General Correspondence: P.O. Box 1615, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 Street Address: Queanbeyan Railway Station, Henderson Rd, Queanbeyan Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm Bookings Phone: (02) 6284 2790   Facsimile: (02) 6284 2791 Email: trains@trains.org.au

Federal City Express to Sydney - New Year's Eve Special

10am Wed, 31 Dec 2008 - 10am Thurs, 1 Jan 2009

Special rail trip from Canberra and Queanbeyan to Sydney to welcome in the New Year. Leave Wednesday morning and enjoy lunch en-route to Sydney. No parking problems or accommodation worries, and a restful overnight journey home. Fares from $329pp

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Come with us to Sydney to enjoy Australia's best New Year's Eve celebrations - there's nothing to beat the atmospherics of Sydney Cove and Darling Harbour topped off by the fabulous fireworks displays.

All the better if you have no need to find parking, or scarce and expensive overnight accommodation. In fact, we'll take you there and back with minimum fuss.

Special fares are available in certain train accommodation categories for groups of four or more making a joint booking.

Our route to Sydney is a special delight as we avoid the Hume Highway and provide a bit of relaxation before the night's festivities. After our Wednesday morning 10am departure from Canberra (10.15am from Queanbeyan), settle into your sleeping compartment or take your reserved seats for mid-morning tea and coffee.

We travel through the Molonglo Gorge to Bungendore and Goulburn and then through the pretty Southern Highlands towns of Bundanoon and Exeter. A leisurely three-course meal commences as we travel through Moss Vale and Bowral.

Arrival is timed for around 5.15pm leaving plenty of time for the short walk to Darling Harbour. Alternatively, head towards Sydney Cove or the Domain, or maybe just rendezvous with Sydney friends for the evening. Walking will be easy as most central city streets will be closed for the evening. We suggest a light dinner downtown (at your cost).

After the celebrations

The streets will be full after the midnight celebrations, and we have allowed plenty of time for you to make your way back to Central Station. You will be welcomed back to your hotel on rails with supper prior to our 2am departure. Our licensed bar will remain open, while tea and coffee and champers will be available with our compliments.

Alternatively, you can retire for the night without further ado, as the berths in your sleeping compartment will have already been made up for the night. Our return journey will be made at a comfortable pace. Enjoy a continental breakfast from 7.45am as we pass through Tarago and the scenic Molonglo Gorge before our 10am arrival at Canberra (15 minutes earlier at Queanbeyan).

If you would like to be part of this great trip, we suggest you book early. Sleeping accommodation is limited to 120, and some categories will sell out early.

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 and can offer you $10 off the individual Holiday Class fare. Details are on the booking form.

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 Wednesday, plus a welcome supper after midnight and a continental breakfast on Thursday. 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.

Fares, bookings

If you would like to be part of this great package tour, the main thing is to book early.

A booking form, showing costs, is on this website. Please see Making a Booking.

[An alternative: If you would like a brochure which has the same information as this website page, we will be happy to mail one to you - see email for a brochure].

Conditions of travel

Tickets will be forwarded to the address shown on the booking form when fully paid. We normally send another letter advising your seat and berth allocations approximately seven to ten days prior to date of travel, or immediately if booked within that time period. One ticket per booking will be issued.

ARHS (ACT Division) makes every endeavour to ensure that tours operate as advertised. Unfortunately, this may not be possible owing to unforeseen circumstances such as mechanical failures. In such events we reserve the right to make whatever changes are necessary, without compensation. However, any changes made will only be after we have exhausted all reasonable efforts to provide the tour as advertised. Trains and tour options will operate subject to sufficient demand.

Times shown on brochures are subject to approval of the relevant authorities and could differ on the day. Correct times will be advised in the second letter mentioned above. Refunds will not be given for change of destination or last minute variations to timetables caused by events outside the control of ARHS (ACT Division).

Reservations may be held on payment of a 15% deposit and must be paid in full no less than one month prior to date of travel. Failure to observe the deadline may result in loss of deposit and booking.

We recommend you take out travel insurance*. In common with most operators, ARHS (ACT Division) reserves the right to apply cancellation fees. These are:

• Bookings cancelled more than seven days prior to travel - $95
• Bookings cancelled seven days or less prior to date of travel, or no-show - no refund.

Requests for cancellation must be made to ARHS (ACT Division) in writing before any refund will be made.

* For travel insurance information, see the website of e-Travel Leisure Travel Insurance.

No smoking is permitted on board, and passengers may only board or alight from the train at the platforms provided. Passengers placing themselves or others at risk of injury will be asked to leave the train at the next available stop.

Feel free to contact us at any time if you have any queries. We look forward to making your journey a pleasant one.