{{Short description|Australian luxury train operator}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox rail service |name = Southern Cross Express |image = |caption = |type = Luxury train |status = Ceased |formeroperator = Australian Vintage Travel |start = Melbourne |stops = Sydney<br>Canberra |class = First |stock = South Australian Railways steel}}
The '''''Southern Cross Express''''' was a luxury train operator in Australia. It was launched in June 1985 as Steam Age operating out of Melbourne on the Victorian Railways broad gauge network. Services were operated by steam locomotive R766 and six South Australian Railways carriages.<ref name=DigestOct88>"Southern Cross Express" ''Railway Digest'' October 1988 pages 365-369.</ref>
In 1987, the carriages were sold to Australian Vintage Travel, who also owned a Douglas DC-3 airplane and the ''South Steyne'' ferry, converted to standard gauge and began operating interstate services into New South Wales on the State Rail Authority network. Its first trip was a cruise from Melbourne to Sydney and Canberra hauled by an 81 class in January 1988. It operated a few further trips in 1988 before ceasing.<ref name=DigestOct88/><ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19880410&id=KzBWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=huQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2789,7214772&hl=en Stylish new train] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 10 April 1988.</ref>
In 1990, the carriages moved to Goulburn and later Junee Locomotive Depot before moving to Casino in October 1996 for use on Northern Rivers Railroad's ''Ritz Rail'' tourist train on the Murwillumbah line.<ref>"Southern Cross Express cars sold" ''Railway Digest'' February 1990 p. 47.</ref><ref>"Intelligence" ''Railway Gazette International'' September 1991 p. 568.</ref><ref>"The Northern Rivers Railroad" ''Railway Digest'' December 1996 p. 28.</ref><ref>"Northern Rivers launches a Ritzy train" ''Railway Digest'' July 1999 p. 22.</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Defunct railway companies of Australia Category:Named passenger trains of Australia Category:Discontinued railway services in Australia