The journey

Journey Overview
Route: Adelaide – Melbourne, Melbourne – Adelaide
Duration: Daylight Service in both directions
Distance: 828 kilometres
Frequency: Three times weekly in both directions

There’s no more relaxing way to enjoy the trip between Melbourne and Adelaide than on the newly refurbished Overland. The Overland provides a comfortable, relaxing way to travel between the cities or to ease into a great holiday in either Melbourne, Adelaide or their surrounding regions.

This historic train pioneered inter-capital rail travel way back in 1887, its name inspired by the historic ‘Overlanders’ who travelled the route on horseback. A century on and a $4 million refurbishment later, today’s train-travelling ‘Overlanders’ will enjoy the journey in relaxing comfort arriving at their destination in the early evening.

Throughout this interstate journey, guests can soak up a diverse range of landscapes from rugged mallee scrubland, to fields of golden crops, over vast open plains and through gently rolling hills.

The Overland passes through classic Australian country towns including Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Dimboola, Horsham, Ararat and Geelong. So whichever direction you travel, the journey is a wonderful opportunity to relax in comfort, mingle with fellow travellers and delight in the ever changing countryside along the way.

The Overland runs a daylight service between Adelaide and Melbourne in both directions, three times a week. Guests also have the opportunity to disembark from the train to explore the many regions and towns The Overland passes through along its route. These guests simply re-join The Overland on a scheduled service that suits their holiday timetable.

On board, The Overland guests have the choice of two levels of service; Red Service and Red Premium Service. Red Service offers a value for money option with all the comforts you need, while Red Premium gives guests more services and more personal space. Both service levels offer guests ample room to move around the train and stretch their legs. The licenced Café Carriage also provides the chance to meet your fellow travellers and socialise in a comfortable, friendly environment.

The Overland links Melbourne with two of Australia’s great trains; the mighty Indian Pacific which traverses this huge continent between Sydney and Perth, via Adelaide, and The Legendary Ghan, travelling between Adelaide and Darwin. It means The Overland opens up exciting train travel all over Australia from either Adelaide or Melbourne.

With The Overland’s new levels of comfort and refurbished facilities, no matter what level of service you choose, travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne by rail is now a more comfortable, relaxing and unique experience complete with mesmerising views and the ability to move about the train as you wish.


Readyrail Sale
Sector
One Way
Return
 
Adult
Pensioner
Adult
Pensioner
Adelaide - Melbourne or v.v.
$54
$44
$99
$88
v.v. = Vice Versa
All fares are based on Red Service day/night seat service. For bookings made from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 for travel until 31 March 2011. All fares are as stated, to break your journey with stopovers, sector fares will apply. Return journey must commence prior to 31 March 2011. Prices are subject to change without notice, available for instant purchase and are non refundable or changeable.
Subject to availability.
Pension fares only available to Australian citizens.

The Overland Fares (valid to 31 March 2011)

All prices are per person one way
Adelaide to Melbourne
 
MON
WED
FRI
Red Premium Service $
Red Service $
         
A,S
C
Sen
A
C
S
Sen
Adelaide
DEP
7.40am 7.40am 7.40am              
Murray Bridge
DEP
7.35am 9.50am 9.35am
25
21
22
17
12
12
15
Bordertown
DEP
11.28am 11.42am 11.28am
57
43
46
38
22
23
31
Nhill
DEP
12.48pm 12.50pm 12.48pm
77
56
61
52
28
30
41
Dimboola
DEP
1.17pm 1.32pm 1.17pm
77
56
61
52
28
30
41
Horsham
DEP
1.40pm 1.55pm 1.40pm
82
60
65
55
29
31
43
Ararat
DEP
3.28pm 3.28pm 3.21pm
98
70
77
66
34
37
52
NS Geelong
DEP
5.23pm 5.23pm 5.23pm
134
95
104
90
45
49
70
Melbourne
ARR
6.40pm 6.40pm 6.40pm
134
95
104
90
45
49
70
Adelaide to Melbourne Rail Saver **
   
57
     
Adelaide to Melbourne and Return
223
   
151
     

A=Adult, C=Child / Australian Pensioner / Commonwealth Senior Health Card Holder, S=Student / Backpacker / YHA, Sen=State Seniors Card Holder

All prices are per person one way
Melbourne to Adelaide
 
TUE
THU
SAT
Red Premium Service $
Red Service $
         
A,S
C
Sen
A
C
S
Sen
Melbourne
DEP
8.05am
8.05am
8.40am
             
NS Geelong
DEP
9.47am
9.47am
9.47am
55
41
44
37
21
22
30
Ararat
DEP
11.49am
11.49am
11.49am
55
41
44
37
21
22
30
Horsham
DEP
12.56pm
12.56pm
12.56pm
74
54
59
50
27
29
40
Dimboola
DEP
1.22pm
1.22PM
1.22pm
79
58
62
53
28
30
42
Nhill
DEP
1.44pm
1.44pm
1.44pm
94
68
74
63
33
36
49
Bordertown
DEP
2.04pm
2.04pm
2.04pm
97
68
74
63
33
36
49
Murray Bridge
DEP
3.57pm
4.04pm
3.57pm
125
89
97
84
42
45
65
Adelaide
ARR
5.45pm
5.45pm
5.45pm
134
95
104
90
45
49
70
Melbourne to Adelaide Rail Saver **
   
57
     
Melbourne to Adelaide and Return
223
   
151
     

A=Adult, C=Child / Australian Pensioner / Commonwealth Senior Health Card Holder, S=Student / Backpacker / YHA, Sen=State Seniors Card Holder #

**Rail Saver: Payment required at time of booking. No changes permitted. Non refundable (100% cancellation fee). Subject to availability.

# State Seniors Card Holders must apply for a GSR Sate Seniors Discount Card

All fares are in Australian Dollars and are inclusive of GST.

Pension and concession fares are valid for Australian citizens only.


All times are local times and may be subject to change. 

Taking your car on The Overland

Notes:

To receive concessional travel fares, Great Southern Railway is required to confirm your eligibility for the concession electronically with Centrelink. If you do not want this to happen you will need to contact Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) to obtain a Pension Concession Letter as proof of your eligibility for the concession and provide this directly to Great Southern Railway before the concession can be given.

 

Return fares are generally double the one-way fare

Cancellations are subject to Great Southern Railway Cancellation Policy.

The following services have been cancelled for 2010

Adelaide to Melbourne

Melbourne to Adelaide

   

Friday 24/12/10

Saturday 25/12/10

or Call Toll Free 1300 880 835