Federal City Express to Sydney for Mamma Mia! or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Sat, 6 Feb 2010 - Sun, 7 Feb 2010

Special heritage train tour from Canberra and Queanbeyan to Sydney. Leave Saturday morning and enjoy lunch en route to Sydney, travelling via the scenic Illawarra Escarpment. No parking problems or accommodation worries, and a restful overnight journey home after the show.

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Come with us to Sydney for the sheer spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Australia - celebrating 60 years of valour, mateship and glory.This will be the largest Edinburgh Military Tattoo ever staged, featuring over 1,500 performers from around the world, including massed pipes and drums, highland dancers and the stirring lone piper. Over 150,000 people attended the 2005 performance in Sydney.

The Tattoo is famous for its home setting at magnificent Edinburgh Castle. It was conceived and first performed in 1950 as the Army in Scotland’s contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival. Over the years, it has gone from strength to strength, involving a host of international performers from over 30 countries, and now about 217,000 people see the Tattoo annually. A $1 million dollar replica of Edinburgh Castle is featured in the Sydney performance. A wonderful evening is assured. Maybe you prefer a swinging stage show? Well, why not Mamma Mia! The global hit stage musical based on the songs of ABBA is set to return to Australia for a 10th anniversary tour, having been seen by more than 40 million people around the world. If you’re from the ABBA generation then you’re certain to really enjoy this immensely successful performance. The show itself is a tale of family and friendship which unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years earlier.

The new production of Mamma Mia! reunites several members of the original Australian tour cast, including Anne Wood who spent two and a half years with the original production which played here for a total of four years. Our tickets are for the final performance of the show. It is unlikely to return. The Australian Railway Historical Society is delighted to announce a special package trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo and Mamma Mia! in the tradition of scores of show trains which we have operated to Melbourne and Sydney, notably to The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Starlight Express - and the like. More recently, our trains to The Lion King in Sydney have been very popular. Join us for this great tour and experience for yourself why “getting there is half the fun!”.

Our Federal City Express journey to Sydney is no ordinary train trip. Our heritage train is a grand reminder of great days of rail travel. Sleek stainless steel air-conditioned sleeping and dining cars formerly used on the first class Sydney-Melbourne overnight services, complemented by holiday class nonairconditioned sleepers, comfortable sitting cars and on-board bar facilities. All passengers have both sitting and sleeping car accommodation. Free tea and coffee is available throughout the journey and lunch will be served to your seats as our train traverses the scenic route from Moss Vale, down the rainforested Illawarra Escarpment with a viewing stop expected at the top of the coastal range cliffs at Summit Tank, overlooking Lake Illawarra in the distance. From there, the train winds its way through a tangle of tall trees and ferny scrub, with occasional views of the coastal plain and the ocean. We pass by the heavy industrial area at Unanderra, continuing north through the residential areas of the City of Wollongong and its northern beachside suburbs before climbing in sight of the ocean for much of the way to Stanwell Park, with great views overlooking its magnificent ocean beach. From here, the train climbs on a curvatious route through the lush Royal National Park. At Waterfall, we enter the Sydney suburban area - time to change in the comfort of your sleeping compartment for your evening activities. Arrival in Sydney is expected to be at around 5.15pm. For those going to the theatre, there are plenty of dinner venues in the vicinity of Central Station or in the Darling Harbour area. The show is at the Lyric Theatre at the Star City complex. We’ll provide detailed instructions on how to get there and back by public transport - tram or monorail. A special bus will be provided for those attending the Edinburgh Tattoo performance at Sydney Football Stadium.

On-train accommodation

We offer two levels of on-train accommodation - both enjoy the same great on-train services.

Premier Class: Modern ex-Southern Aurora carriages, choice of two types of climate-controlled sleeping compartments, both with 240 volt power outlets - twinette (for two persons with en-suite toilet and shower) or roomette (single berths with own toilet, and showers at end of carriage).

Twinettes are normally in high demand - please book early (click on picture for larger view).

Our trains are popular with and secure for single people of all ages - do get together a small group of friends and we'll be pleased to book you into adjacent roomettes.


Holiday Class: Non-climate controlled (BAM) sleeping cars redecorated in the 1970s - all twinette compartments with showers and toilets at the end of the carriages. Hot and cold water to compartment basins (click on picture for larger view).

We normally do not offer single supplements in these carriages - but please enquire. If you are travelling with a group of at least 4 people and you all book together, we'll allocate adjacent twinettes.

In addition to a sleeping berth allocation, all passengers will enjoy reserved seating in our comfortable sitting cars, and a leisurely single sitting for meals for the duration of the tour. You will be provided with tour notes on the train, including a Sydney CBD map.

Your fare includes mid-morning tea and coffee, lunch and an afternoon snack (cheese, cabanossi etc) on Thursday, plus a welcome supper after midnight and a continental breakfast on Friday. Tea and coffee is unlimited and free on board. Light and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase with on-train meals and at other times from the bar.

Holiday Class: $439 per person.
Premier Class Twinette: $499 per person.
Premier Class Roomette: $469.