Winter Challenge Race Day

Opal

You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.

Remember to top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top up your card online or at an Opal retailer.

More ways to pay

If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits including daily and weekly fare caps.

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Tallawong Station and Chatswood Station.

Metro services start from the early morning running every 10 minutes until late. Change at Epping to a train or bus service towards Parramatta to connect with buses to Rosehill. 

For Metro service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The best station for connections to Rosehill Gardens is Parramatta where you can change for buses to get to and from the racecourse. Trains to Parramatta run every 10 to 15 minutes on weekends.

Route 920 and 535 bus services run regularly towards Rosehill making stops near the racecourse. See our Rosehill Gardens Transport Map (pdf 415KB) to find your way.

Trackwork

Planned weekend trackwork is taking place on Saturday 20 July on the following lines and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner. 

• T1 North Shore Line: Trains may run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork between Strathfield and Central. 
• T1 Western Line: Penrith trains run to a changed timetable and make extra stops at Homebush, Burwood, Croydon and Ashfield. Richmond trains run to a changed timetable between Richmond and Olympic Park. Change trains at Parramatta to continue your journey towards the City. From 9pm to 2am, trains from Penrith run to the City via Bankstown, to a changed timetable. Trains from the City to Penrith continue to run via Strathfield. Buses replace trains from Strathfield to Central, in that direction only. 
• T2 Inner West & Leppington Line: Inner West trains will not run. T1 Western and T9 Northern Line trains make extra stops at some stations between Homebush and Central. Leppington trains run to a changed timetable between Leppington and Strathfield via Granville, making an extra stop at Homebush. You may need to change trains to continue your journey. From 9pm to 2am, express buses replace trains from Strathfield to Central, in that direction only. All-stations buses replace trains from Ashfield to Central. T9 Northern Line trains run between Strathfield and Ashfield. All-stations and limited stop trains continue to run from the City to Strathfield, in that direction only. 
• T3 Bankstown Line: Trains may run to a changed timetable. 
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line: From 4am to 11.30am, buses replace trains between Waterfall and Sutherland. Trains run between Cronulla, Sutherland and Bondi Junction, some to a changed timetable.  
• T9 Northern Line: Trains run to a changed timetable and make extra stops at all stations between Ashfield and Macdonaldtown. From 9pm to 2am, buses replace trains from Ashfield to Central, in that direction only. Trains run to a changed timetable between Hornsby and Ashfield. Change at Strathfield for express buses to Central or change at Ashfield for buses stopping all-stations towards Central. Trains continue to run from the City to Hornsby via Strathfield, in that direction only. 
• Blue Mountains Line: Trains may run to a changed timetable due to trackwork between Strathfield and Central. From 9pm to 2am, most trains run between Blue Mountains Line stations and Parramatta only. Change trains to continue your journey. Trackwork between Strathfield and Central may also affect how you travel. 
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: Trains may run to a changed timetable due to trackwork between Strathfield and Central. From 9pm to 2am, trains run between Central Coast & Newcastle Line stations and Strathfield only. Buses replace trains from Strathfield to Central, in that direction only. Trains continue to run from Central to Strathfield, in that direction only. Change at Strathfield to continue your journey. 
• South Coast Line: From 3am to 11am, buses replace trains between Dapto, Port Kembla and Sutherland. You may need to change buses to continue your journey. Trains run to a changed timetable between Bomaderry, Kiama and Dapto, and T4 Illawarra trains run between Sutherland and Bondi Junction.  

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. For the latest information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

From Parramatta Interchange, route 920 and 535 services run towards Rosehill making stops near the racecourse. Services run every 20 minutes on weekends.

See our Rosehill Gardens Transport Map to find your way and plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Route 920:

• Services leave from Parramatta Station Interchange, Stand A2, and drop off on James Ruse Drive opposite Prospect Street.
• Services leave from James Ruse Drive at Prospect Street and drop off at Parramatta Interchange.

Route 535:

• Services leave from Valentine Avenue before Wentworth Street at Parramatta Interchange and drop off on Hassall Street after Arthur Street.
• Services leave from Hassall Street and drop off at Valentine Avenue, Parramatta Interchange.
• Services stop at Carlingford, Telopea, Dundas, Rydalmere, Camellia/Rosehill and Parramatta. A standard Opal train fare applies. Catch a train or bus for connections to and from Clyde.

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or use the Trip Planner.

The closest wharf to Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is Parramatta Wharf. From here, walk to Parkes Street to catch buses towards the racecourse.  

F3 Parramatta River services run regularly to Parramatta, but services are very popular and may reach capacity. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on catching an F3 Parramatta River service. Plan your trip and allow plenty of extra travel time or consider the alternative public transport options available. 

Please note, F3 Parramatta River ferries between Parramatta and Rydalmere may be affected by low tide and replaced by buses, check for updates here.

For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Parramatta Light Rail – Stage 1 Testing

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 testing is now taking place seven days a week along the entire 12-kilometre route between Westmead and Carlingford, including in the Parramatta CBD, to ensure the safety and reliability of the network ahead of its commencement of passenger services later this year. Road conditions have changed and trams can’t stop quickly or easily – so please stop, listen and look around for trams. Read the news story for more information.

L1 Dulwich Hill Line

L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Station (Grand Concourse) and Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour and the Inner West. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

From Central, change for a T1 Western Line train to Parramatta to connect with buses to Rosehill Gardens.

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines

L2 Randwick Line light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and L3 Kingsford Line services run between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

From Central, change for a T1 Western Line train to Parramatta to connect with buses towards the racecourse

For maps and service frequencies see light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Traffic may be heavier than usual on James Ruse Drive and Hassall Street approaching the racecourse so allow extra travel time. 

Note, traffic changes for Parramatta Light Rail may affect how you travel through Parramatta CBD. Stage 1 testing is now taking place seven days a week from 6am to 6pm along the entire 12-kilometre route between Westmead and Carlingford, including in the Parramatta CBD. For more information visit Parramatta Light Rail and the news story.

For the latest traffic information visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.

Drop-off: taxis enter Rosehill Gardens Racecourse through the Grand Avenue gates but are not permitted to stop on James Ruse Drive or Grand Avenue.

Pick-up: taxis are located on Oak Street over the Equine Bridge located at the Might and Power entry.

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit Transport Operators.

Free unreserved members parking is available in:

• P4 and P5 car parks located on James Ruse Drive and Prospect Street.
• P6 Infield car park via Gate 2 on Unwin Street.

Reserved Members Car Parking is available for those with annual car park passes.

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can check 'accessible services only' in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (check the 'Accessibility' filter).