A missing boy has been found safe after spending the night alone on Sydney’s rail network.

Originally from Mongolia, 11-year-old Anar Erdenechimg speaks very limited English.

He went to play basketball near his home at Canterbury, in Sydney’s south-west, at about 10am.

Anar’s parents became concerned when he didn’t return after lunch and notified police when they still hadn’t found him nearing nightfall.

A large scale search was launched, including a search helicopter using a loudspeaker to broadcast his description.

Have you seen 11-year-old Anar Erdenechimg missing from Canterbury? https://t.co/gjGQflGhUC

— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) January 14, 2019

At about 10am, police revealed the good news that Anar had been found safe and well in Sydney’s CBD.

It turns out the boy got lost and ended up at a train station, thinking it would take him back home.

Instead, he ended up in the city where a member of the Mongolian community recognised him and helped him out.

Detective Senior Constable Michael Penfold confirmed details of the boy’s frightening ordeal.

“He said he slept on the train overnight before getting off at the city early in the morning.”

Anar’s mother has thanked police and the public for their efforts in finding her son.