Soaring air fares between Melbourne and Sydney see travellers take 11-hour train

Exclusive: Seats on Sydney-Melbourne train service regularly sold out over holiday period, as one-way flights to Tullamarine average almost $500

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The 11-hour Sydney-Melbourne train has become so popular services are selling out - even with extra carriages added - as travellers seek alternatives to an aviation duopoly that is stronger than ever, with carriers charging $900 for one-way economy tickets.

Ridership on the Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor has exploded in recent months, with 203,000 passenger journeys between July and December. Data for the 2023-24 financial year revealed 393,000 passenger journeys, a 14% increase on the previous year and just 7,000 shy of the annual record.

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