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

City Circle (Sydney) Information

The City Circle is a public transport system located around the central business districts of the Australian city of Sydney. It is a predominantly underground rail system that forms the core of what is widely regarded as Sydney’s passenger rail network. The network is owned by RailCorp, a New South Wales government agency, and operated under the brand name Sydney Trains. Although it is called a ‘circle’, the shape of the network is largely a horseshoe, with trains operating along a U-shaped route.

The concept for the construction of this network was first mooted in 1915, while the construction project was carried out in several stages. The first phase was inaugurated in 1926, while another new zone was added six years later. It was not until 1956 that the missing link (the Circular Quay line) was opened. In 2005, it reported a daily ridership of 221,160 and an annual ridership of 55 million.

Today we explore the intricacies of the Sydney Cityrail. This transport network has a number of features that cater for the daily commuter. Unfortunately, for those who value 24/7 operation or the ability to walk between platforms, Cityrail may disappoint as it does not offer these features.

Nevertheless, Sydney Cityrail ensures a comfortable journey thanks to the air conditioning in all train units. Despite the rise of driverless trains and screen door platforms in modern metro systems, these features are not found in Cityrail’s current setup.

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

The fare for a single journey is a reasonable $2.20. For more information, visit the official Sydney Metro website or call 131 500. Cityrail also maintains an active presence on social media platforms such as Twitter for timely updates and responses to passenger queries. That’s the lowdown on Sydney’s Cityrail – a vital part of the city’s public transport system.

City Circle (Sydney) Map

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

Network Structure and Services

With an extensive network of 815 kilometres (506 miles) and a total of 178 stations, Sydney Trains effectively connects Sydney’s urban and suburban regions. At the end of 2017, the system catered for approximately 340 million commuters, demonstrating its essential role in Sydney’s public transport infrastructure. This extensive network comprises 8 commercially operated lines, providing connectivity between the city centre and its outer suburbs.

The T1 Line: North Shore Line, Northern & Western

Sydney Trains’ first line, identified by the colour yellow and the number T1 on system maps, serves the city’s northern and western suburbs. Notable communities on this line include Blacktown, Perinth, Chatswood, Parramatta, Hornsby and the Central Business District. As it is more like a conventional railway than a metro system, many of the stations on this line are served by more than one line.

The T2 line: Inner West & Leppington Line

Recognisable on system maps by its light blue colour and the designation T2, this line serves the western and south-western areas of Sydney, as well as the city centre. Key locations served include the central business districts in the city centre and suburbs such as Haymarket, Ashfield, Granville, Parramatta, Warwick Farm and Glenfield. This line has 37 stations, many of which provide connections to other lines in the Sydney Trains network.

The T3 line: Bankstown Line

The T3 line, identified by its orange colour on system maps, serves the suburban region of Canterbury-Bankstown, the Inner West area and the Western Sydney region. Starting from part of the Central Business District, the line passes through neighbourhoods such as Sydenham, Dulwich Hill, Bankstown, Berala, Carramar and Liverpool. With a total of 33 stops, this line offers many connections to other lines within the system.

The T4 line: Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line

The T4 line, known for its azure blue colour on railway maps, is one of the oldest lines in the system, having been built in 1880. It serves Sydney’s eastern and southern suburbs and has 33 stations. The line splits at Sutherland Station, with some trains heading to southern suburbs such as Kirrawee, Caringbah and Cronulla, and others diverging to south-eastern suburbs such as Engadine, Heathcote and Waterfall.

The T5 line: Cumberland Line

The T5 line, represented by the number T5 and the colour magenta on maps, serves residents in Sydney’s western communities. It includes neighbourhoods such as Richmond, Mulgrave, Toongabbie, Guildford, Casula and surrounding communities. Designed with specific communities in mind, the line has 23 stops and passes through 23 different western suburbs of Sydney.

The T6 Line: Carlingford Line

Despite being one of the oldest lines, opened in 1888, the T6 is Sydney Trains’ smallest line. It runs north-south through suburbs such as Rosehill, Camellia, Dundas and Telopea, and is identified by the colour purple and the number T6 on railway maps. The line is so short that it takes just 12 minutes to travel from one end to the other.

The T7 line: Olympic Park Line

The T7 line was originally created to connect residents to the structures of the 2000 Olympic Village. Today it’s a disused line, only 7 kilometres long, with just one station. It can be identified on maps by the colour grey and the number T7.

The T8 line: Airport & South Line

The T8 line, the newest line in the system, connects Sydney’s south-western suburbs to the city centre. Identified by the number T8 and the colour green, it has a total of 32 stops, including a station dedicated to the airport. This line is one of the few Sydney Trains services to reach the terminal. It also serves suburbs such as Beverly Hills, Glenfield, Padstow and Bexley North, as well as the southern part of the city.

Interconnections

Sydney Trains stations are well connected, with complementary bus services and various train services on their respective routes. The stations listed 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 timetable for all Sydney Trains services can be found on their official website. Services generally start at 4:00am and run until 1:00am. The frequency of trains varies depending on the time of day. Regular service intervals are between 6-8 minutes, reducing to 3-5 minutes at peak times.

Fare Structure

Since 2014, fares on Sydney’s train system have been simplified by the reloadable Opal card. Fares are based on the distance a passenger travels, measured in kilometres (or miles). There are several types of Opal cards to suit different types of commuters. Here are the details of the different cards:

Adult Opal Card: This card is the standard fare payment method and is primarily intended for passengers 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

The carriage of animals, with the exception of service and law enforcement dogs, is strictly prohibited on Sydney’s train system. Alcoholic beverages in open containers and their consumption on trains and at stations are also prohibited. Persons found to be intoxicated or displaying violent or unacceptable behaviour on Sydney Trains premises will be subject to removal.

The transport of hazardous substances, flammable materials and potentially dangerous items on trains and at stations is prohibited. Supermarket trolleys are not permitted on train premises. All smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited on all train premises. Bicycles are allowed on trains, but should not obstruct the free flow of passengers within the facilities.

There are designated areas in stations and on trains for passengers with reduced mobility, which should not be occupied by other groups. Passengers are advised to stay on the left side of escalators to allow those in a hurry to pass on the right. It is forbidden to put your feet on train seats. Avoid boarding or exiting the train after the door closing announcement. Seats reserved for the elderly, disabled 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), connecting travellers to the city centre and surrounding suburbs. The Sydney Trains system is an excellent choice for those wishing to travel to the airport without relying on taxi services. To get to the airport, take Line 8 (T8) from any stop and get off at International Airport Station for international flights.

For domestic flights, get off at the Domestic Airport Station. Terminal facilities are located on the ground floor of these stations. There are also car hire, taxi, bus and even limousine services available to take you from the airport to the city centre. The train station below the airport is the most economical and efficient way to get to the city centre and surrounding areas.

Future Developments

The most prominent upcoming project is the Sydney Metro. Although Sydney Trains bears a resemblance to a metro system, it is essentially a network of commuter trains. The Sydney Metro is expected to begin operations in 2019 with the opening of Line 1, one of two planned lines. It is planned to be 66 kilometres (41 miles) long with 31 stations. It will initially connect the Rouse Hill precinct with the suburb of Chatswood and cross the central business district (CBD). There are also plans to extend the line to include two construction lines by 2024.

Tourist Attractions

Sydney is a diverse city that blends the arts with modern trends. A major landmark is the iconic Sydney Opera House, located a short distance from Circular Quay Station, served by lines T2, T3 and T8. Recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2007, it’s a must-see for city tourists, offering musicals, ballets, symphony concerts, operas and plays, as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Close to the Opera House is the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, which can also be accessed from Circular Quay Station. The bridge is worth a visit for its architectural design, historical significance and importance to the city. Illuminated at night, the bridge is a remarkable sight and the perfect backdrop for a social media post or treasured memory.