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The CountryLink is a government owned passenger train and bus network that connects 350 stations in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. A business enterprise of the Rail Corporation New South Wales CountryLink is owned by the Government of New South Wales. Increased disposable incomes of Australians and competition from low cost airlines have driven down the number passengers over the year thus threatening the networks sustainability. In fact the in 2002-03 the CountryLink's revenue of 68.9 million AUD was far outmatched by its expenditure of 217.3 million AUD. Operations in major parts of CountryLink's rail routes have been discontinued and replaced with chartered bus service in an effort to cut losses. This move though unpopular with the rural communities has not actually resulted in tangible returns or for that matter decreasing losses. CountryLink's most important train is the XPT which is based on the British High Speed Train. CountryLink is the owner of and controls stations and rolling stock, and uses tracks owned by Rail Infrastructure Corporation, CityRail, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and other enterprises. The Sydney's Central railway station one of the city's main commuter and long-distance transport hubs is also the centre of its operations.
The Sydney to Canberra CountryLink route also stops at the following stations:-
- Strathfield
- Campbelltown
- Mittagong
- Bowral
- Moss Vale
- Bundanoon
- Goulburn
- Tarago
- Bungendore
- Queanbeyan The Melbourne to Canberra route (via Yass Junction) includes the following stops:- - Southern Cross(Melbourne)
- Benalla
- Wangaratta
- Albury
- Culcairn
- Henty
- The Rock
- Wagga Wagga
- Junee
- Cootamundra
- Harden
- Yass Junction
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