Countrylink (tel: 132 232, in Australia only; website: www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au) runs the New South Wales rail network. Countrylink provides high-speed XPT trains and XPlorer trains for shorter distances and links Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. These trains are new, modern and comfortable, featuring air conditioning, wheelchair access, buffet and satellite telephones. Seats are modelled on the French TGV and there is one sleeping car per journey, with cabins equipped with private bathrooms. Rail travel tends to be expensive, although a number of passes are available to overseas visitors. The Indian Pacific train, operated by Great Southern Railways (tel: 132 147, in Australia only; website: www.gsr.com.au), runs between Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

Sydney's Central Station, on Eddy Avenue, just south of the city centre, is a grand old building lined with newsagents, coffee shops and restaurants, as well as transport and tourist information offices.

Rail services: Popular inter-state destinations include Melbourne (journey time - 11 hours), Brisbane (journey time - 14 hours), Adelaide (journey time - 24 hours) and Perth (journey time - 64 hours).