Sydney to Bathurst
NSW Trainlink's Dubbo XPT train runs once each day from Sydney Central station to Bathurst (then on to Dubbo). The journey to Bathurst takes about three and a half hours. The train departs Sydney early in the morning and arrives Bathurst in the mid morning. You can also board this train at Strathfield, Parramatta, Blacktown or Penrith station in Sydneys suburbs. On Monday mornings NSW Trainlink also run an extra train - the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer which departs Sydney about an hour earlier than the Dubbo XPT. You can also board this train at Strathfield, Parramatta or Penrith station. All travel on XPT and XPLorer trains must be pre-booked and you are allocated a reserved seat.
NSW Trainlink run two day-return trains from Bathurst to Sydney departing Bathurst early every morning, arriving Sydney Central station mid morning. On the return the trains departs Sydney Central station in the late afternoon for the direct journey up and over the Blue Mountains for an evening arrival back in Bathurst. These trains are not pre-booked and do not have reserved seats. Just show up with your Opal card or use your credit card to touch on and off at the Opal gates to pay your fare.
NSW Trainlink also offer a bus service to Bathurst connecting at Lithgow with Sydney Trains electric intercity trains from Sydney. Electric trains depart Sydney Central station for Lithgow every hour or two, and between two and six times daily (depending on the day of the week),
Countrylink buses destined for Parkes, Orange, Grenfell or Nyngan connect at Lithgow and stop at Bathurst on the way. The Sydney to Bathurst journey takes about four hours - the bus trip is only one hour long. Travel on Sydney Trains electric trains is covered by Opal card fares, and NSW Trainlink buses must be pre-booked.