Onboard facilities and services
Onboard dining
A buffet car on each train service provides you with a variety of hot and cold meals as well as snacks and drinks. You can purchase your meal and then take it back to your seat. Alcohol, including a selection of Australian wine and beer, is available between midday and 11.00pm to those over 18 years of age. You can pay for your meals with cash or credit cards, but we cannot accept EFTPOS payments. View the CountryLink onboard menu.
If you have a particular dietary requirement you can choose from a range of special meals. Those travelling alone with small children, elderly people and those with disabilities that prevent them from visiting the buffet car can arrange to have their meals brought to their seats by CountryLink staff.
You can take your own food and non-alcoholic drinks onto CountryLink services. CountryLink staff are unable to heat food brought on board by customers. It is recommended that, if you do bring food on board, you limit this to food that can be eaten cold. Please dispose of any litter in the rubbish bins provided and remember that it is an offence for people travelling with CountryLink to consume alcohol purchased anywhere other than the buffet car while on board.
While meals are not available on coach services, stops for meal breaks are scheduled into journeys longer than four hours.
Animals
The only animals allowed to accompany passengers on CountryLink services are dogs registered as assistance animals (or assistance animals in training) who are accompanying people with visual, hearing or other disabilities. Police and security dogs on duty or in training are also allowed on board. More about assistance animals.
Travelling with children
In the interests of safety, children under the age of 12 cannot travel alone and must be accompanied by an adult. Every child must have a seat reserved for them and travel in that seat, not in the lap of an adult accompanying them. Children aged over 12 may travel alone and we advise that they make themselves known to a CountryLink attendant before or soon after boarding. For information on infants, please refer to the Reservations & tickets section.
If you are travelling with a young child in a stroller or pram please make sure the brakes are applied while you are on the platform and keep a firm hold of the handle at all times. Each train has a fold down baby change table. Please ask a passenger attendant to tell you where it is.
Long trips can be trying for children and we recommend packing a range of activities in your hand luggage to keep them amused. These could include a deck of cards, books, a map to follow your journey, colouring books and pencils, board games and a personal CD or tape player with headphones.
While our online booking system seats people booking together as close as possible on the train, we recommend you call 13 22 32 if you plan to travel with small children to make sure you are seated together.
Telephones
Paytel satellite phones on each CountryLink service enable you to make both local and international calls. Phone cards to the value of $6.50 can be purchased from the buffet section. While the phones also accept Visa and Mastercard, you cannot use Telstra phone cards to make calls.
Economy and first class
You are ensured a comfortable trip in either first or economy class thanks to reclining seats, foldaway arms, footrests and drop-down tables. Most seats can be rotated to allow groups of four to face each other.
Economy class
If you choose to travel in economy class you'll be provided with comfortable seats that recline (28 degrees) from the upright position.
First class
When you choose first class you'll enjoy extra room to stretch your legs and comfortable deluxe reclining (40 degrees) seats. As a first class passenger, you can also upgrade to sleeping accommodation subject to availability at an additional cost of $88.00 per person.
XPT first class daysitter cabins (Car A)
On the Brisbane to Sydney, Sydney to Casino, Sydney to Grafton, Grafton to Sydney, Melbourne to Sydney or Sydney to Melbourne daytime services, our sleeping cars convert to daysitter accommodation, with three seats in each cabin.
Daysitter seats do not recline and are fixed, so you may be seated against the direction of travel. These seats are not fitted with footrests or wrap around headrests, however, ample leg room, luggage storage space, individual reading lights and meal trays are provided.
Sleeping accommodation
Our XPT sleepers carry passengers daily from Sydney to Brisbane, Sydney to Melbourne, Melbourne to Sydney and from Casino to Sydney. The sleepers are twinette in style (berth dimensions: 1850mm x 720mm), with bed linen, towels and toiletries provided.
Complimentary breakfast is available for sleeper passengers and share toilet and shower facilities are located between compartments. Each compartment also has a 240-volt power outlet for shavers. Call buttons are provided and a passenger attendant is on call through the night.
Sleeping berths are only available to first class passengers, cost an additional $88.00 per person and must be booked when you make your reservation. Please call 13 22 32 or visit a CountryLink travel centre or agency to book your sleeping accommodation as berths can't be booked online.
While you do not have to book an entire CountryLink journey, e.g. from Sydney to Melbourne, to occupy a sleeping berth, there are some limitations concerning when you can join and leave the train. These are in place to avoid disturbing passengers who may already (or still) be asleep.
| Route | Last pick up location | First set down location |
| Sydney to Brisbane XPT | Macksville | Casino |
| Sydney to Melbourne XPT | Goulburn | Wagga Wagga |
| Melbourne to Sydney XPT | Wagga Wagga | Goulburn |
| Casino to Sydney XPT | Kempsey | Wauchope |
Toilets
Toilets are located at the end of each car and may be used at any time, including when the train is stationary. Men's toilets are equipped with 240-volt power outlets suitable for shavers. One toilet on each service has wheelchair access.
Onboard electricity supply
The only power supply available to passengers is for the use of electric shavers. Electric shaver power points are provided in your sleeping berth and in the men's toilets. Please do not use these power points for laptop computers or any other electrical devices as the power supply on CountryLink trains is subject to surges.
