The KRAIL Journal

Stories from the Sydney commute.

Where to go, where to eat, what we are building, and what it takes to run a transport app from a Sydney bedroom. Written for people who actually catch the train.

Things to do

Berowra to Cowan, two stations and a free ferry

A bushwalk between two train stations, with a free little ferry across Berowra Creek. The trains home from Cowan come once an hour.

Read the story
3 min read

Everything else

16 stories
Things to do

Chatswood station: which platform for the metro

Platform 2 for the metro, platform 1 for the train. They share just one city stop, and on a Sunday night the metro stops almost an hour earlier.

4 min read
Things to do

Wedding Cake Rock by train and Bundeena ferry

A train to Cronulla, a little ferry to Bundeena, and a clifftop walk to a white sandstone rock. The last boat back is at 7pm.

3 min read
Things to do

Bondi to Coogee walk, and the bus that runs all night

Sydney's most famous walk is one way, so if you drive, your car ends up at the wrong beach. The buses at both ends run all night, so leave it at home.

4 min read
Things to do

NRL Grand Final: your train home from Olympic Park

Around 80,000 people leave Accor Stadium at once on 4 October. Trains to Central run every 5 minutes from 9.30pm, and your match ticket pays for them.

4 min read
Transport mode chips being switched off one at a time until only ferries are left in the results
App showcase

Rather take the ferry? Filter your Sydney trip

The Mode button in KRAIL switches off the kinds of travel you do not want, so your Sydney results only show trips on train, bus, ferry or metro.

1 min read
The number 333 being typed, route cards appearing, and the stop list opening
App showcase

Know the route number? Find your Sydney bus stop

Type a bus route number into KRAIL and you get every Sydney stop that bus goes past, in order, so you pick yours without knowing its official name.

2 min read
A stop pin being tapped on the map, the stop sheet rising, and the stop landing in the search field
App showcase

Find any Sydney bus or train stop on the map

In KRAIL you can find a Sydney bus, train or ferry stop by tapping it on a map, see what is leaving from it, and choose it for your trip without typing.

2 min read
A new theme colour being picked, the app settling into it, and then switching to dark mode
App showcase

Six colours and dark mode for your Sydney commute

KRAIL comes in six colours, each with its own little tagline, plus light and dark mode, so your Sydney commute app reads right at 6am and at 6pm.

1 min read
A Circular Quay to Manly ferry showing in 4 mins, Wharf 2 Side A, departing 8:20 PM and arriving 8:40 PM
App showcase

Is it late or gone? Live Sydney train and bus times

KRAIL shows a live countdown, the platform or wharf, and crosses out the old time when a Sydney train, bus or ferry runs late. Every mode, not just trains.

2 min read
The date being stepped to Tomorrow, the time set to 9:59 on the clock face, and the results rebuilding to arrive by then
App showcase

Need to be there by 9? Plan the Sydney trip ahead

KRAIL plans a Sydney train, bus or ferry trip for later, either leaving at a set time or arriving by one, for today or any day up to a week ahead.

1 min read
A saved trip being tapped on the home screen, opening straight into live departures
App showcase

Save your Sydney commute, open it in one tap

Tap the star on any trip in KRAIL and it lives on your home screen, so tomorrow morning your Sydney commute is one tap away instead of two searches.

2 min read
The Maps button being tapped on a ferry trip, opening a map with the route drawn across the harbour
App showcase

See your whole Sydney trip drawn on a map

Tap Maps on any trip in KRAIL and you see where every Sydney train, bus or ferry goes, where you walk, and where you change, in each line's own colours.

2 min read
The Tallawong Station card being tapped open to show live spaces at three car parks, then tapped closed again
App showcase

Check Sydney Park & Ride spaces before you leave

KRAIL puts live Park & Ride spaces for Sydney stations on the home screen, so you know there is a spot before you back out of the driveway.

2 min read
The departures icon being tapped, the stop sheet opening, and the live board scrolling
App showcase

Live departure board for any Sydney stop

KRAIL has a live departure board for any Sydney stop, with countdowns, platforms and a line filter, so you see everything leaving from where you stand.

1 min read
A cluster of pink cherry blossoms in full bloom on a branch at Auburn Botanic Gardens
Things to do

Auburn Cherry Blossom Festival by train and shuttle

Every ticket is booked online, there is no buying one at the gate. Here is the Sydney train and free shuttle that gets you to Auburn instead.

4 min read
Boom gates down across the entry lane of the Tallawong Park and Ride car park, with rows of parked cars filling the lot behind
Things to do

Beat the Tallawong Park & Ride parking lottery

Everyone says the Tallawong car park fills. Almost nobody knows there are three of them, and they do not fill at the same rate.

3 min read