Sydney Trains from the Airport

[chrisb]

I've usually caught a taxi from Sydney Airport to our hotel just outside Wynyard train station. it's just habit.

How full are the trains from the Airport to Wynyard at about 5pm on a weekday? Is it a good option for someone with a suitcase?

I'm wondering if the train might be easier and quicker than the taxi queue at SYD. Cost isn't an issue - either way I'm not paying.

Thanks.

 

[simongr]

I've usually caught a taxi from Sydney Airport to our hotel just outside Wynyard train station. it's just habit.

How full are the trains from the Airport to Wynyard at about 5pm on a weekday? Is it a good option for someone with a suitcase?

I'm wondering if the train might be easier and quicker than the taxi queue at SYD. Cost isn't an issue - either way I'm not paying.

Thanks.

You will have to change trains at Central and that will be heaving at that time. It is not a pleasant experience at any time.

 

[rwatts]

You will have to change trains at Central and that will be heaving at that time. It is not a pleasant experience at any time.

Why would you change trains at Central ? Trains from the airport go anti-clockwise around the loop and the ticket entitles one to travel around to Town Hall station - which I routinely do. At 5pm most of the crowding will be between Circular Quay and Wynyard. I've done it at that time but only with carry-on luggage - I wouldnt like trying to cope with a couple of large suitcases.

Richard.

 

[markis10]

You will have to change trains at Central and that will be heaving at that time. It is not a pleasant experience at any time.

No you dont, just go via Circular Quay, the 5.16PM form the Domestic gets into Central 5.26 and Wynard at 5.36, for a possible 5 minute saving I would not bother getting off!

http://www.cityrail.info/timetable/ttable.jsp?line=eh&day=wd&dir=up&page=11

Taxi might not be the best option at that time either, if its one suitcase its probably fine, in fact luggage might work as a good shield

 

[chrisb]

CityRail - The Timetable


Taxi might not be the best option at that time either, if its one suitcase its probably fine, in fact luggage might work as a good shield

Am i reading that right that all of those trains do Domestic to Wynyard in about 20mins? I've spent longer than that in the taxi queue

Having to change trains (and deal with luggage during a peak hour crush) would probably a deal breaker... But if it's direct... maybe.

Thanks.

 

[Paul_PER]

5pm going into town should be fine. You don't need to change at Central. The train will go Central-Museum-St James-Circular Quay-Wynward.

If you are arriving in the morning peak hours I wouldn't recommend the train - you probably woiuldn't be able to get on!

 

[RB]

Its a very easy & relative process I've done at various times of day. Quality of train carriage involved will vary greatly

 

[chrisb]

Its a very easy & relative process I've done at various times of day. Quality of train carriage involved will vary greatly

Yeah, i'm used to that in Sydney.

 

[NM]

Quality of train carriage involved will vary greatly

And in my experience, the quality of a taxi will vary just as much.

 

[Warks]

It's good when it's not crowded which it shouldn't be in that direction at that time. I had to use it for a while (no car) and the train from the airport was fine, it was the train from there home on the Northern line which was so packed I could hardly breathe that made me go back to taxis at that time of day. Time wise trains and taxis could be similar to my house but the traffic at that hour was always bad.

The set up at the airport stations is pretty good.

I've used the train for early morning flights with success. Caught a 6am flight to BNE by getting the first train of the day where I live - that comes at about 430am... errrrrgghh!

 

[serfty]

And in my experience, the quality of a taxi will vary just as much.

... as well as the driver ...

 

[Leumas]

I've done it a few times, no problems with crowds. The most crowded would probably be getting through Wynyard station and to the platform...

 

[Alanslegal]

if its one suitcase its probably fine, in fact luggage might work as a good shield

or used as a temporary seat given the lack of seats on Sydney trains

 

[wallacej]

I have been using the Sydney trains to get to our company hangout in the city for the past two years.

Varous times of the day I will chose the train over taxi. After about 8pm I will taxi it though).

Better in both time and cost (put your own priority here). Simple and easy.

They have a new credit card machine at the entry to the domestic airport station that allows you to buy your city loop ticket via credit card/eftpos.

I used my Diners card to test it out, so it is most likely that it will accept AMEX also. Got my ticket, and a receipt. (in the past only got a ticket from the cash machines which was always captured at the destination).

I get off at Museum, so the comments above about the direction of the train from the airport are correct.

I would agree with the comments that you wouldn't bother getting off and changing at central to get to Wynyard, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery!!! Goodness knows we don't do that often enough.

 

[rwatts]

They have a new credit card machine at the entry to the domestic airport station that allows you to buy your city loop ticket via credit card/eftpos.

I used my Diners card to test it out, so it is most likely that it will accept AMEX also. Got my ticket, and a receipt. (in the past only got a ticket from the cash machines which was always captured at the destination).

I've used my Amex in those machines several times now.

I would agree with the comments that you wouldn't bother getting off and changing at central to get to Wynyard, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery!!! Goodness knows we don't do that often enough.

Indeed, I always enjoy the view at Circular Quay - possibly the best view from a railway station in the world.

Richard.

Richard.

 

[RB]

Human ticket seller at station at airport also accepts amex

 

[wallacej]

Human ticket seller at station at airport also accepts amex

I often find that line long and slow, and often the machine has more personality, and you only have to ask once for what you would like.

 

[rwatts]

I often find that line long and slow, and often the machine has more personality, and you only have to ask once for what you would like.

Likewise - I've never had to wait for the EFTPOS machines while there were 8+ in the queue at the window and even a wait at the coin/note machines.

Rchard.

 

[JohnK]

Likewise - I've never had to wait for the EFTPOS machines while there were 8+ in the queue at the window and even a wait at the coin/note machines.

Maybe Brisbane will catch up one day and accept credit cards at the ticket machines. Some mornings I have had to wait 10+ minutes to get a train ticket at the counter.

 

[serfty]

OT:

John, why don't you:

• book online or
• purchase a CBD Ticket Books? (I used to when I travelled up there twice a month.) or
• Get yourself a GO card (10 trips in a week = ½ price Airport Ticket)

More here: Brisbane's Airtrain - Buying Tickets