XPT train trip 

These XPT trains were modelled after the British High Speed Trains (HST). They have a lower top speed at just 160km/h, a smaller engine, and are built to cope with the inferior track conditions in Australia. The rail cars are also different from those Mark 3 coaches as seen on British HSTs.

One train is named Starlight Express for the Starlight Children's Foundation, brightening the lives of seriously ill children across Australia. Also occasionally the menu is distributed on trains. At night the XPT almost always depart from Platform 1, next to the luggage office.

The more wealthy inhabitants run farms around the area. Being in the highlands the terrain is rather uneven. At a century-old alignment the track curves frequently along the terrain. XPT services, if running late, can still reach ~110 km/h in this area.

XPT services run limited stops and only call at Moss Vale and Goulburn in the Southern Highlands region. Goulburn is roughly 3 hrs away from Sydney and marks the end of Sydney's Opal fare zone. On night trains to Melbourne this is also where the lights are switched off.

Similar to other regional stations there is a small waiting room for passengers to wait for the next service. Goulburn is served by the Melbourne and Canberra trains, along with several Southern Highlands Line trains. Some people choose to go between Canberra and Melbourne with a change of trains at Goulburn, not the most direct way but decently comfy. Canberra to Goulburn is just 1hr by train but the more common way is a coach to Yass Junction and a daytime XPT train. Station staff also pre-check tickets and luggages hours before departure of the service.

The only time when getting out of Goulburn is necessary: when the train from Goulburn to Melbourne is replaced by coach. In July 2022 large chunks of regional rail are shut down due to weather, and Transport for NSW was reaching its limits in arranging sufficient replacement coaches. In the end they could only offer a direct coach to Melbourne, and another all-stop coach to Albury (where it meets a coach on the Victorian side, continuing to Melbourne).

The station in daytime. While there are two platforms only one is used for passenger service.

The city itself. It is well known for its merino wool production. Multiple Victorian-era buildings including the post office still remain untouched. The pub food in Hibernian Hotel is also much loved by locals.

After Goulburn the train stops at Gunning, an unstaffed small station serving just a small village. On this day many gathered on the platform for the arrival of the train, greeting family members at the station. Only the daytime service stop at this station (ie. 1 train per direction per day). 

Proceeding through Yass Valley on a rather cloudy day

Yass Junction: The station is 3-4km away from the town itself which is served by connecting coaches. This sets the station closer to Hume Hwy which is just 500m from the station itself. The word Yass is derived from an aboriginal word meaning running water.

Sunset at Yass Valley during winter (on the daytime service to Sydney).

The train line then leaves Hume Hwy, running slightly north to Harden. Harden is a small town along B94 Burley Griffin Way (the road covered in the outback trip) and is often considered the same town as Murrumburrah next door. 

A few abandoned stations run along the railway line as local trains used to run. Now only the fastest XPT service operates and stations not served by the service are abandoned.

Meal is served at this stage: Roasted Pork. Small portions but decent taste. The meal takes an hour to prepare using oven.

Other meals I've had in XPT trains. The ice cream on trains is really nice, and same for the toasties.

Cootamundra marks the midway point between Sydney and Melbourne by rail. Coach service depart here to the Riviera area south-west of the state. Other than that it's not a very large settlement.

The hilly terrain comes to an end at Bethunga Rail Spiral, entering the plains near Junee. Olympic Hwy goes parallel to the line and this becomes the few places in Australia where trains are faster than cars.

Junee: a settlement 30mins away from Wagga Wagga. The day train from Melbourne usually meet the train from Sydney here.

Rolling into Wagga Wagga, a major town on the line and 6 hrs away from Sydney. A significant portion of passengers board and alight from the train here.

For the night train it arrives at 4 am. The platform gets quite crowded with residents heading to Melbourne/Sydney and returning home.

After Wagga Wagga is a perfectly straight section of track down to Albury. The train, if running late, operates on its top speed of 160 km/h (130 km/h if not running late) and can usually catch up 10 mins of its schedule.

The Rock, Henty, Culcairn: request stops along the way, only served if there are passengers boarding or alighting. 

Then Albury where NSW ends. Albury is a border settlement where the train crosses between states, fron NSW into Victoria.

The track layout at platform 2 is now modified, allowing for a V/Line Vlocity set to be stabled overnight. The same crew change takes place in Albury at night. Passengers usually take a bit longer to fall asleep as it's just 3 hours into the train ride.

The station has the longest platform in Australia at 455 metres. This is due to the need to change trains before Victoria's North East line was converted to standard gauge. The station has two platforms: Platform 1 used by NSW Trainlink and Platform 2 by Victoria's V/Line.

Victoria uses a wider rail gauge than NSW resulting in a break of gauge at Albury Station. Trains from Sydney terminate here where passengers cross over and change to Victoria's Spirit of Progress for Melbourne. Nowadays the line between Melbourne and Albury is converted to standard gauge and trains can run directly into Melbourne. Albury still remained as a major stop due to the need for a crew change.

The station building is certainly the best you can see in regional NSW. A clock house with a ticket office and waiting room, particularly useful in late night services.

Albury's CBD is certainly the most vibrant regional town in NSW. A long shopping strip with restaurants and several shopping malls support the needs of the residents in both the city of Albury and Wodonga on the Victorian side.

The city's library contains a small museum covering the city's railway history and industries driven by the railway.

Monument Hill: a small lookout overlooking the entire city.

Murray River: where the state border runs. The river itself belongs to NSW and Victoria begins on the opposite bank. On the other side is Victoria's City of Wodonga, where both cities in both state from a relatively large metropolitan area.

Hume Dam and Lake Hume: being just 15 mins drive from the station makes a great place to visit in Albury. The lake spans through both states and the water is dammed before flowing downstream into the Murray River.

Cows next to where we live

Hume Weir and Bellbird Bridge in daytime. Perhaps this is the best scenery in this bit of NSW.

Back to Albury and the train journey continues. Without public transport to Lake Hume there are only two options: The only one uber driver in Albury and Albury Taxis, which offer decent fare and services.

Crossing of the Spirit of Progress Bridge, a rail bridge with one track, marks the start of Victoria. At Victoria the XPT train runs limited stop again, skipping through Wodonga Station.

Natural scenery in the northeastern part of Victoria is great in daytime. The day train from Sydney usually runs through this bit in night time and nothing can be seen.

Overnight services from Sydney will often see the sunrise here. In winter the sun only rises after Seymour but in summer longer daylight hours mean more can be seen, and passengers wake up well before they were woken up by the train crew.

And for train-replacement buses: Coach drivers pull into a service station for their legally required break every 4 hours.

Lights off mode in overnight trains. While the lights are off the carriage ends are lit throughout the whole night.

XPT trains only call at Wangaratta, Benalla and Seymour in regional Victoria. Victoria also makes a financial contribution to the provision of XPT services and therefore these trains do permit journeys within Victoria. People often travel between Melbourne and Benalla (or Wangaratta) since NSW trains are cheaper and more direct. Seymour meanwhile is a drop-off/pick-up only station.

After Broadmeadows the train turn into the goods line, heading to Melbourne via Sunshine (instead of the more direct Craigieburn Line due to track guage differences).

At Footscray the standard gauge line goes past freight yards near North Melbourne. Some abandoned silos, warehouses and trains. Eventually an elevated viaduct crosses over the suburban tracks into Platform 1 of Southern Cross.

Southern Cross: where XPT trains start and terminate. Occasionally the Overland service to Adelaide shows up on platform 2.

This section of tracks is also dual-gauged. The narrower one is the standard gauge and the broader one is the Victorian broad gauge. Broad gauge is used in all Victorian rail lines except the lines to Sydney to Adelaide.

Southern Cross Station