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
Transport for NSW rail services Sydney Trains North Shore, Northern & Western Airport, Inner West & South Bankstown Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Cumberland Carlingford Olympic Park NSW TrainLink Blue Mountains Central Coast & Newcastle Hunter South Coast Southern Highlands

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 2017, 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]

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

• A new station is proposed for Glendale. The Lake Macquarie City Council has requested that consideration be given to the need for a train station in the long term.^[13]

Stations

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

Stopping Patterns

Cowan railway station

Weekdays (Off-Peak)

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

• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong, Morisset, Fassifern, Cardiff, Broadmeadow and Hamilton (every 60 minutes)
• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Berowra, then all stations to Gosford, then all stations to Broadmeadow and then Hamilton (every 60 minutes)

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

• Central, Redfern (pickup/setdown), Strathfield, Epping, Hornsby, Berowra and then all stations to Gosford (every 30 minutes)
• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong, Morisset, Fassifern, Cardiff, Broadmeadow and Hamilton (every 60 minutes)
• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong, Warnervale, Wyee, Morisset, Fassifern, Cardiff, Broadmeadow and Hamilton (every 60 minutes)

Central Platform 18 Services (AM Peak):

• Wyong, then all stations to Gosford, then Woy Woy, Berowra, Asquith, Hornsby, Gordon, Chatswood, then all stations to Milsons Point, then Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Redfern, Burwood, Strathfield, Granville, Parramatta, Westmead, Seven Hills, Blacktown and then all stations to Emu Plains (every 30 minutes) #
• Gosford, then Woy Woy, Berowra, Asquith, Hornsby, Gordon, Chatswood, then all stations to Milsons Point, then Wymyard, Town Hall, Central, Redfern (every 30 minutes) then..:

-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):

• Emu Plains, all stations to Blacktown, Parramatta, Strathfield, Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Milsons Point, North Sydney, then all stations to Chatswood, then Lindfield, Gordon, Hornsby, Asquith, Berowra, Woy Woy, Gosford and then all stations to Wyong (every 30 minutes)
• Blacktown, Parramatta, Strathfield, Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Milsons Point, North Sydney, then all stations to Chatswood, then Lindfield, Gordon, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford and then all stations to Hamilton (one service only, departing Central at 4:59pm)
• Blacktown, Parramatta, Strathfield, Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Milsons Point, North Sydney, then all stations to Chatswood, then Lindfield, Gordon, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford and then all stations to Wyong (one service only, departing Central at 5:29pm)

Weekends

• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Berowra and then all stations to Wyong (every 60 minutes)
• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong, Wyee, Morisset, Fassifern, Cardiff, Broadmeadow and Hamilton (every 120 minutes)
• Central, Strathfield, Eastwood, Epping, Hornsby, Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong and then all stations to Hamilton (every 120 minutes)

See also

• Main Northern Line- for details of history and construction.
• Newcastle Branch line- for the branch line between Broadmeadow and Newcastle.
• Woy Woy Tunnel.
• Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge.

References

Further reading

• The Short North, Singleton C.C. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, May et seq, 1965