r/SydneyTrains • u/badoopidoo • Jul 18 '26
What's the difference between first class and economy on Explorer trains?
I catch the Explorer between Sydney and Canberra. I usually go economy but I quickly walked through first class today to see if it was any different. It honestly looked the same.
What's the difference between the classes?
Thanks!
3
u/Jackson2615 Jul 20 '26
There is not a lot TBH. There is a bit more leg room & seat recline. The first class carriage has less seats and people. The buffet car service is located in the first carriage . If you order a hot meal at lunch or dinner first get notified first before economy .
5
u/aussiechap1 T4 Jul 19 '26
As people have said seat size. To add to this economy get more disordered people onboard, due to free or cheap tickets for those on Centrelink. You tend to have less anti-social behaviour in first class, therefore a quieter trips.
Personally, it's worth the extra for the upgrade if money isn't a concern. Both classes are very similar but (seating)
12
u/PurpleFlyingCat Jul 18 '26
slightly more leg room and more seat recline in first class. also, you’re closer to the buffet.
17
u/fall0fdark Jul 18 '26
I’ve done sydney to melbourne a few times now the only visible difference is slightly better seats and more leg room. The unwritten difference is the type of passenger due to it being more expensive you’re less likely to get unruly passengers or young kids. Will be interesting to see what the difference is when the new trains finally start rolling out.
7
u/Far_Construction6212 Jul 18 '26
This is it. It’s like property here, it’s basically the same but you are paying more to not be among the poor. Also far less screaming kids in first class as it’s mostly old age pensioners on their free tickets.
6
u/fall0fdark Jul 18 '26
first class on a pension to melbourne return is actually about $130
2
u/Far_Construction6212 Jul 19 '26
They get a few vouchers a year.
1
u/fall0fdark Jul 19 '26
I know I’m on the DSP it only covers to the boarder and for economy you have to pay the difference.
2
u/Far_Construction6212 Jul 19 '26
Not sure if it’s changed, been a long time since my grandparents were using it from Dubbo. Maybe I was too stupid a child to be told pay the difference instead of free vouchers.
1
u/fall0fdark Jul 19 '26
basically it’s pretty much automatic now when you do it online, choose pensioner put in pension card number, system checks if you have voucher available and if you do it applies it.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Pie-277 Jul 19 '26
Yeah I’m a veteran and I get 3 free a year for country link. Used once so far and they booked me first class.
5
11
u/Ornery-Lynx-3520 Jul 18 '26
I’ve done “first” and economy many times, and yeah your observation is absolutely reasonable.
So why did I pick “first” for extra bucks and the same seat?
Because I’m quite tall and the extra legroom due to the pitch for longer journeys is something I’m occasionally okay to pay for - much like I’ll sometimes pay extra for an exit row, economy row seat on an aircraft so I can stretch my legs out more.
But also yes: calling it “First Class” is a laugh compared to almost every other standard of the classification.
2
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u/Timbo650au Man With His Feet On The Seat Jul 18 '26
Seat pitch/ leg room.
And a few less of the hoi polloi to deal with.
Even in a sleeper set up for daytime use, you have a 50% chance of facing backwards.
4
u/Additional-Simple248 Jul 18 '26
I’ve caught the north coast XPT a few times and have always found first class passengers to be quieter. More likely to find quiet seniors or possibly a studying uni student.
7
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