The south-eastern corner of Australia's mainland is the most populous part of the nation. The major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide are here and there are many significant provincial cities and towns. Long distance passenger rail services link these major cities, and frequent trains link Melbourne and Sydney to provincial cities and rural areas in New South Wales and Victoria. Suburban train networks serve the suburbs of Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. Melbourne has one of the world's most extensive electric street tramway networks, whilst both Adelaide and Sydney each have a light rail line. The island State of Tasmania is connected to the mainland by the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.

NSW Trains run frequent medium distance InterCity trains from Sydney Central station south to Wollongong and Kiama (Change for Bomaderry), south-west to Moss Vale and Goulburn, west to Katoomba, Mount Victoria, Lithgow and Bathurst, and north to Gosford, Wyong and Newcastle Interchange (change for Maitland, Dungog and Singleton). All these services are un-reserved, and you can use your pre-paid Opal card or credit card to tap on and ride.

NSW Trains also run longer distance Regional XPT and XPLorer diesel trains on longer distance routes to regional NSW and interstate to Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. You cannot use your Opal card on these trains and you must pre-book your seat.

Sydney Trains run frequent trains between Sydney and most suburbs over an intensive network of lines. Most lines operate through the City Railway - either running around the City Circle, through the Eastern Suburbs Railway to Bondi Junction, or across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to North Sydney.

Often in the shadow of the city's more famous trams, Melbourne's suburban train network is also of impressive size and efficiency. Operated by Metro Melbourne, there are seventeen routes radiating to all corners of the suburbs. Trains are frequent and generally comfortable. If the truth be known, the train network contributes more to the economic advantage of Melbourne than does the tram network.

Metro train routes are shown on our map as thick coloured lines. Most trains operate between the City and a suburban destination via the "City Loop". The City loop is a four-track, five station loop that encircles downtown. As a general rule, trains operate from Flinders Street station to and from their suburban destination via the City loop stations of Southern Cross, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament.

An extensive network of country train services from Melbourne to provincial cities throughout Victoria is operated by VLine. Fast, modern Vline trains depart Melbourne Southern Cross station at regular intervals (1 to 3 times each hour) to Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon. Two to five trains each day depart for the more distant destinations of Warrnambool, Ararat, Maryborough, Echuca, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Albury and Bairnsdale. Reservations are not essential, but they are available on longer distance trains and are advised at peak travel periods such as holidays. You can use your Myki card to travel on VLine trains to Geelong/Warn Ponds, Ballarat/Wendouree, Bendigo/Eaglehawk/Epsom, Seymour and Traralgon. For trips beyond those stations you must purchase a paper ticket at the station.

Suburban trains are operated by Adelaide Metro. Some lines are run by modern electric trains, whilst other lines are run by air-conditioned diesel railcars. Trains operate regularly throughout the day but are infrequent at night and on weekends. All trains operate to and from Adelaide Station.

The 'Bay Tram' runs from the Royal Adelaide Hospital via North Terrace and King William Street in the city to the bayside suburb of Glenelg. At certain times, some Glenelg trams run to Festival Plaza instead on RAH. A second route, opened in recent years, runs from Entertainment Centre in the inner north-western suburb of Bowden, into the city along North Terrace to its terminus at Botanic Gardens. Metrocards are accepted on trams, but there are extensive free tram zones in which no ticket is required.