 The "Southern Aurora" was an overnight express service between the two largest Australian cities, Melbourne and Sydney.The service began in 1962 with the opening of the North East standard gauge line in Victoria, which enabled direct rail traffic between the two capitals for the first time.Owned and operated jointly by the Victorian Railways (VR) and New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR), the "Southern Aurora" ran in both directions each night with first-class sleeping carriages making up the entire train.