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.


Super Railsaver Sale Extended

Adult

Pensioner

One Way Return One Way Return
Melbourne - Adelaide or v.v. $59 $99 $46 $92
All fares are subject to availability, limited seats apply for Super Railsaver fares. Above fares are valid for sale from 3/10/08 until 31/12/08 for travel before 31/3/09 in a Red Service seat only. Fares are instant purchase, non refundable or transferable, date changes are permitted subject to availability. Prices quoted are per person.

The Overland Fares (valid 4 August 2008 to 31 March 2009)

$ Per Person One Way
 

Premium Red Service

Red Service
Day / Nighter Seat
Rail Saver**
Day / Nighter Seat

Melbourne - Adelaide or v.v

Adult

151.50

94 59

Child / Pensioner / CSHC

110.50 51

Backpacker/Student/YHA

151.50 55
Melbourne - Adelaide Return

Adult

264

159 NA

Child / Pensioner / CSHC

221 102  

Other sector fares available on application.

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

 

CSHC = Commonwealth Senior Health Card Holder

 

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


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

Pension and concession fares are valid for Australian citizens only.

Cancellations are subject to Great Southern Railway Cancellation Policy.

 

The Overland Timetable(valid 6 August 2008 - 31 March 2009)

Melbourne - Adelaide

Tue

Thur

Sat

Depart Melbourne

8.40am

8.40am

8.40am

Depart North Shore Geelong
9.47am
9.47am
9.47am
Depart Ararat
11.49am
11.49am
11.49am
Depart Horsham
12.56pm
12.56pm
12.56pm
Depart Dimboola
1.22pm
1.22pm
1.22pm
Depart Nhill
1.46pm
1.46pm
1.46pm
Depart Bordertown
2.04pm
2.04pm
2.04pm
Depart Murray Bridge
3.57pm
4.04pm
3.57pm
Arrive Adelaide
5.45pm
5.45pm
5.45pm

Adelaide - Melbourne

Mon

Wed

Fri

Depart Adelaide

7.40am

7.40am

7.40am

Depart Murray Bridge
9.35am
9.50am
9.35am
Depart Bordertown
11.28am
11.42am
11.28am
Depart Nhill
12.48pm
1.03pm
12.48pm
Depart Dimboola
1.17pm
1.32pm
1.17pm
Depart Horsham
1.40pm
1.55pm
1.40pm
Depart Ararat
3.28pm
3.28pm
3.21pm
Depart North Shore Geelong
5.23pm
5.23pm
5.23pm
Arrive Melbourne
6.40pm
6.40pm
6.40pm

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

The Overland Motorail

Due to the redevelopment of Melbourne's Southern Cross Station, Motorail is not available on The Overland until further notice.

or Call Toll Free 1300 880 835