Katoomba Train Station Blue Mountains Australia

Sydney Central Station to - from Katoomba by Train

To Katoomba from Sydney by train: Katoomba in the Blue Mountains of Australia is 110 km (68 miles) and a few hours by road or rail west of Sydney. I took the train from Central Station Sydney to Katoomba. It was fast, easy and cheap. Especially on New Year's long weekend: $2.50! The usual fare is $7.80 one way. Good for me, but also good for the hundreds traveling with me who loved a bargain. The train stops at Leura and Wentworth Falls just before Katoomba; Both are good alternates if you're staying in the Blue Mountains (Leura Gardens Resort) for a few days.

tip: Pack drinks, snacks for the trip.

Katoomba Train Station in Blue Mountains Australia

This is the street entrance to the Katoomba train station.

Katoomba station has a lift (elevator) if you cannot manage ramps and stairs.

Leura station has no lift, so take this into account if you are not sure which station to use.

You can buy a three day pass from City Rail to explore this area.

Since I was staying for 4 days, I just bought single tickets each way.

Train Station Katoomba Blue Mountains Near Sydney Australia

I really liked the woodwork details of these older and obviously well maintained stations in the Blue Mountains.

This area is steeped in history, with many original buildings still in use.

Katoomba was named in 1877, and was known not as a wildly popular tourism area but as the site of a coal mine.

This station (typical of others in this area) is across the street from the venerable Carrington Hotel dating back to 1882.

City Rail Train at Katoomba Blue Mountains Station

Trains keep to a fairly tight schedule, so be ready to board when the train pulls in, and don't dawdle.

There's a place at one end of the cars where you can stow a suitcase or backpack.

Luggage etc. can also be put in the overhead racks.

On the high-traffic day I went to Katoomba, all seats were filled, and so were the aisles.

For the first 15 minutes, I stood with my bags in the small area between cars, outside the restrooms.

Trains leave Central on the hour, about 16 minutes past the hour.

Still jet lagged, and finding myself at the train station just after 9 a.m., I'd run to catch the train. The smarter move would have been to leave it to the day-trippers, and wait an hour. And though this Sunday was such a busy travel day, the City Rail train had only 4 cars in all on this trip. Surely they could have found 4 more so we all could have a seat :-)

Passengers Boarding City Rail Train at Katoomba Blue Mountains

As more people got on at the next stops, I was able to move into the car, but I did have to stand the entire way to Katoomba.

Yet when elderly passengers boarded, those with seats offered them up.

When you are standing, you cannot see out the windows.

Though I couldn't see the great rolling hills and broad valleys on the trip TO Katoomba, I had great views of the scenery on the return trip to Sydney.

I recall there were about 22 stops along the way. Could be more :-)

But such close quarters were conducive for chatting with other passengers, including one lovely family off to go walking the trail from Wentworth Falls to Leura. They gave me a lot of tips for trails in this area, and made for a most enjoyable trip.

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