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City Rail is a very frequent suburban train service which runs underground in the centre of Sydney. Mostly double-deck trains are used on all routes spreading out from the city centre as far as 60 km to Richmond or 56 km to MacArthur. Lines are bundled in the central area and offer a metro-like service with trains every few minutes. A new branch of the green line (East Hills Line) to the airport opened in time for the Olympic Games in 2000. See City Rail line details here!

In the city centre of Sydney, the Sydney Metro Monorail, an elevated circle line, links many points of interest in the central business district and the Darling Harbour area. Starting from Central Station, a modern tram line (Sydney Metro Light Rail) runs along the harbour to the western parts of the centre. Both the Monorail and the Light Rail Lines are operated by Connex.

These pictures by kind permission (1-3) © David Johnson (4) Helen Brewin

21 May 2000 - Green Line via Airport

 Projects

Parramatta Rail Link 27 km linking Chatswood, Epping, Carlingford and Parramatta on existing lines (2006)

North West Rail Link

Australia's largest city has some 4 million inhabitants and hosted the Olympic Games in the year 2000.

- OPERATION

CityRail trains run from 4:30 to 24:00, every few minutes in central areas and up to every 30 minutes in suburban areas. After 20:00 only two carriages next to the train guard are in service to guarantee safety for passengers.

The Metro Light Rail operates around the clock between Central and Star City and from 6:00 to 23:30 to Lilyfield, every 10-15 minutes daytime and every 30 minutes at night.

The Metro Monorail works 7:00-22:00 Mon-Wed, 7:00-24:00, Thu-Sat and 8:00-22:00 Sun, every3-5 minutes.

- FARES

City Rail single fares depend on the distance travelled and range from $2.20 for a trip downtown to $6.40 to the suburbs in the west. A special fare is applicable for the airport stations ($10.00-10.40 from the city centre, $15.80 return). Off-peak discounts are available for return tickets. Single fares on the Light Rail Line are between $2.20 and $4.50.

The SydneyPass is on sale for 3, 5, or 7 days and is valid in the red fare zone on trains (including airport express line), buses, ferries and harbour cruises for $85 (3 days), $115 (5 days) or $135 (7 days).

A DayRover allows unlimited travel on te entire CityRail network, buses and ferries for $22.00 ($17.60 off-peak). A CityHopper ticket is valid only between Redfern and Kings Cross on trains and buses for $8.00 ($6.20 off-peak).

A TravelPass allows unlimited travel by CityRail, buses and ferries within one or more of six colour-coded zones of which the red zone covers all areas shown on the map above. Prices for this area (Red TravelPass) are $28 weekly, $308 quarterly and $1,120 yearly.

TramLink is a special ticket for passengers using both CityRail and the Light Rail Line.

City Rail (Official Page) actually includes everything you might be searching for

Sydney Public Transport Directory Online

Sydney Aiport Rail Link

City Rail Line Description and Distances between Stations

City Circle Underground Railway & Sydney Monorail

Metro Monorail & Light Rail (Official Veolia Site)

Matthew Geier's Sydney Light Rail Page

David Johnson's Rail Photo Page includes many pictures of CityRail

NSW Rail Transport Museum