Sydney to Canberra train: Fare cost & journey time

Using the NSW Trainlink service, it is possible to go from Sydney to Canberra by train. But driving or taking the Murray’s or Greyhound bus to Canberra is quicker than the Sydney to Canberra train.

Want to get the train from Sydney to Canberra? Well, you might want to consider driving instead.

If you’re driving, getting from Australia’s largest city to its capital city takes about three hours. It’s a 286km journey from Sydney to Canberra that starts ploughs through Sydney’s Western Suburbs before ploughing through some fairly mundane countryside. You might want to detour through the Southern Highlands and Morton National Park to make a day of it.

Parliament House in Canberra, Australia — Parliament House is one of many attractions that make Canberra worth visiting. Quite why you’d bother travelling there by train, though, is a different matter. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions.

Sydney to Canberra is not an especially enjoyable drive, so it is no wonder that most people choose to fly between the two cities. But flying to the Australian Capital Territory isn’t necessarily quicker once you factor in getting to and from the airports, and waiting around in the departure lounge. Should you wish to fly, expect to pay around $220 one way with Qantas.

Taking the bus is another option. Greyhound offers air conditioning, reclining seats, USB charging points and free Wifi on the Sydney to Canberra route. The buses go from city centre to city centre, costing from $45. The journey takes three-and-a-half-hours, and similar, rival Canberra to Sydney bus service is offered by Murray’s.

Sydney to Canberra trains

The third option is going from Sydney to Canberra by train. As with going from Sydney to Melbourne by train, this is not exactly the speedy choice.

High speed rail has not reached Australia and is not likely to any time soon.

Sydney to Canberra train fares

The Sydney to Canberra train services are run by NSW Trainlink, and they trundle through the Southern Highlands on the way to hot air ballooning hotspot Canberra. Sydney to Canberra train journeys take just over four hours, and cost from around $41. A major downside is that they arrive in the suburb of Kingston, a good 5.5km from Civic, the de facto centre of Canberra.

The top Canberra accommodation picks

There is a large selection of Canberra accommodation options. But these are particularly good choices…

The one with the highest guest rating: A By Adina Canberra.
For something cool and stylish: East Hotel and Apartments.
The one where the VIPs stay: Hyatt Hotel Canberra.
For high quality apartments: Quest Canberra City Walk.
For something much cheaper and family-focused: Alivio Tourist Park.

Why is the Sydney to Canberra train so rubbish?

If you’re wondering why anyone would bother with the train from Sydney to Canberra, you have your answer as to why Australia’s rail services are so feeble. Most of the time, rail is a distant fourth choice behind flying, driving and taking the bus. And no Government is going to win votes by pumping in the money to change this.

Good places to visit once in Canberra include the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, National Capital Exhibition and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Questacon and the National Carillon are also worth a look.