's Spencer Street station each evening destined for Sydney.  After travelling through most of the night, you get off at Goulburn in the wee small hours of the morning.  You then need to wait about six hours before catching Countrylink's Canberra Xplorer train from Sydney that will take you to Canberra railway station arriving late morning.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Canberra takes about fifteen and a half hours.  If you don't like the idea of getting off a train and waiting six hours in the middle of the night, you actually have enough time to stay on the first train all the way to Sydney, then change to the Canberra train there and re-trace your steps back through Goulburn to Canberra.  This journey will take you no longer and will avoid a likely cold wait in Goulburn, but it will naturally cost a bit more. Melbourne XPT Canberra Xplorer to DARWIN Four nights per week, you can catch The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide.  Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train dpearts Melbourne's Spencer Street station late in the evening, runs overnight and arrives early the following morning at Adelaide's Keswick rail terminal.   After spending the day in Adelaide,  late each Sunday afternoon, you can then catch The Ghan, also run by Great Southern Railway (GSR).  This  luxurious train travels through the night into the heart of Australia before arriving in Alice Springs late the next morning (Monday).  You get a few hours to look around town before again heading off northwards travelling overnight to arrive in Katherine for another morning stopover (Tuesday), then later that afternoon the Ghan travels the final section to Darwin arriving late on the Tuesday afternoon.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Darwin takes two and three-quarter days including three sightseeing stops - in Adelaide, Alice Springs and Katherine. The Overland The Ghan to ECHUCA V/Line operate two trains per week from Melbourne to Echuca.  Late each Friday afternoon and early each Sunday afternoon, a train departs Melbourne's Spencer Street station bound for Echuca via Bendigo.  The journey takes about three and a quarter hours.  Note that V/Line also provide a more frequent road bus service if these trains are not timed conveniently. V/Line Echuca train to GEELONG V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Geelong.  Many trains also run through to South Geelong station, and many also serve Lara, Corio, North Shore and North Geelong stations en route.  Mondays to Saturdays there is a train every hour (more in peak periods), whilst on Sundays trains run about every ninety minutes.  The journey takes a little under one hour.  You can also board most Geelong bound trains at Footscray and Werribee stations in Melbourne's Western suburbs, and some  trains will also pick up at North Melbourne and Newport stations.  You may also travel to Geelong on any West Coast Railway Warrnambool train using a V/Line ticket.  Most (but not all) Geelong trains offer first class as well as economy class seats. V/Line Geelong train to GOLD COAST (Surfers Paradise) To travel to the Gold Coast, you will need to first catch a train to Sydney.   Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Sydney Central station.  If you prefer travelling overnight, you can catch the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne in the evening, then travels overnight before arriving at Sydney Central station early the following morning.  Then, you can spend a few hours in Sydney before catching Countrylink's Brisbane XPT from Sydney Central station.  This train departs Sydney Central in the afternoon, travels overnight then arrives at Brisbane's Roma Street station early the following morning.  From Brisbane's Roma Street station you can then catch a QR citytrain to Nerang station (there are two trains every hour) from where connecting QR buses will tkae you the short distance to Surfers Paradise. The whole journey from Melbourne to Brisbane, with a few hours to sightsee in Sydney will take you about a day and a half. Melbourne XPT Brisbane XPT Robina Train QR Road bus If you prefer travelling in daylight, you can travel to the Gold Coast by catching Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" departure from Spencer Street station that departs early each morning.  This train travels through the day and arrives at Sydney Central station that same evening.  You can then stay overnight in Sydney before early the next morning catching Countrylink's "Casino XPT" train from Sydney Central station to Casino, then changing to a connecting bus, also operated by Countrylink.  The bus (which is destined for Brisbane) takes you from Casino to the Gold Coast arriving there late that evening.  The whole journey from Melbourne to the Gold Coast takes about a day and a half including an overnight stay in Sydney. Melbourne XPT Casino XPT Countrylink road bus to HOBART The Spirit of Tasmania ferry departs every evening from Melbourne's Station Pier for the ten hour sailing across Bass Strait to Devonport in northern Tasmania, arriving there early the following morning.   From Devonport, catch the connecting Tigerline bus for the four hour journey to Hobart.  This will get you into Hobart around midday.  The travel time from Melbourne to Hobart is about fourteen or fifteen hours.   At peak times, daytime sailings also operate that depart mid morning and arrive in Devonport late in the afternoon.  Bus connections to Hobart are provided to connect with these sailings also. Spirit of Tasmania ferry Tigerline bus to PERTH Four nights per week, you can catch The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide.  Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train dpearts Melbourne's Spencer Street station late in the evening, runs overnight and arrives early the following morning at Adelaide's Keswick rail terminal. After a day of sighteeing in Adelaide, you can board the Indian Pacific on Thursday or Synday evening for the two-night journey across the Nullarbor plain.  The train arrives early Saturday or Tuesday mornings at East Perth rail terminal.  The train stops at a handful of locations en route for brief periods to let passengers experience the outback.  The whole journey from Melbourne to Perth takes around two and a half days including a daytime sightseeing stopover in Adelaide. The Overland The Indian Pacific to SALE V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Sale.  On Mondays to Saturdays there are three trains each day, whilst on Sundays there are two trains.  The journey takes about two and three-quarter hours.  You can also board all Sale trains en-route at Melbourne's Flinders Street station and at Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the South-Eastern suburbs. V/Line Bairnsdale train to SHEPPARTON Hoys Roadlines operate two trains daily from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Shepparton.  Don't be concerned about the name of the company - yes thay are a bus company, but to their credit they also operate this train!  The trains are hired from V/Line, so they look just like a V/Line train and have the same amenities as V/Line trains.  One train departs Melbourne in the morning and another departs in the evening.  The journey to Shepparton takes about two and a quarter hours.  Note that on Sunday the morning train to Shepparton does not operate.  You may also board Shepparton trains at Broadmeadows station in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Hoys Shepparton train to SYDNEY Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Sydney Central station.  The journey takes about ten and a half hours.  There is a day train that departs Melbourne in the morning and arrives Sydney in the evening, and there is a night train that departs Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Sydney early the following morning.  You can also get off these trains at Strathfield or Campbelltown station in Sydney's suburbs, or at one of many other stations along the way. Melbourne XPT to TRARALGON V/Line operate a regular train service from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Traralgon.  On Weekdays there are about twelve trains each day,  whilst on weekends there are four or five trains each day.  The journey takes a little over two hours.   Most trains terminate at Traralgon, however trains bound for Sale will also allow you to travel to Traralgon. You can also board all Traralgon trains en-route at Melbourne's Flinders Street station and at Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the South-Eastern suburbs.  All Traralgon trains also serve Warragul, Moe and Morwell stations. V/Line Traralgon train to WAGGA WAGGA Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Wagga Wagga (then on to Sydney).  The journey takes about four and a quarter hours.  There is a  train that departs Melbourne early in the morning and arrives Wagga Wagga just after noon, and there is a night train that departs Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Wagga Wagga just after midnight. Melbourne XPT to WANGARATTA V/Line operate three trains each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Wangaratta (then on to Albury).  The first train departs early in the morning and arrives in Wangaratta mid morning, the second departs Melbourne in the early afternoon and arrives in Albury in the mid afternoon, and the third train departs Melbourne late in the afternoon and arrives in Albury later in the evening.  The journey takes about two and three-quarter hours.  You can also board these trains at Broadmeadows station in Melbourne's suburbs and at other towns along the way.  On weekends the midday train does not operate. V/Line Albury train Countrylink's "Melbourne XPT" train runs twice each day from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Wangaratta (then on to Sydney).  The journey to Wangaratta takes about two and a quarter hours.  The first train departs Melbourne early in the morning and arrives Wangaratta mid morning.  The night train departs Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Wangaratta later that same evening. Melbourne XPT to WARRNAMBOOL West Coast Railway operate three trains daily from Melbourne's Spencer Street station to Warrnambool via Geelong.  Trains depart Spencer Street station in the morning, around midday and in the late afternoon for the three and a quarter hour journey to Warrnambool.  On Sundays the first two services are operated beyond Geelong as road buses connecting with trains from Melbourne to Geelong. Warrnambool train Page Updated Sunday 9th May 2004