City Circle (Sydney) — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

City Circle (Sydney) Information

The City Circle is a public transportation system located around the central business districts in the Australian city of Sydney. It is a predominantly underground means of railway transportation that forms the core of what is largely regarded as the passenger railway network in Sydney. RailCorp, a government agency in New South Wales holds ownership over this network while it is operated under the brand name of Sydney Trains. Although it is named as “circle”, the shape of this route is largely in the form of a horse-shoe with train services being operated along a U-shaped route.

The concept for construction of this network was mooted back in 1915 while the construction project was carried out over a number of stages. The first phase was introduced in 1926 while six years later another new zone was added to the service. It was only in 1956 that the missing link (the Circular Quay route) commenced operations. It reported a daily ridership of 221,160 and an annual ridership of 55 million in 2005.

Today, we explore the intricacies of the Sydney Cityrail, also known as Cityrail. This transport network brings forth an array of features that cater to daily commuters. Unfortunately, for those who cherish 24/7 operation or the ability to walk between platforms, Cityrail may disappoint as it does not provide these features.

That said, Sydney Cityrail ensures comfort during travels, thanks to the air conditioning available in all its train units. Despite the rise of driverless trains and screen doors platforms in modern metro systems, these attributes are not seen in Cityrail’s current setup.

Sydney Trains, the operator of Cityrail, works round the clock to maintain the network’s efficiency. In terms of operating hours, you can catch a train anytime between 3:51 am and 2:25 am the following day, from Monday to Sunday.

For a single trip, the fare is quite reasonable at 2.20 Australian dollars. You can find more information on the Sydney Metro Official Website or by reaching out to their contact line at 131 500. Cityrail also maintains an active presence on social media platforms, like Twitter, for timely updates and responses to passenger queries. That’s the lowdown on Sydney’s Cityrail – a critical part of the city’s public transport system.

City Circle (Sydney) Map

Map of City Circle (Sydney) showing its lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or Download City Circle (Sydney) Map in PDF.

Network Structure and Services

With a sprawling network of 815 kilometers (506 miles) and a total of 178 stations, Sydney Trains effectively connect Sydney’s urban and suburban regions. As of the end of 2017, the system catered to approximately 340 million commuters, demonstrating its essential role in Sydney’s public transport infrastructure. This vast network comprises 8 commercially operating routes, providing connectivity between the city center and its peripheral neighborhoods.

The T1 Line: North Shore Line, Northern & Western

Identified by the color yellow and the number T1 on system maps, the first route on Sydney Trains serves the city’s northern and western neighborhoods. Notable communities on this route include Blacktown, Perinth, Chatswood, Parramatta, Hornsby, and the Central Business District. Being more akin to a conventional railway rather than a metro system, many of the stations on this route are serviced by more than one line.

The T2 Line: Inner West & Leppington Line

Recognizable on system maps by its light blue color and the designation T2, this line caters to the western and southwestern areas of Sydney, as well as the city center. Key locations serviced include the Central Business sectors at the city’s core and neighborhoods such as Haymarket, Ashfield, Granville, Parramatta, Warwick Farm, and Glenfield. This line comprises 37 stations, many of which offer connections to other lines within the Sydney Trains network.

The T3 Line: Bankstown Line

The T3 line, distinguishable by its orange color on system maps, caters to the suburban region of Canterbury-Bankstown, the Inner West area, and the Western Sydney region. Starting from a section of the Central Business District, this line traverses neighborhoods like Sydenham, Dulwich Hill, Bankstown, Berala, Carramar, and Liverpool. With a total of 33 stops, this route offers many connections to other lines within the system.

The T4 Line: Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line

The T4 line, known for its azure blue color on train maps, is among the oldest lines in the system, with its construction dating back to 1880. It serves Sydney’s eastern and southern suburbs and comprises 33 stops. At Sutherland station, the line splits, with some trains heading to southern city neighborhoods like Kirrawee, Caringbah, and Cronulla, and others diverging towards southeastern suburbs such as Engadine, Heathcote, and Waterfall.

The T5 Line: Cumberland Line

Represented by the number T5 and the color magenta on maps, the T5 line caters to residents in Sydney’s western communities. It includes neighborhoods like Richmond, Mulgrave, Toongabbie, Guildford, Casula, and surrounding communities. The line, designed with specific communities in mind, has 23 stops and runs through 23 distinct western suburbs of Sydney.

The T6 Line: Carlingford Line

Despite being one of the oldest, inaugurated in 1888, the T6 line is the smallest line on Sydney Trains. It runs north to south through suburbs like Rosehill, Camellia, Dundas, and Telopea, identifiable by the color purple and the number T6 on railway maps. The route is so short that a journey from one end to the other lasts just 12 minutes.

The T7 Line: Olympic Park Line

The T7 line was initially created to connect residents to the 2000 Olympic village structures. Currently, it’s an unused route, spanning just 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) with only one station destination. It’s identifiable on maps by the color gray and the number T7.

The T8 Line: Airport & South Line

The T8 line, the system’s newest route, connects Sydney’s southwestern neighborhoods to the city center. Identified by the number T8 and the color green, it features a total of 32 stops, including a station dedicated to the airport. This line is one of the few routes on Sydney Trains that reaches the terminal. It also serves neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills, Glenfield, Padstow, and Bexley North, along with the city’s southern area.

Interconnections

Sydney Trains stations are notably interconnected, integrating with supplemental bus routes and various train lines on their respective routes. The listed stations have the following connections:

T1 Line

Wynyard Station: Connects to T2, T3, and T8.
Town Hall Station: Connects to T2, T3, T4, and T8.
Central Station: Connects to T2, T3, T4, and T8. It also integrates with the light rail system.
Redfern Station: Connects to T2, T3, T4, and T8 during peak hours.
Burwood Station and Strathfield Station: Connect to T2.
Lidcombe Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Auburn Station: Connects to T2.
Clyde Station: Connects to T2 and T6.
Granville Station: Connects to T2.
Harris Park Station and Parramatta Station: Connect to T2 and T5.
Westmead, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill, Toongabbie, Seven Hills, Blacktown, Marayong, Quakers Hill, and Schofields Stations all connect to the T5 line.

T2 Line

Museum Station: Connects to T3 and T8.
St. James Station: Connects to T3 and T8.
Circular Quay Station: Connects to T3 and T8.
Wynyard Station: Connects to T1, T3, and T8.
Town Hall Station: Connects to T1, T3, T4, and T8.
Central Station: Connects to T1, T3, T4, and T8, with light rail system integration.
Redfern Station: Connects to T1, T3, T4, and T8.
Burwood Station and Strathfield Station: Connect to T1.
Lidcombe Station: Connects to T1 and T3.
Auburn Station: Connects to T1.
Clyde Station: Connects to T1 and T6.
Granville Station: Connects to T1.
Harris Park Station and Parramatta Station: Connect to T1 and T5.
Cabramatta Station, Warwick Farm Station, and Liverpool Station: Connect to T3 and T5.
Glenfield Station: Connects to T5 and T8.
Merrylands, Guildford, Yennora, Fairfield, Canley Vale, Casula, Edmondson Park, and Leppington Stations exclusively connect to the T5 line.

T3 Line

Town Hall Station: Connects to T1, T2, T4, and T8.
Wynyard Station: Connects to T1, T2, and T8.
Circular Quay Station: Connects to T2 and T8.
St. James Station: Connects to T2 and T8.
Museum Station: Connects to T2 and T8.
Central Station: Connects to T1, T2, T4, and T8, with light rail system integration.
Redfern Station: Connects to T1, T2, T4, and T8 during peak hours.
St. Peters Station: Connects to T8 during peak hours.
Sydenham Station: Connects to T4 and T8 during peak hours.
Lidcombe Station: Connects to T1 and T2.
Cabramatta Station, Warwick Farm Station, and Liverpool Station: Connect to T2 and T5.

T4 Line

Town Hall Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T8.
Central Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T8.
Redfern Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T8.
Sydenham Station: Connects to T3 and T8 during peak hours.
Wolli Creek Station: Connects to T8.

T5 Line

Parramatta Station: Connects to T1 and T2.
Harris Park Station: Connects to T1 and T2.
Cabramatta Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Warwick Farm Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Liverpool Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Glenfield Station: Connects to T2 and T8.
Schofields, Quakers Hill, Marayong, Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville, and Westmead Stations all connect to the T1 line. Merrylands, Guildford, Yennora, Fairfield, Canley Vale, Casula, Edmondson Park, and Leppington Stations also service trains on the T2 line.

T6 Line

Clyde Station: Connects to T1 and T2.

T8 Line

Town Hall Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T4.
Wynyard Station: Connects to T1, T2, and T3.
Circular Quay Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
St. James Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Museum Station: Connects to T2 and T3.
Central Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T4.
Redfern Station: Connects to T1, T2, T3, and T4 during peak hours.
St. Peters Station: Connects to T3 during peak hours.
Sydenham Station: Connects to T3 and T4 during peak hours.
Wolli Creek Station: Connects to T4.
Glenfield Station: Connects to T2 and T5.

Operating Schedule and Frequency

The operating schedule for all routes on Sydney Trains is accessible on their official website. Services generally start from 4:00 am and run until 1:00 am. The frequency of trains varies with the time of day. Regular service intervals are between 6-8 minutes, and this decreases to 3-5 minutes during peak hours.

Fare Structure

Since 2014, fares on the Sydney train system have been facilitated by the reloadable Opal card. The fare pricing is determined by the distance a passenger travels, measured in kilometers (or miles). There are multiple Opal card variants available to accommodate different types of commuters. Here are the details for the various cards:

Adult Opal Card: This card is the standard fare payment method, primarily intended for riders over the age of 16 using Sydney Trains. The fare structure is as follows:

0-10 km (0-6.2 mi): 3.46 AUD (2.56 USD)
10-20 km (6.2–12.4 mi): 4.30 AUD (3.18 USD)
20-35 km (12.4–21.8 mi): 4.94 AUD (3.65 USD)
35-65 km (21.8-40.4 mi): 6.61 AUD (4.88 USD)

Child/Youth Opal Card: Designed for children and youth aged between 4 and 15, full-time students aged 16 can also avail of this card.

0-10 km (0-6.2 mi): 1.73 AUD (1.28 USD)
10-20 km (6.2-12.4 mi): 2.15 AUD (1.59 USD)
20-35 km (12.4-21.8 mi): 2.47 AUD (1.82 USD)
35-65 km (21.8-40.4 mi): 3.30 AUD (2.43 USD)

Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal Card: This card is specially designed for senior citizens over the age of 65. The prices are:

0-10 km (0-6.2 mi): 1.73 AUD (1.28 USD)
10-20 km (6.2-12.4 mi): 2.15 AUD (1.59 USD)
20-35 km (12.4-21.8 mi): 2.47 AUD (1.82 USD)
35-65 km (21.8-40.4 mi): 2.50 AUD (1.85 USD)

Concession Opal Card: This card benefits those registered under certain concession programs. The list of eligible programs can be found at opal.com.au. The associated fares are:

0-10 km (0-6.2 mi): 1.73 AUD (1.28 USD)
10-20 km (6.2-12.4 mi): 2.15 AUD (1.59 USD)
20-35 km (12.4-21.8 mi): 2.47 AUD (1.82 USD)
35-65 km (21.8-40.4 mi): 3.30 AUD (2.44 USD)

Opal Single Trip Tickets: In addition to the cards, single trip tickets can be purchased from ticket dispensers at the stations. These are one-time use tickets and their price is also based on the distance of the journey. The prices are:

0-10 km (0-6.2 mi): 4.20 AUD (3.10 USD), 2.10 AUD (1.55 USD) for children and youth
10-20 km (6.2-12.4 mi): 5.20 AUD (3.84 USD), 2.60 AUD (1.92 USD) for children and youth
20-35 km (12.4-21.8 mi): 6.00 AUD (4.44 USD), 3.00 AUD (2.21 USD) for children and youth
35-65 km (21.8-40.4 mi): 8.00 AUD (5.92 USD), 4.00 AUD (2.95 USD) for children and youth.

Rules and Guidelines

Transportation of animals, with the exception of service dogs and law enforcement dogs, is strictly forbidden on Sydney’s train system. Alcoholic beverages in open containers and their consumption on trains and at stations are also disallowed. Individuals found in a state of intoxication or exhibiting violent or unacceptable behaviour within Sydney Trains facilities are subject to removal.

Transport of hazardous substances, inflammable materials, and potentially dangerous objects on trains and at stations is prohibited. Supermarket trolleys are not allowed within train facilities. All smoking, including e-cigarettes, is banned in any metro facility. Bicycles are allowed on trains but should not hinder the free flow of passengers within the facilities.

There are designated spaces in stations and on trains for passengers with mobility limitations, which should not be occupied by other groups. Users are advised to stay on the left side of escalators, allowing those in a hurry to pass on the right. Putting feet on train seats is prohibited. Avoid boarding or alighting the train after the door closing announcement has been made. Seats reserved for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, or pregnant women should not be occupied by others.

Airport Connectivity

Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport has a metro station at each of its two terminals (domestic and international), which links travellers to the city centre and surrounding suburbs. The Sydney Trains system is an excellent choice for those seeking to travel to the airport without depending on taxi service. To reach the airport, one needs to board Line 8 (T8) from any of its stops, and alight at the International Airport Station for international flights.

For domestic flights, stay on board until the Domestic Airport Station. The terminal facilities are located on the ground floor at these stops. Besides this, there are car rentals, taxis, bus services, and even limousine hire available for reaching the city centre from the airport. The train station located beneath the airport offers the most economical and efficient option, providing access to the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Future Developments

The standout upcoming project is the Sydney Metro. Despite Sydney Trains bearing resemblance to a metro system, it is essentially a network of commuter trains. The Sydney Metro is expected to commence operations in 2019 with the launch of Line 1, one of two planned lines. It is projected to span 66 kilometers (41 miles) with 31 stations. Initially, it will link Rouse Hill neighbourhood with the suburb of Chatswood and traverse the central business district (CBD). An extension is also planned to include two construction routes by 2024.

Tourist Attractions

Sydney is a diverse city showcasing a blend of art and modern trends. A major landmark is the iconic Sydney Opera House, located a short distance from the Circular Quay Station, serviced by T2, T3, and T8 lines. Recognised as a World Heritage Site since 2007, it’s a must-visit spot for city tourists, offering musicals, ballets, symphonic concerts, operas, and plays, as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Close to the opera house is the renowned Sydney Harbour Bridge, which can also be accessed from the Circular Quay Station. A visit to the bridge is worthwhile for its architectural design, historical significance, and importance to the city. The bridge, illuminated at night, offers a remarkable sight and serves as a perfect backdrop for a social media post or a cherished memory.