Booking restrictions
To ensure that interstate and long distance passengers are given priority, some booking restrictions exist on various CountryLink services.
The longer the distance travelled between destinations, the further in advance bookings can be made - ranging from 7 days prior to travel to approximately 11 months in advance.
Sleeping berths and seats are open for reservations as indicated below.
Total restrictions exist on all journeys between Sydney, Strathfield, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Gosford, Parramatta, Blacktown and Penrith. CityRail provides regular services between these locations.
Southern region
| Services | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney, Bundanoon and Goulburn | 14 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney, Strathfield and Campbelltown | Total restriction |
North West region
| Sydney-Armidale/Moree-Sydney Xplorer | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Broadmeadow and Maitland | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Aberdeen and Scone | 30 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney, Strathfield, Hornsby, Gosford, Wyong and Fassifern | Total restriction |
North Coast region
| Sydney-Casino XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Broadmeadow and Maitland | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney and Dungog through to Sawtell | 14 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Casino-Sydney XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys from Maitland and Broadmeadow | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys from Taree to Dungog | 30 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Sydney-Grafton-Sydney XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Broadmeadow and Maitland | 7 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Sydney-Brisbane XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Broadmeadow and Maitland | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney to Dungog and Taree | 30 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Brisbane-Sydney XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys from Maitland and Broadmeadow | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys from locations between Grafton and Dungog | 14 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Coaches | Restriction |
| All local journeys between locations Casino to Tweed Heads and Surfers Paradise and Casino to Robina and Brisbane. | 7 days prior to travel |
| All journeys between Sydney, Strathfield, Gosford, Hornsby, Gosford, Wyong and Fassifern | Total restriction |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
Western region
| Sydney-Dubbo-Sydney XPT | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney and Lithgow | 7 days prior to travel |
| All other journeys | 325 days prior to travel |
| Sydney-Broken Hill-Sydney Xplorer | Restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney and Lithgow | Total restriction |
| All journeys between Sydney, Strathfield, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith and Katoomba | Total restriction |
