Train from Sydney Airport
Sydney airport train is by far the fastest way to reach the city of Sydney. That being said, it isn’t a cheap transit option. Thus, although it is highly valued for its speed, it isn’t preferred by travelers on a tight budget. Moreover, the train from Sydney Airport isn’t a recommended alternative for families or passengers with heavy luggage, especially during the morning peak hours, when commuters from the nearby Mascot Station and Green Square Station head to their jobs in Sydney. In any case, if you are traveling light, don’t mind the somewhat expensive fare, and avoid the morning rush hours, you should enjoy a speedy and seamless train ride to Sydney city center.
Sydney Airport Link Train
Sydney Airport Link efficiently connects Kingsford Smith Airport to Sydney and its surrounding areas. It runs from all SYD airport terminals, every 5 minutes during peak hours and every 10-15 minutes at other times. It has available routes from 04:22 am to midnight on weekdays and from 04:42 am to midnight during the weekends. The Sydney airport train takes about 11 minutes to get from the domestic terminals to the Central Station and about 13 minutes to travel from the international terminal T1 to the main station in Sydney. Once it reaches the Central Station, the Airport Link follows a loop route around Sydney before heading back towards the airport’s direction.
Explicitly, the train from Sydney Airport makes the following stops:
- International Airport Station
- Domestic Airport Station
- Mascot Station
- Green Square Station
- Central Station
- Museum Station
- St James Station
- Circular Quay Station
- Wynyard Station
- Town Hall Station
Where is the Sydney Airport Train Station
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport houses two railway stations. Thus, the International Sydney Airport Train Station can be reached via the Arrivals, located on the north side of Arrivals hall A. You can also use the escalators or the lifts lying close to check-in desk A.
On the other hand, the Domestic Sydney Airport Train Station lies below the domestic terminals (T2 and T3). Thus, passengers can access the railway station from the Arrivals levels of the two terminals. In both cases, lifts and escalators situated close to the baggage claim zones lead down to the train station.
Overall, reaching the two Sydney airport train stations isn’t challenging, no matter your terminal or the terminal’s floor. Indeed, all terminals feature adequate signage showing the way to the railway stations.
Sydney Airport Train Fares
Sydney Airport Link is considered a pricey way of transit. Although its fares are reasonable, the two Kingsford Smith airport stations are private-owned. Consequently, a gate access fee is imposed on all train rides from Sydney Airport, resulting in higher fares for rail journeys.
To avoid paying the Station Access Fee, some travelers choose to catch their trains from Mascot Station. However, Mascot Station lies about 2km/1,2 miles from the airport. Thus, you’ll need about 25 minutes to reach the station on foot. Fortunately, you’ll follow a flat route with traffic lights. Alternatively, you can catch Bus 420 heading to Mascot Station. In fact, if you use an Opal Card or contactless payment, you’ll be charged just for one trip (provided you catch the train within 60 minutes from the moment you tap off the bus.
You have various options to pay for your rail fares. Thus, you can buy an Opal single ticket from the train stations. It’s important to remember that single tickets are somewhat costlier than the other payment methods and don’t offer the same perks. Hence, if you plan to use the public modes of transit during your stay in Sydney, you should buy an Opal Card. Opal Cards are rechargeable cards that can be used for bus, train, light train, and ferry journeys. They can be purchased from the automatic ticket machines and the ticket counters of the Sydney airport train stations or from selected retail stores inside the terminals (e.g., WHSmith). However, they must be topped up with a minimum of AU$35/$22,80/€21,30. Please note that Opal Cards can be topped up online, in the train stations, or via their app. Your last option is to use contactless payment (Amex, Visa, and Mastercard cards or linked devices). It is the most hassle-free alternative, as all you’ll have to do is tap on your card or device when entering the station and tap it off when exiting the alighting location. That being said, international passengers have to pay a transaction fee each time they use their bank cards.
In any case, Opal Cards and contactless payments are the top value-for-money options (in comparison to single tickets), as they come with many benefits, such as a 2% discount on fares (and on Station Gate Fee), a 30% discount on journeys during off-peak hours and daily/weekly/weekend (and Friday) travel caps. Moreover, as long as passengers switch from one mode of transit to another within a 60-minute time frame from their last tap-off, they are charged for a single trip.
Regardless of the chosen payment method, you should always remember to tap on and off the train stations.
The Gate Access Fee for rides to Sydney is AU$16,68/$10,90/€10,20 for adult passengers paying with Opal Cards or contactless and AU$17/$11,10/€10,40 when buying an Opal single ticket. Children aged 4-16 (younger children travel for free) pay an AU$14,92/$9,70/€9 Child Gate Access Fee with an Opal Card and are charged at AU$15/$9,77/€9,10 if opting for a single ticket. Please keep in mind that when paying contactless, adult fares apply.
On the other hand, the Station Access Fee for rail rides between the airport’s terminals and the two nearby suburban train stations is calculated as follows:
- Gate Access Fee for rides between terminals: AU$4/$2,60/€2,40
- Gate Access Fee for rides from SYD Airport to Mascot Station: AU$7,44/$4,85/€4,50
- Gate Access Fee for rides from SYD Airport to Green Square Station: AU$10,78/$7/€6,50
The Gate Access Fee isn’t calculated for the weekly or daily travel caps.
The Sydney Airport Link fares are calculated based on the traversed distance and the drop-off station. Hence, the adult fare for train journeys from the airport to the city’s stations is AU$19,48/$12,70/€11,90 (Gate Access Fee: AU$16,68/$10,90/€10,20 + Rail Fare: AU$2,80/$1,80/€1,70) during off-peak hours and AU$20,68/$13,50/12,60 (Gate Access Fee: AU$16,68/$10,90/€10,20 + Rail Fare: AU$4/$2,60/€2,40) during peak hours. On the other hand, Opal single tickets are more expensive, while their fares are the same no matter the time of the day. Thus, if you buy an Opal single ticket for the journey to Sydney, you’ll pay AU$21,80/$14,20/€13,30 (Gate Access Fee: AU$17/$11,10/€10,40 + Train Fare: AU$4,80/$3,10/€2,90).
Our Tip: Do you want to avoid traveling during peak hours to pay a lower train fare? You should plan your journey during Fridays, weekends, or public holidays, or avoid catching the train from Monday to Thursday from 06:30 am to 10:00 am and from 03:00 am to 07:00 pm.
FAQs
Is there a train line from Sydney Airport?
Sydney airport train is the fastest (but not the cheapest) way to travel from SYD Airport. Indeed, the Sydney Airport Link efficiently connects Kingsford Smith Airport to Sydney and the areas of Mascot and Green Square.
Why is the Sydney Airport Link so expensive?
Although the rail fares of Sydney Airport Link aren’t pricey, the final cost ends up being rather expensive. The reason behind that fact is the addition of the Gate Access Fee to the rail rates for journeys beginning from either of the two Sydney airport train stations.
How much does it cost to catch the train from Sydney Airport to Central Station?
The total rail fare (including the Gate Access Fee) for adults traveling from Sydney Airport to the Central Station is AU$19,48/$12,70/€11,90 during off-peak hours, and AU$20,68/$13,50/12,60 during peak hours. However, passengers traveling with an Opal single ticket pay a slightly pricier fee. Hence, their journey to Central Station costs AU$21,80/$14,20/€13,30.