The Southern Aurora entered service amid much pomp and ceremony as the glamour train of its day.

The service was introduced shortly after the opening of the standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury, eliminating the ‘break-of-gauge’ between the two capital cities. Prior to the Southern Aurora, the NSWGR ran its trains to Albury, where passengers had to change to a Victorian train for the rest of the journey to Melbourne.

As the last word in luxury travel, the Southern Aurora quickly became a symbol of interstate elegance. For the first years of its operation, the Southern Aurora was a priority train, and any signaller who blocked it would be reported.

On the evening of 12th April 1962, a glittering ceremony was held at the famous Trocadero in Sydney to officially commemorate the opening of the standard gauge line and the commencement of "through" passenger services between the two cities. Present were Prime Minister Robert Menzies, the Premiers of NSW and Victoria, the Governor General, the Commissioners for Railways of NSW and Victoria, the Lord Mayors of Sydney and Melbourne, church dignitaries and many other distinguished guests.