Ed Sheeran slips through Junee on midnight train

HE’S a global pop phenomenon with 62 billion streams and an estimated $700 million net worth. But sometime after midnight last week, Ed Sheeran rolled quietly into Junee on a $164 country train — and nobody knew.

Instead of taking a one-hour flight from Sydney to Melbourne, the British superstar boarded the 11-hour overnight NSW TrainLink XPT service last Wednesday night, travelling with his family on the midnight run south.

The train made 18 stops along the way — including Cootamundra, Junee and Wagga — before arriving at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station about 7.30am Thursday.

Junee Railway Station | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

That means as the town slept, one of the biggest artists on the planet was pulling into Junee’s historic rail precinct.

No crowds on the platform. No security cordons. No fanfare.

Hours later, commuters in Melbourne were stunned when Sheeran stepped off the XPT in a hooded jacket, flanked by bodyguards, ahead of his Thursday night show at Marvel Stadium.

Ed Sheeran pictured after arriving at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station on Thursday morning | Photo: 10 News

The Sydney–Melbourne XPT remains a staple of regional travel. The cheapest ticket starts at around $80, while a First Class seat costs $164.

According to NSW TrainLink, First Class offers significantly more legroom, deeper recline and a quieter cabin than economy, along with greater luggage allowance and access to the buffet car.

It lacks modern amenities such as Wi-Fi or power ports, but is often praised for its value compared to flying.

For one night, it also carried a 62-billion-stream superstar straight through the Riverina.

Ed Sheeran | Photo: File/Harald Krichel/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

For Junee, a town built on rail, there’s something quietly poetic about the moment.

In the dark of night, the railway did what it has always done: carry people across the country.

Only this time, it just happened to be one of the most famous musicians on Earth.

XPT pulling into Junee Railway Station | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Tracks over tarmac

Sheeran’s decision to spend 11 hours on a regional rail service rather than 60 minutes in the air has been widely praised online, reinforcing his long-held “man of the people” image.

It wasn’t a scheduling necessity. It was a deliberate choice driven by sustainability and simplicity. Long-haul rail generally produces lower per-passenger emissions than short domestic flights, particularly on busy corridors.

Sheeran’s wife, Cherry Seaborn — who works in sustainability — has “strongly encouraged” him to take public transport and live as normally as possible.

“I think you get jaded if you live within a bubble,” Sheeran has said.

Footage of his low-key Melbourne arrival shows the global star blending into the early morning crowd with minimal fuss.

The Melbourne leg marks the fourth stop of Sheeran’s Australian tour, which began in Perth on January 31.

He performed three shows in Sydney (February 13–15), three in Brisbane, returned to Sydney — and then boarded the XPT south.

After three shows at Marvel Stadium from Thursday to Saturday, he now heads to Adelaide for his 12th and final Australian performance on March 5.