Sydney to Melbourne overnight by Sleeper Train - FIRST CLASS XPT! 

That cabin has real ‘correctional centre’ vibes. 😂

Australian trains are way behind the rest of the first world. Incredibly slow, frequent signal stoppages for traffic problems, shocking food, poorly maintained and cleaned.

Last time I travelled along this route was 1965 on Southern Aurora in First Class cabins where you get woken up in the morning by the guard with a cuppa tea and had brekkie in a proper dining car with white table cloths and steel crockery and served at the table.

Can't agree more about the final part of the trip. It's so nice seeing Melbourne come into view in the morning!

Done this trip quite a few times. A tip: if you have your own cup with a fittable lid and a tea-bag, the buffet car will give you boiling water for free (and milk if you ask nicely).

This was amazing, thank you. I used to catch the XPT from Southern Cross to Benalla years ago, riding in the Economy class, but always wondered what the sleeper cabins were like. This looks like an experience I will definitely have to try.

Looks very intriguing. Thanx for upoading. Hope Australia soon gets going with their HS plans! 💪

I hate to sound negative, but this was... well... quite depressing. Australia is way behind many parts of the developed world in terms of train travel. Personally, I would rather fly and get there in 1 hour.

Great to see this workhorses still going strong!! Fantastic class which are still superior to most other forms of travel on offer with a great sleeper journey kit

You say way more expensive but once you factor transport to and from the airport, even public, it comes close. Even without the overnight hotel fee that is saved. As a tourist you are taken into the heart of your destination with literally every public transport option at your feet. That convenience in time and money makes it even in my eyes. I love travelling on trains.

Back in 1992, I caught the overnight train from Sydney to Melbourne. It was called the Melbourne Express, and was made up of ex-Southern Aurora coaches. There was a proper dining car in which I had a tasty dinner, and very nice economy single berth sleeping compartments as per the Indian Pacific. The XPT is quite pleasant during the day, but the overnight version is not a patch on what I enjoyed all those years ago.

Thanks Josh. I agree, a microwave dinner is one thing, the fact that you must pay for this garbage is another. XPT food is also way too expensive. 'When' we do travel on the XPT we take our own food and beverages, alcohol included. Much much much better!

Absolutely magnificent 😁

After seeing that $10.50 meal, it looks like you'd need to buy/bring a few extra snacks of your own!

"The bread roll is decent, though." It's sad when that is the highlight of the meal!

Travel tip for meals.. on train or plane, always pre order the vegetarian option. It’s usually fresher & less likely to upset your stomach than off fish or meat in sloppy gravy

Hi Josh, happy for your experience 👍🏻 My friend and I will be travelling from Sydney to Melbourne on Saturday morning but when arrive in Albury, train replaced by bus to Melbourne 😊. Enjoy😊😊😊

Seen nuclear submarines more roomy than our first class interstate trains =.=

I took the XPT from Sydney to Melbourne in 2000 during the Olympic games, as you could'nt get a flight then! Thought it was a bit of a time warp to the 80s back then, and that was more than 20 years ago! Definately overdue for retirement, as much as I'm fond of the XPT!

I remember when these had a smoking car 😂 Edit: come to think of it, I remember travelling on red rattlers often when I was very small.

Night looks beautiful.

One of the busiest travel corridors in the world but no high speed service.

Easy to watch. Good job.

Nice work Josh! I loved the savage review of the meal and of the conductor's detective skills!

Thanks for that 👍.

Train is 40 years old, what have we been doing all these years when so many other countries have been investing in fast trains capable of travelling at 300kph.

Agree with the previous comment! The facilities are adequate but behind the times! And as long as airfares are cheap enough is an expensive option! The rail service is really geared to all the in between stations on the way! What is needed between Sydney and Melbourne is a Very Fast Train! And competitive with air travel! Also, last time I used XPT it was like Melbourne’s poor cousin with a platform far from station exit! And most delays seemed to be in Victoria? 😢

It seems that trains in Australia make no attempt to compete with the Airlines. The old Southern Aurora was far better way back in the late 60’s.

XPT First Class - Literally means fifth class Amtrack

My wife and i took the night train from Broadmeadows {VIC} to Sydney. I should have the cereal, but had the tosties which were not the best. Trip was good. On the way home we took the day train but chose to have breakfast at Sydney Central before boarding. We left central on time but because of slow running between Campbelltown and Goulbourn we lost 30min.

Back in my RAN days (late sixties, early seventies) the normal method of transport between Melbourne and Sydney was by train. Travel consisted of six seat compartments like you see on old British movies staring Alec Guinness!

" he doesn't know how to use the 3 seashells" finally makes sense😂😂😂😢😅😅

Great review, can't believe it takes a train that long between Sydney and Melbourne in this day and age.

I took the XPT from Sydney to Melbourne a couple of years ago , I’ll drive next time it’s quicker and cheaper

Didn't get bashed by Melb Cops. Well done!

Much nicer than when I went on one of these sleepers as a teen, before the refurbishments. Twas kinda grotty and worn, though on the upside someone rubbed out the Y at Yass Junction and I saw a derailed freight train from the XPT

This is nice for couple ..so they can spend the time lovely … 😁

Much too slow trains in Australia! If we had TGV trains like in France going at 320km/h , it would take 3 hours only, just about. Australia is so far behind , it's not funny. And the food looks crap ! Still thank you for showing us :)

Far cry from the old Spirit of Progress days, which had a restaurant carriage serving full sit-down service with freshly cooked dinner and breakfast.

I been xpt train from Wagga to central on 22nd july

A lovely little video thanks for the memories did a lot of travelling by train at nite in the sleeper cars.

gosh - just remembering having to wear masks on trains... so silly now lookingback!

Wonderful journey! I would pick that over a plane anytime. Thanks so much for sharing! Loved it.

Not very impressed, been thirty years since I took the overnighter and it’s defiantly gone down hill, in fact I think I recognised the sink and toilet. Great presentation though, well done.

The First Class breakfast reminded me of a 1980's bad school camp breakfast. Embarrassing that this is modern high speed rail in Australia

When you factor in the skybus (Melb) and airport station (Syd) access fees, the train is MUCH cheaper than flying. $89 economy, $122 first class (which is really only premium economy). I doubt I'd bother with the sleeper, wouldn't sleep in it esp with the bed in that direction (ie roll out when accelerating/decelerating).

That may be the case , but you don’t get searched by security! At the station unlike the airport! And your ticket includes checked luggage unlike some airline tickets

Thanks Josh. The one and only time I took an overnight train to Melbourne from Sydney was in a seat. Reclining or not it was horrendous. I had restless legs all night! the next time? A sleeper for me. 👍

Tbh compared with the catering of 50 years ago who ever is in charge of it today needs sacking. I would have them out of their job before lunch time. You probably could have got a better takeaway packaged for you.

I'm sorry that you have no reference to help understand how mediocre today's XPT is compared to the service that existed previously. It's a bit like comparing rubbish to excrement... How disappointing that the most highly patronised, inter-city route in Australia can only to offer an economy coach version of service with plastic tables, shared toilets and microwaved pies... Not a patch on the first class sleeper and dining accommodation that once made this journey an attraction. Who are they kidding???

I'm heading to Sydney in a few months, and may just consider vlogging this too!

I’m a shit flier so get the XPT whenever I can and also catch sleepers when overseas. It’s a great way to travel. I hear they’re going to retire the sleeper carriages entirely in the near future on the XPT.

Last time I took the overnight XPT was literally a few days before everything hit the fan in 2020. Trackwork thanks to an accident coming the other way on the Albury line meant we had to take buses from there to Melbourne. Nothing had changed since the previous trip on the XPT from Melbourne to Sydney in 1998.

How beautiful it is in Sydney rail station... Melbourne southern cross is a disgrace. It is poorly designed...it has 1A and 1B on the same platform. It captures the diesel fumes into the roof creating a massive toxic cloud so if u look to the side of the station at Collins Street right above a bus sign whilst commuters are waiting for their bus... To their oblivion they are directly exposed to fumes being pumped out onto Collins Street.... Have a look when u get a chance.. Also it's poorly lit dark dingy and the interior represents something of a prison. Grey concrete.. No planning on flooring on the platforms Platform 16and 18 are hidden and are not on the level of Interstate country trains ...the designers have managed to mix then with suburban rail. There are rodents near the entry where the food outlets are. Seriously windswept where commuters have to endure harsh steel cold seats that are insufficient to sit on. It should be rated as third world. Have a look please and you will understand that it's truly an ugly station.

Can’t wait to try this once, always see them go past but never gone on one

"Is this a splife or a knoon?" LOL the true questions I think of

Never ever will i do that again got the XPT from Melbourne back home to Sydney 3 weeks ago .The train was 30 mins late. If that wasn't enough we were 4 hours behind schedule due to a broken rail track . I was utterly disgusted the sleeper was filthy the sheets and pillows were not changed from the previous person. Under the mattress it was full of dust food and papers. No air-conditioning the toilet /shower was broken water everywhere. I got very sick and still just recovering. I will never catch the train ever again .

What a disgrace our trains are.

looks very old and uncomfatable

11:40 country side Broadmeadows lol ok

Lesson learned: Next time stock up at Coles .

Our Train system is a joke should be called donkey express should do Melbourne Sydney 4 hours Max not over night they still can not afford fast train but can give our Country away who are they kidding

found these videos when researching transport options to and from Melbourne and Sydney for this year's Smash con, love all the attention to detail and the good look inside the cabins and seeing that they lock, too. That food though? yeah, bump whatever policy they've got, if I'm using this service, I'm smuggling a kebab on board $10 for a microwave meal, bloody hell...

The trains from gara de nord in romania are even better

I wish to travel from Perth to Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney by train but it's soooo expensive. Air ticket is cheaper.

There’s supposed to be a new train coming in 2023 to replace the xpt

Did the trip once never again. Painfully slow, extremely uncomfortable seats in cattle class, could barely stand up due to the swaying of carriage at speed. Drove back home to Sydney and saved 2hrs. Time for a major upgrade.

This needs serious sound editing. When your voice is set to normal levels, the "music" comes on very loud indeed. I could not get more than about 2 minutes into the video because of this.

Thanks Josh ! Your filming was wonderful with great sounding voice too. Definitely going by overnight train.

My son loved watching this. He's 5 and his greatest dream is to travel on this train 😂❤

That food is a reminder of how far airline food has come

40 year old trains? How pathetic.

Probably the only train in the OECD which takes longer than driving. An utter embarrassment. Wake up Australia, you’re being ridiculed by the UK and Europe

It reminds me of Japanese Blue Train！ As big country, it might have needs of over night train.

thanks for reminding me that I needed to book my rail journey from MEL-SYD (return) in a few months...for me as a pensioner it'll be cheaper to do a return rail journey..$210..that's economy day travel going up and sleeper coming back, with free rail journey within Victoria...I think if I flew it would cost well over $400, plus I won't need to check my baggage, thus allowing me to travel with a bit more.. my last rail journey was from MEL - SYD return 2016...I went up economy but decided to upgrade to sleeper on return cause both journeys were overnight...this next trip will be daytime going up and book into a hostel..then hit the Quay for my cruise ship...return will be at night cause I won't be able to make daytime journey and nighttime means I can be back home by following morning, all via inexpensive rail/bus, crash and unwind...

Nice! I have never travelled interstate via train before..XPT looks really nice & clean & safe too right? I'll try that one day. Thanks for sharing👍

this is an antique, should belong in a museum, shove aside and leave room for high speed rail.

Amazing how crap this tip is, rail in Aus is Baaaad ... high speed train LOL. Before the XPT I did 1st Class trip to Syd from Canberra 8 hrs may as well have walked... it totally put me off rail travel!

Can you ride Melbourne metro

I wouldnt use that toilet

Astounding that the new trains that will be replacing these XPT's eventually don't even have sleeper options! You just have to sit there all night!

Sweet they were worried about you.

I think it should be splife

Awesome video and thank you for sharing 💙👍👍

Last time I travelled this route was 1983 on the Southern Aurora in a seat. I should have paid the extra for the Spirit of Progress! Zero sleep. Did I hear correct - only one sleeper compartment on this train? If so, is that normal or because this was covid times? I remember an earlier visit to Australia in 1979 the guard walking through the train at Albury (I think?) with a bin liner and asking passengers to deposit all fruit as it was forbidden to take fruit across the state border from Victoria to NSW. Does this practice still happen?

$235 one way Gold Class, yep, your right... that IS expensive. and to be honest, the food you got for 1st class i think was terrible. plus NO tv to watch a movie. think id rather just sit in normal seats. thanks for showing what you get on the Sydney to Melbourne train

You arrived at Central Station in Sydney in the morning for a night-time departure?

Wow I've seen prison cells better than that. They should really make it more of an experience with great food, sleeping accommodation, and amenities. I think people would pay for a relaxing overnight trip to Melbourne as an alternative to the hassle of getting to the airport and onto a plane only to sit in cramped seats.

Price?

Thank you for video! I planned to use a train for Melbourne to Sydney trip to enjoy a countryside, in my Australia holidays, but I really don’t like that bathroom, and going to flight instead:D

Back in the day, my family lived in Broadmeadows just next to the railway line and almost every night my brothers and me would wait for the Spirit of Progress to run past first then an hour later the Southern Aurora on their way to Sydney. I remember on both trains seeing people siting in a dining car having their evening meal. Both trains of course long gone. In 1998 I traveled across the U.S. in an Amtrak first class cabin which puts this train to shame. On Amtrak the stewards make your bed, and then reset the cabin in the morning you have a three full service meals in the dining car plus snacks available throughout the day. the cabin beds were arranged along the length of the window which makes it far more enjoyable than the arrangement of this train. I spent a total of 8 days and nights on the Amtrak for about 1000 bucks. Okay, that was 1998 but still... The only drawback with the Amtrak was that the first class is at the front of the train and American train drivers are blowing the horn almost constantly. I never saw the inside of the Southern Aurora but I suspect it would have been nicer than this. This train is okay, just seems somewhat ordinary.

can you take a push bike as luggage ? that would be way cool. I know in Europe many service do allow bikes, but not sure in Oz.

Australia is like a Third World Country when it comes to Rail .. Its Embarrassing

Just saw your vlog of the trip from Sydney to Melbourne. You somehow missed telling us what the fares are, by Sleeper Class and Economy. The time it leaves Sydney and arrives in Melbourne, etc.

This is a disgrace. This was would have been considered poor quality 30 years ago and here these are considered first class? How behind this country is..

How come you have reception?! every time I use xpt to melbourne, there’s no reception.

i do this overnight route often . Better than flying and dealing with crowded airports and triggered crowds.

The Sydney to Melbourne/Brisbane train is so overpriced and a shitty way to travel. Even in a berth. Just fly it takes 1hr 30

Enjoyed your video. I have heard that the replacement for the XPT does not have sleeping cars. That would be very unfortunate. Can anybody shed some light on this? Thanks

Fair enough price. I remember catching an old diesel red carriage thing about 1992 for about $48 i think. Sit up and try your best to sleep the journey or option for a bed carriage was $110 or $130. 32 years later inflation hasn't really taken its toll on the journey. If your a train and railway buff thats a great price.