AustraliaAustraliaSydney to Melbourne shipping route.
896 km by rail, about 29 h 54 min in transit.
Rail Distance Between Cities: Sydney and Melbourne
Rail Freight Distance on the map, along the rail network.
SydneyRailMelbourneRail freight transit time
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rail Freight Distance | 896 km (557 mi) |
| Straight line | 713 km |
| Transit time | 29 h 54 min |
| Assumption | 30 km/h average freight speed |
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About the Sydney to Melbourne shipping route by rail
Sydney to Melbourne by rail freight: 896 km of track, south west from Australia.
At an average 30 km/h for a freight train, stops and crew changes included, the transit time is about 29 h 54 min. Terminal handling at both ends comes on top.
Rail freight suits heavy, high volume cargo that is not urgent: containers, steel, chemicals, grain, cars. Per tonne it emits far less CO2 than trucking the same distance. Most shipments still need a truck for the first and last mile to the rail terminals in Sydney and Melbourne.
By road the same trip is 879 km and takes a truck about 9 h.
Of 4 rail routes from Sydney in this directory, Melbourne is the 2nd shortest. Closer destinations: Brisbane (871 km).
FAQ
What is the rail distance from Sydney to Melbourne?
896 km by rail (713 km in a straight line).
What is the rail freight transit time from Sydney to Melbourne?
About 29 h 54 min at an average 30 km/h for a freight train, stops included. Border and terminal times vary.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Melbourne to Sydney has its own page with the same distance and route.
More rail freight distance
- Sydney to Brisbane871 km
- Sydney to Adelaide1,591 km
- Sydney to Perth3,802 km
- Adelaide to Melbourne748 km
- Brisbane to Melbourne1,767 km
- Perth to Melbourne3,333 km
How we count: rail distance on the freight network, 30 km/h average including stops. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all rail distance between cities or the Shipping Routes Directory.