Status Ceased Last service 2 August 1986 | First service 16 April 1962 | |
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Service type Overnight sleeper train Successor Sydney/Melbourne Express Former operator(s) State Rail Authority
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The Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 16 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury, eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.
A fleet of 34 stainless steel carriages were jointly purchased by the Department of Railways New South Wales and Victorian Railways featuring fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners.</ref> A motorail service was added from July 1973 which enabled passengers to travel and take their cars.
On 7 February 1969 the train was involved in the Violet Town railway disaster, when the southbound Southern Aurora collided head on with a northbound freight train, resulting in eight deaths and the destruction of two S class locomotives and seven carriages.
With declining passenger numbers it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train, the unimaginatively named Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Southern Aurora ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.
After the demise of sleeper trains in the early 1990s, many of the carriages passed to the Australian Railway Historical Society, Canberra and New South Wales Rail Transport Museum who have maintained them in operational condition. The latter often operates them on tours under the Southern Aurora banner.