The Overland: taking the train from Adelaide to Melbourne
Looking for an eco-friendly way to travel between Adelaide and Melbourne? The Overland runs from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. Discover what it’s like to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne by train. We’ll cover the route, cost and ticket options.
There is something inherently romantic about train travel, especially in this day and age.
I think we can all agree that while flying is the quickest form of transportation, it’s generally an unpleasant experience. Going through any kind of airport security can be an utterly dehumanising experience at the best of times. It’s a means to an end, where one hopes that end arrives as quickly as possible.
Trains on the other hand, are exciting. A long train ride is something you can look back on fondly. There’s a pleasant suspension of time, permission to switch off and spend time reading, playing cards with a fellow travel companion or even staring aimlessly out the window. Practises that are good for our brains, but which we commonly don’t allow ourselves to partake in, in this time of unfocused distraction.
Plus, trains are a far more eco-friendly way to travel than planes.
And while the train journey between Adelaide and Melbourne is a long one, it’s not unpleasant.
The Overland train runs between the two capital cities twice a week, offering a daily service. It leaves from Adelaide Parklands Terminal and arrives at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, or vice versa.
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Travelling on The Overland: the train from Adelaide to Melbourne
History of The Overland train
The train between Adelaide and Melbourne has been running for over 130 years, with the first train leaving Melbourne for South Australia in January, 1887. It was known as the Intercolonial Express, up until 1926, when it was rebranded as The Overland.
It formerly operated as an overnight service, with luxury sleeping cabins and dining facilities. The service frequency decreased in the 1990s, as flying surged in popularity, and was discontinued by 2008.
The Overland is now run by Journey Beyond, a travel company that also manages famous historic trains such as The Indian-Pacific and The Ghan.
While the other trains are sold as more of a holiday package, The Overland still functions as viable (and much cheaper) mode of transport, shuttling passengers between two of Australia’s most vibrant cities.
Where does The Overland stop?
Outside of Adelaide and Melbourne, The Overland stops twice in South Australia and six times in Victoria.
These stops are:
- Murray Bridge
- Bordertown
- Nhill
- Dimboola
- Horsham
- Stawell
- Ararat
- Geelong
In Victoria, it travels through an area known as the Wimmera, which is home to the original Silo Art Trail.
What’s the timetable like?
The Overland offers two daily services a week, between Adelaide and Melbourne.
At the time of writing, it:
- Departs Adelaide Sundays and Thursdays at 7.45am and arrives Melbourne 6.50pm.
- Departs Melbourne Mondays and Fridays at 8.05am and arrives Adelaide at 6-6.05pm.
How long does The Overland take?
Australia is a big country and as the Overland runs primarily on freight train tracks, it’s held at a top speed of around 90 kilometres an hour.
As such, it takes around 11 hours to travel between Adelaide and Melbourne, not counting delays due to freight trains and the like.
What are the ticket options for travel?
The Overland offers two levels of service onboard its carriages. Red Service and Red Premium.
Red Service
This is the basic service, where you essentially pay for a seat.
- Reclining seat
- Reading light
- Access to the cafe carriages (where you can purchase food and drinks)
- Luggage allowance of 2 x 20kg bags
Ticket prices start at $145, if you’re booking ahead.
Red Premium
This is the more ‘luxe’ option of travel, with more inclusions such as:
- Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
- Tea, coffee and soft drinks.
- Reclining seats with ample legroom
- Luggage allowance of 2 x 30kgs checked luggage and 10kgs carry on
- In-seat dining and trolley service
Ticket prices start at $260 for this service.
Bookings can be made via the Journey Beyond website.
Can you get food and drink onboard The Overland?
Yes, you can get food and drink onboard the train, no matter your ticket option.
If you’re riding on a Red Premium ticket, your main meals will be accounted for. You’re also able to purchase booze either directly from the onboard Hospitality Attendants or the Café 828 Carriage.
The cafe carriages carries snacks and more substantial dining options for those who have purchased a Red Service ticket.
The meals were not too bad. Within Red Premium, you’re given a menu with options for breakfast and lunch. I chose banana bread for brekky and veggie lasagne for lunch and both tasted excellent. A sweet treat is provided after lunch, with afternoon tea consisting of either carrot cake or crackers and cheese for us that day.
I also purchased a packet of chips and chocolate from the cafe, as it’s a long train ride. Prices weren’t obscene, but were more than the cost at say, a supermarket. I recommend bringing your own snacks onboard if you’re prone to getting peckish.
Where do do you store your luggage?
Your luggage is checked in like you would at an airport, delivered to you once you’ve completed your journey. They’re securely stored in a separate carriage.
Smaller bags, jackets or general carry-on can be stored either at your feet or above your head.
What’s travelling on The Overland actually like?
We arrived at Adelaide Parklands Terminal at around 6.50am. Luggage check-in reportedly closed a half hour before the train leaves Adelaide and it’s nice to not be panicked about these things.
After a little bit of waiting, we board the train. Our names are marked off by the Hospitality Attendant and we settle into our seats.
One annoying thing straight off the bat. We’re seated at a spot that is not directly next to a window, rather the partition between them. This makes it harder to engage in a bit of aimless staring out the window, one of the joys of train travel. It’s also particularly frustrating, because there are seats further up next to the window, which remain free the whole trip. Why? I do not know.
Anyway. The Hospitality Attendants come through with first footstools, then a menu, dictating what’s available for breakfast and lunch. I choose banana bread with yoghurt and sliced banana and a veggie lasagna. The breakfast is delivered alongside tea and coffee options. I opt for green tea, which is available at no extra charge in this section of the train.
The views out of Adelaide are lovely. I begin to read my book, then head to the dining carriage (Café 828 Carriage) for a spell. I buy some chips and get another tea. There are plenty of options available for those in Red Service, from what I can see, alongside some Overland merch.
Journey Beyond are big on experiences, and so the Hospitality Manager offers information about the history of the train, and each station. We stop at Murray Bridge and then Bordertown, although no one gets on or off.
We cross over the border, from South Australia into Victoria. The gauges for rail are different state by state in Australia, which is extremely poor planning from the past. Things get a lot bumpier on the Victoria side of things. I’m impressed by how the Hospitality Attendants manage the transition.
Lunch is served around midday, which is follow by a sweet treat – vanilla slice, in this instance. Soft drinks and juices are included, but I order a sparkling wine, because why not (or, wine not?).
A couple of hours later, we’re offered afternoon tea, which is either carrot cake or crackers and cheese. I am sick of sugar and opt for the latter.
We don’t make bad time at all and arrive in Melbourne at Southern Cross station pretty much bang on time. We get our luggage fairly quickly and would make good time navigating home, if Melbourne’s Metro trains were running, but they’re not on my line. C’est la vie.
What to do in Adelaide and Melbourne
Wondering what to do at either end of the journey?
Check out my three day Adelaide itinerary. I also have an extensive guide to the street art of this colourful city.
I live in Melbourne, so have plenty of content on the city and beyond. I recommend starting with my three day itinerary for Melbourne and you can also read about the best places to stay in Melbourne.
If you’re a train fanatic, here are the best day trips from Melbourne by train.
Should you catch the train from Adelaide to Melbourne?
I hope you’re now convinced that the train from Adelaide to Melbourne is worth catching, at least for the experience.
It takes the stress out of travel and allows you to enjoy the journey… as well as the destination. Plus, it’s much more eco-friendly than flying, which is always a bonus.
If you have caught The Overland in the past, I’d love to hear about your experience.
