Travel restrictions in place between NSW and Victoria
Published: Thu 31 Dec 2020
There are currently changes in place restricting travel from NSW to Victoria.
For a full and up to date list of all public exposure sites, please visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au. If you think you may have been exposed, please get tested immediately and follow DHHS instructions.
Advice for travellers arriving from New South Wales to Victoria
Albury Train Services
From 1 January, V/Line trains will no longer operate from Albury.
All Albury train services towards Melbourne will originate at Wodonga (not Albury). Passengers who are permitted to travel from Albury should make their way to Wodonga station to board the train. The shuttle coach between Albury and Wodonga will no longer operate. These changes will remain in place until further notice.
Services running from Melbourne to Albury will continue through to Albury for passengers to disembark.
Coach services operating between NSW and VIC
From 11.59pm Friday 1 January, V/Line coach services will no longer operate across the NSW border until further notice.
This applies to all coach services except for the Mildura to Bendigo and Mildura to Swan Hill routes which will continue to travel via Euston NSW, however, will NOT stop to pick up or drop off passengers.
Passengers travelling on these services must present either a photo ID showing an address in a border community or a valid Victorian Border Permit.
The coach services between Canberra and both Albury/Wodonga and Bairnsdale will not run.
Coaches on the Batemans Bay route will still run between Bairnsdale and Genoa for East Gippsland
passengers.
All other scheduled coach services will operate to the normal timetable within Victoria but start or
finish their journey at the last Victorian stop before the NSW border.
Details of the specific coach changes are:
Adelaide - Albury will terminate at Wodonga
Albury - Adelaide will originate from Wodonga
Albury - Kerang will originate from Wodonga
Albury - Seymour will originate from Wodonga
Albury - Wangaratta will originate from Wodonga
Bairnsdale - Batemans Bay will terminate at Genoa
Bairnsdale - Canberra will not operate
Bairnsdale - Narooma will terminate at Genoa
Bairnsdale - Narooma will terminate at Genoa
Barham - Melbourne, Southern Cross will originate from Koondrook
Batemans Bay - Bairnsdale will originate from Genoa
Bendigo - Mildura will not stop in Euston NSW
Bendigo - Moama will terminate at Echuca
Bendigo - Swan Hill will not stop in Euston NSW
Benalla - Mulwala will terminate at Yarrawonga
Canberra - Bairnsdale will not operate
Canberra - Wodonga will not operate
Corowa - Wangaratta will originate from Wagunya
Deniliquin - Melbourne, Southern Cross will originate from Echuca
Griffith - Shepparton will originate from Cobram
Kerang - Albury will terminate at Wodonga
Melbourne, Southern Cross - Deniliquin will terminate at Echuca
Melbourne, Southern Cross - Moama will terminate at Echuca
Melbourne, Southern Cross - Barham will terminate at Koondrook
Mildura - Bendigo will not stop in Euston NSW
Mildura - Swan Hill will not stop in Euston NSW
Moama - Bendigo will originate from Echuca
Moama - Melbourne, Southern Cross will originate from Echuca
Moama - Murchison East Station will originate from Echuca
Moama - Seymour will terminate at Echuca
Moama - Shepparton will originate from Echuca
Mulwala - Benalla will originate from Yarrawonga
Murchison East - Moama will terminate at Echuca
Narooma - Bairnsdale will originate from Genoa
Seymour - Albury will terminate at Wodonga
Seymour - Moama will terminate at Echuca
Seymour - Tocumwal will terminate at Cobram
Shepparton - Griffith will terminate at Cobram
Shepparton - Moama will terminate at Echuca
Shepparton - Tocumwal will terminate at Cobram
Swan Hill - Mildura will not stop in Euston NSW
Tocumwal - Seymour will originate from Cobram
Tocumwal - Shepparton will originate from Cobram
Wangaratta - Albury will terminate at Wodonga
Wangaratta - Corowa will terminate at Wagunya
Wodonga - Canberra will not operate
Prior to 11.59pm Friday 1 January 2021, a permit system remains in place for people travelling from New South Wales to Victoria. New permits are required for all Victorians as of today. You need to have a current and valid permit to enter Victoria.
Find out more about the permit system including how to apply.
All travellers must carry their permit with them.
For more information about the NSW/Victorian border closure please visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au
For further information or assistance in planning your journey, please call 1800 800 007.
If you think you may have been exposed or have been to these locations, please contact 1800 675 398.
Anyone who has recently arrived in Victoria from NSW can access information on the exposure sites on the health.nsw.gov.au website.
Is the border between Victoria and NSW closed?
From 11:59pm on Friday 1 January, the border between New South Wales and Victoria will close to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Are V/Line services travelling across the border?
From first service on 1 January, V/Line train services including the temporary shuttle bus service between Albury and Wodonga will no longer run. Passengers who are permitted to travel from Albury on 1 January, should make their way to Wodonga Station to board the train.
For all other V/Line interstate services, passengers are advised to make their own way across the border to connect with scheduled services within Victoria.
What is the permit system?
A permit system is in place for:
• All NSW residents travelling to Victoria
• Victorian residents returning from NSW
• Anyone travelling through NSW and into Victoria
More information on the permit requirements and how to apply is available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au
What are the limitations on travel into Victoria?
Hot, red, orange and green zones have been declared in NSW and are evolving. Please check coronavirus.vic.gov.au for information on whether your location has been identified in one of these categories.
Anyone from a hot or red zone will not be able to enter Victoria. Those who attempt to enter Victoria will be subject to 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine.
All Victorians wanting to return home from Sydney must apply for an exemption, get tested within 24 hours of returning home and self-quarantine for 14 days.
Those travelling from an orange zone must get tested and self-quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
Those travelling from a green zone will be asked to monitor symptoms.
If I live in a border community, can I cross into Victoria?
Residents in border communities will be able to cross the border without a permit, however a licence or photo ID and proof of residence is required.
Will the permit system be enforced?
All travellers must carry their permit with them. Victoria Police are conducting checks at key border locations.
How long will this be in place for?
It is unknown at this time how long this will be in place for and we will continue to follow the advice provided by DHHS.
Is there a permit system available for essential travel?
Travellers have until 11:59pm on Friday 1 January to seek a permit and complete their travel from NSW to Victoria. Latest information on the permit system and how to apply is available at coronavirus.com.au.
From 11:59pm on Friday 1 January, there will be exemptions in place for some travellers such as in a medical emergency. More information on restrictions and exemptions to travel is available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au
I'm a Victorian resident. Can I cross the border to get home?
Any Victorian, regardless of where they're arriving from in New South Wales, will need to get tested and then quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in our state.
If I live in a border community, can I cross into Victoria?
Detail on this is still to be resolved. Please check coronavirus.vic.gov.au for updates.
How long will this be in place for?
It is unknown at this time how long this will be in place for and we will continue to follow the advice provided by DHHS.
Are XPT services running between Sydney and Melbourne?
All XPT services travelling from New South Wales will be stopped at the border. This will continue until further notice.
Information on XPT services will continue to be updated at Transport for NSW.
How is the border closure being enforced?
Authorised Officers will continue to monitor arrivals at our airports, and our hardworking Victoria Police officers will continue to guard our state's borders.
Regular updates on NSW and the impact to our borders will be provided at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.