# List of urban rail systems in Australia

Urban rail transport forms a vital part of transportation in major Australian cities.

## Definitions

The Commonwealth government Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics and industry peak body Australasian Railway Association, who jointly publish the Trainline statistical report categorise Australian passenger systems as "urban" or "non-urban".
Urban networks are further classified as "light rail" or "heavy rail". Light rail in Australia includes established tram networks in Melbourne and Adelaide continuously operating in various forms since the 19th century, as well as networks in other cities newly constructed after the cessation of tram operation. Heavy rail networks primarily describe passenger operations over parts of mixed-traffic rail systems centred on capital cities and also includes the Sydney Metro system, which operates on its own dedicated corridor.
Non-urban passenger networks are classified according to their passenger task. "Inter-city" or "regional" networks are defined to be those whose primary market "...include[s] daily commuting or day return business or leisure travel" to major cities and are therefore included in this article. Other markets, such as long-distance operations between cities and regional centres, tourist-focused and heritage services, are excluded from this list.

## Urban rail systems

Average daily patronage, where possible, is taken from the last calendar or financial year. System lengths are given in route kilometres. The largest, most extensive urban (as distinct from interurban) system is found in Melbourne, while the system with the highest patronage is found in Sydney. Patronage figures are for 2018–19 unless otherwise stated.
| Primary City | System | Other cities served | Type | Average daily boardings | Lines | Stations/ stops | Length | Average daily boardings/km |
| Sydney | Sydney Trains | | Commuter rail | 1,033,150 | 9 | 161 | 355.5 km | 2,799/km |
| Sydney | Sydney Metro | | Rapid transit | 74,000 (2023) | 1 | 21 | 52 km | 2,055/km |
| Sydney | Sydney Light Rail | | Light rail | 86,444 (2023) | 3 | 42 | 24.7 km | 3,500/km |
| Sydney | Parramatta Light Rail | | Light rail | TBA | 1 | 16 | 12 km | TBA |
| Sydney | NSW TrainLink (commuter services) | Newcastle, Wollongong, Scone, Dungog, Goulburn, Bathurst, Nowra (Bomaderry) | Commuter rail | 112,300 | 5 | 156 | 977 km | 114/km |
| Newcastle | Newcastle Light Rail | | Light rail | 3,400 (2019) | 1 | 6 | 2.7 km | 1,259/km |
| Melbourne | Metro Trains Melbourne | | Commuter rail | 660,300 | 17 | 219 | 405 km | 1,645/km |
| Melbourne | Yarra Trams | | Tram | 493,292 (2023) | 24 | 1,763 | 250 km | 1,973/km |
| Melbourne | V/Line (commuter services) | Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour, Latrobe Valley | Commuter rail | 57,500 | 5 | 66 | 610 km | 94/km |
| Perth | Transperth | Mandurah | Commuter rail | 168,600 | 6 | 75 | 187 km | 936/km |
| Brisbane | Queensland Rail Citytrain | Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast | Commuter rail | 150,000 | 13 | 152 | 689 km | 206/km |
| Gold Coast | G:link | | Light rail | | 1 | 19 | 20 km | |
| Adelaide | Adelaide Metro | | Commuter rail | 42,880 | 6 | 81 | 126 km | 340/km |
| Adelaide | Glenelg trams | | Tram | | 3 | 33 | 15 km | |
| Canberra | Canberra Light Rail | | Light rail | | 1 | 14 | 12 km | |