Intercapital Daylight

Inter-Capital Daylight

at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in December 2012
Overview
Service type	Passenger train
Status	Ceased
First service	26 March 1956
Last service	31 August 1991
Former operator(s)	State Rail Authority V/Line
Route
Start	Sydney
End	Melbourne
Distance travelled	956 kilometres
Service frequency	daily in each direction
Train number(s)	SL65/SL66
Line used	Main South, NSW North East, Victoria
Technical

The Inter-Capital Daylight was a passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne from March 1956 until August 1991.

Until April 1962 the line between Sydney and Albury was of a different gauges to that between Albury and Melbourne, requiring passengers to change trains.

On 26 March 1956 the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways introduced connecting daytime services named the Sydney–Melbourne (Melbourne–Sydney) Daylight Express. From Sydney a three times per week service was introduced, returning from Albury the following day. From Melbourne a three times per week non-stop service operated in the morning, returning in the evening.

From 24 September 1956 both were extended to operate daily Monday to Saturday. Total journey time between the capitals was 13 hours 20 minutes. The New South Wales train consisted of a 42 class locomotive hauling a nine carriage air-conditioned . The Victorian portion had a B class locomotive hauling eight air-conditioned S and Z carriages including the round-ended car ex Spirit of Progress, formerly known as Parlor car and renamed to Lounge car but later Club car, attached to the rear.

Following the completion of the standard gauge to Melbourne, the New South Wales train was extended to Melbourne from 16 April 1962. Named Inter-Capital Daylight, the train was formed of a nine carriage New South Wales Government Railways later extended to eleven carriages. The trains were initially hauled by New South Wales 44 class and the Victorian S class locomotives. During the 1970s the 422 class became the rostered power in New South Wales while the X class shared the Victorian duties with the S class.