Sydney Airport has stations under both the domestic and international terminals, and a train into the city that takes under 15 minutes. The surprise comes when you tap on.
The fee
A station access fee is charged on top of the normal train fare for trips to or from either airport station. For an adult it is about A$18.61. Child, youth and concession fees are about A$16.64, and a single trip paper ticket costs more, at about A$19.00 for an adult. The fee goes to the private company that built the airport line, and it is a big part of why the trip costs more than a train of the same length elsewhere in Sydney.
It works like this:
- It is added to the normal fare. You pay the access fee plus the usual Opal fare to wherever you are going. To Central, the Opal fare is a few dollars.
- It is not covered by the Opal caps. The daily and weekly Opal caps do not include the access fee.
- It has its own weekly cap. If you make more than two airport trips in a week (Monday to Sunday), the access fee stops at the weekly cap, about A$37.75 for an adult. This works with Opal cards and contactless payments.
Is the train worth it?
| Cost | Takes | Suits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | About A$18.61 plus the Opal fare, per adult | Under 15 minutes to Central | One person, no traffic worries, rush hour |
| Rideshare or taxi | Per vehicle, priced by demand | Longer in traffic | Two or more people, heavy bags, early or late |
For one person the train is fast and you know what you will pay. For two or three adults, the access fee is charged per person, so a rideshare can cost about the same and takes you to the door. Get a live estimate before you decide.
Hours
The airport line runs frequently from about 5am to midnight. Sydney Airport has a curfew from 11pm to 6am, so the first flights leave at 6am (see airport curfews). For a 6am flight you want to be at the terminal around 4am, before the first train, so many people sleep at the airport. See why staying at the airport before an early flight works, or look at early flight stays.
Between the two airport stations
The train also links the international and domestic terminals, and the access fee can apply there too. It is usually quicker than the shuttle bus. See getting between Sydney Airport terminals.
A layover in the city
If you have a long layover and want to see the city, the train is the quickest way in. See whether the city is worth it on a layover.