Things you should know about travelling with CityRail
Breaking your journey
If you alight or exit at a station before the destination station named on the ticket, and then catch another train to your destination, you have broken your journey. This is not allowed on single, return and off-peak return tickets.
If you alight to change trains, but do not exit the station, you have not broken your journey. Once you exit a station, your trip has been completed.
Tickets to the city
Tickets to the city allow you to travel to any one of these stations: Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, Martin Place or Kings Cross. Single, return and off-peak return tickets are available at station ticket offices and ticket vending machines.
Automatic gates
Large stations have automatic gates for entry to, and exit from, the station platforms. If you have a magnetic ticket you must use the automatic gates. You may use the staffed gate for wheelchair, pram or luggage access or families travelling on a Family Fare deal.
NightRide bus services
NightRide buses replace train services from midnight to Sydney suburban areas. Valid return, off-peak return, Pensioner Excursion, 7 Day RailPass, FlexiPass or TravelPass tickets can be used. If you do not have a valid ticket, you should pay when boarding the bus. Single tickets cannot be used. Click here for details - NightRide Bus Services.
Purchasing a ticket
You can purchase CityRail tickets from station ticket offices or from the ticket vending machines. From the ticket vending machines, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $2 coins and/or $5, $10 and $20 notes can be used to purchase a ticket.
Ticket vending machines
Ticket vending machines have been upgraded so that all large (note accepting) ticket vending machines accept $5, $10, $20 and $50 bank notes. Please note that a maximum of $19.90 is given in change, so $50 notes can only be used to purchase tickets with a value of $30.10 or greater. All notes can be accepted in any orientation (so it doesn't matter which way you insert the notes in the ticket vending machines) in order to minimise note rejections.
Large ticket vending machines that accept notes carry a picture of all the notes that they accept - $5 (both types) $10, $20 and $50 notes. If a ticket vending machine does not have this picture, then it will not accept these larger denominations.
Service changes and special event timetables
Upgrading work takes place on CityRail lines on a regular basis. We also operate special timetables for major events. It is sometimes necessary to alter train services or replace train services with buses, particularly at weekends. Please check the weekly Service Changes on this website or posters at your local station for the latest service alterations on your line.
Restrictions on intercity services
Customers should be aware that some Intercity services during the morning and afternoon peaks are 'pick-up' or 'set-down' services only - please check the timetable.This is necessary to provide enough capacity for passengers travelling to outer stations with fewer services. Fines apply to customers travelling inappropriately on these services. Services with set down and pick up restrictions are indicated by a "d" or "u" in our timetables.
Service connections
Customers should note that connections are not guaranteed and trains may not be held in the event of late running services.
Smoking
CityRail aims to protect the health and safety of its employees and customers. The Smoke Free Envrironment Act, 2000 requires CityRail to provide a smoke free environment in enclosed places for our customers and staff.
Customers are not allowed to smoke on CityRail trains or in any enclosed place on CityRail premises including counter areas, closed stations, travel centres, under platform awnings and other public access areas. Fines apply.
Customers are permitted to walk to the end of any platform and smoke provided there is no awning or cover, and it is not an enclosed station.
Travelling with bikes and other wheels
Bicycles are permitted on trains free of charge on the weekend and in off-peak periods. However, if part or all of your journey is made between 6.00am - 9.00am or between 3.30pm to 7.30pm on weekdays you must purchase a child ticket for the bicycle as well as a ticket for yourself.
This applies to both standard and folding bicyles as well as those that have had wheels or other parts removed.
When you're travelling with a bicycle, please make sure it does not block doors and passageways used by CityRail staff and passengers.
Riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters or skates on CityRail stations and trains is prohibited.
Manual wheelchairs and battery powered wheelchairs and scooters used by passengers with a disability are permitted on stations and trains. See Accessing CityRail for more information.
Bicycles are permitted to travel on Sydney Ferries if there is room in the bicycle racks - first in, first carried.
Animals and pets
CityRail regrets that no pets or animals are permitted on stations or trains, with the exception of assistance dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired persons or any person with a disability, assistance dogs in training, or Police and security dogs when on duty. Click here for details - Pets and Animals.
