The service ran overnight departing Sydney at 21:00 arriving in Cooma at 10:30 the following morning.
[1] In 1912, the service was upgraded to run as a passenger train throughout.
It had previously operated as a mixed train south of Queanbeyan, and accelerated departing Sydney at 20:25 and arriving at 07:00.
In March 1927, a Canberra portion was added.
[1] In June 1981, the Sydney bound services was altered to operate as a daylight service departing Cooma at 08:50.