Central Coast & Newcastle Line

Central Coast & Newcastle Line

A NSW TrainLink H set at the former Civic station.
Overview
Service type Intercity rail
Locale Central Coast and Newcastle, New South Wales
Current operator(s) NSW TrainLink
Route
Start Central
Stops 36
End Hamilton
Line used Main North railway line
Newcastle railway line
Technical
Rolling stock NSW TrainLink H and V sets
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Track owner(s) RailCorp

The Central Coast & Newcastle Line is a NSW TrainLink passenger train service that runs along the Main North railway line in New South Wales, connecting the state's two largest cities, Sydney and Newcastle. The service runs from Central through to Broadmeadow on the Main North railway line to Hamilton on the partly-closed Newcastle railway line, and services the Hawkesbury River region, the Central Coast and the city of Newcastle.

Description of route

The Hawkesbury River separates Sydney and the Central Coast. The bridge over the river is one of the major engineering structures on the line.

The route traverse the Main West and Main South railway line routes until Strathfield, where it diverts north and follows the route of the Main North line until Broadmeadow, before diverting east along the route of the Newcastle branch line. to Hamilton The line is electrified at 1500V DC throughout, and is primarily double track, although there with passing loops at Hawkesbury River, Gosford, Wyong, Awaba, and Sulphide Junction (between Cockle Creek and Cardiff). Some services terminate at Gosford and Wyong.

Sometimes when there is trackwork between Strathfield and Hornsby, trains will operate via the North Shore line to Hornsby (or to Epping via ECRL when there is trackwork between Strathfield and Epping), then follow the Main North railway line as normal.

Partial closure of Newcastle Line

The section of the Newcastle railway line between Hamilton and Newcastle was closed on 25 December 2014. Until late 2016, Hamilton forms a temporary terminus while Wickham station is redeveloped as a permanent terminus.[1] The closed section between Wickham and Newcastle is due to be replaced with the Newcastle Light Rail.

Services

Prior to electrification of the route, steam hauled passenger trains were varied and interesting.[2] From November 1929 until April 1988, the Newcastle Flyer operated on the route. After electrification, services were taken over by U and V sets. Later the U sets were replaced by K and G sets which in turn were replaced by H sets.

From the time the line was electrified, services to Gosford were hauled by 46 class locomotives, their sphere of operation increasing as the wires were extended.

The last electric locomotives were withdrawn in March 1998[3] with all services since hauled by diesel locomotives. Today Aurizon, Pacific National and Southern Shorthaul Railroad all regularly operate freight trains on the line.

Most all-stations trains have four carriages, with the first and last car being quiet carriages. Peak-hour and most express services usually have eight cars, with quiet carriages on the first, last, and the two middle carriages.

Upgrades

Completed

The line was electrified to Gosford in January 1960, Wyong in April 1982[4] and Newcastle in June 1984.[5]

In progress

As part of the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor project the following projects are underway:[6] The projects are:[7][8]

Project Description Start date Completion date
North Strathfield underpassGrade separation for southbound freight trains heading to Flemington2013estimated late-2015
Epping to Pennant Hills third trackThird track for northbound trains climbing 1 in 40 grades2013estimated mid-2016
Gosford passing loopsOne passing loop in each direction to allow fast trains to overtake slower trains2013estimated mid-2015

Proposed

Warnervale station

A new station is proposed for Warnervale.[9][10] The draft Central Coast Transportation Strategy states that construction of the new railway station will be completed by 2016.[11] In October 2014 there were some differences between Wyong Council and the State Government over how a strategic piece of land should be developed at Warnervale.[12]

Glendale station

Stations

This table does not include the services which run via the ■ North Shore Line and extend to Gosford and Wyong via Gordon .

Name Code Railway line Serving town/suburbs Connections
Central - Newcastle
Central SYD Main Suburban Central, Strawberry Hills, Ultimo, Surry Hills ■ South Coast Line
■ Blue Mountains Line
■ Southern Highlands Line*
Sydney Trains
Regional trains

*peak hours only

Redfern
(peak hours only)		 RDF Main Suburban Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington
The University of Sydney		 ■ South Coast Line*
■ Blue Mountains Line*
Sydney Trains

*peak hours only

Strathfield SFD Main Suburban Strathfield, Burwood ■ Blue Mountains Line
Sydney Trains
Regional trains
Eastwood EAW Main Northern Eastwood, Marsfield Sydney Trains
Epping EPG Main Northern Epping, North Epping, Carlingford, Sydney Trains
Hornsby HBY Main Northern Hornsby, Waitara Sydney Trains
Regional trains
Asquith
(limited service only)		 ASQ Main Northern Asquith Sydney Trains
Mount Colah
(limited service only)		 MOC Main Northern Mount Colah Sydney Trains
Mount Kuring-Gai
(limited service only)		 MKI Main Northern Mount Kuring-Gai Sydney Trains
Berowra BEW Main Northern Berowra, Berowra Heights Sydney Trains
Cowan CWN Main Northern Cowan
Hawkesbury River HKR Main Northern Brooklyn
Wondabyne WDB Main Northern Wondabyne
Woy Woy WOY Main Northern Woy Woy
Koolewong KWG Main Northern Koolewong
Tascott TSC Main Northern Tascott
Point Clare PCL Main Northern Point Clare
Gosford GOS Main Northern Gosford Regional trains
Narara NRR Main Northern Narara
Niagara Park NIA Main Northern Niagara Park
Lisarow LRW Main Northern Lisarow
Ourimbah OUR Main Northern Ourimbah
Tuggerah TGG Main Northern Tuggerah,
Mardi,
Chittaway Point,
Kangy Angy
Wyong WYG Main Northern Wyong,
Wattanobi		 Regional trains
Warnervale WNV Main Northern Warnervale, Woongarrah, Hamlyn Terrace
Wyee WYE Main Northern Wyee
Morisset MOI Main Northern Morisset
Dora Creek DRK Main Northern Dora Creek, Myuna Bay, Eraring
Awaba AWB Main Northern Awaba
Fassifern FSN Main Northern Fassifern, Blackalls Park, Fennell Bay Fassifern to Toronto Bus Service
Booragul BGL Main Northern Booragul, Marmong Point
Teralba TRB Main Northern Teralba
Cockle Creek CKK Main Northern Cockle Creek
Cardiff CDF Main Northern Cardiff, Cardiff Heights, Glendale
Kotara KRZ Main Northern Kotara, Kotara South
Adamstown ADT Main Northern Adamstown, New Lambton
Broadmeadow BMD Main Northern Broadmeadow Regional trains
Hamilton HMN Newcastle Hamilton, Islington ■ Hunter Line

Stopping Patterns

Cowan railway station

Weekdays (Off-Peak)

Trains depart Central every 30 minutes, alternating between the following stopping patterns:

Peak Hours Sydney Terminal / Central (i) services (same during AM and PM Peaks)

Central Platform 18 Services (AM Peak):

-Burwood, Strathfield, Lidcombe, Parramatta, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys, Penrith and Emu Plains (one service only, departing Central at 8:07am) -Burwood, Strathfield, Granville, Parramatta, Westmead, Seven Hills, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and St Marys (one service, departing Central at 8:37am) -Burwood, Strathfield, Granville, Parramatta, Westmead, Seven Hills, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys and Penrith (one service, departing Central at 9:07am)

  1. one service, departing Central at 7:52am, operates to Springwood, stopping at Redfern, Strathfield, Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith and then all stations to Springwood.

Central Platform 16 Services (PM Peak):

Weekends

See also

References

  1. ↑ Upcoming transport changes in Newcastle Transport Info NSW 8 December 2014
  2. ↑ Some Steam Trains of New South Wales in Retrospect: Trains to Newcastle and the Short North, Covell, Charles Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October 2000 pp369-386
  3. ↑ "Electric Locos" Railway Digest June 1998 page 35
  4. ↑ Railway Sign Official Opening Gosford - Wyong Electrification 3 April 1982 Powerhouse Museum Collection
  5. ↑ "The Official Opening of Newcastle Rail Electrification" Railway Digest July 1984 page 218
  6. ↑ Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Locked In Minister for Infrastructure & Transport 7 December 2011
  7. ↑ "Sydney’s mega rail upgrade gets green light". The Construction Index. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Industry Briefing Transport for NSW 24 January 2012
  9. ↑ A new Central Coast Regional Growth and Infrastructure Plan New South Wales Planning & Environment retrieved 27 December 2014
  10. ↑ Warnervale Town Centre Development Control Plan 2012 New South Wales Planning & Environment
  11. ↑ Warnervale Town Centre Wyong Shire Council 19 February 2014
  12. ↑ NSW Government and Wyong Council in row over plans for key Warnervale land Daily Telegraph
  13. ↑ Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange (LMTI) Lake Macquarie City Council retrieved 27 December 2014

Further reading

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