NSW TrainLink

Operator of passenger rail services in New South Wales

NSW TrainLink

Two XPTs in Sydney

Roundel

Overview
Owner| Transport for NSW
Area served|

* New South Wales
* Australian Capital Territory
* Victoria
* Queensland
* South Australia

Locale| New South Wales
Transit type|

* Regional rail
* Semi-high-speed rail
* Coach

Number of lines| 4
Number of stations| 93[a]
Annual ridership| 35.3 million (2023/24)
Chief executive| Roger Weeks
Website| transportnsw.info/regional
Operation
Began operation| 1 July 2013
Operator(s)| NSW Trains and private coach operators
Rolling stock|

* Xplorer
* XPT

Technical
Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

NSW TrainLink is a regional train and coach operator in Australia, providing services throughout New South Wales and into the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Its primary services are spread across five major rail lines, operating out of Sydney.

NSW TrainLink was formed on 1 July 2013 when RailCorp was restructured and CountryLink was merged with the intercity services of CityRail.

Announced in May 2025, following extensive negotiations, it has been agreed that Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink will become one entity during the life of the new three-year enterprise agreement pending membership approval.[1]

## History

[edit]

In May 2012, the Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian announced a restructure of RailCorp.[2][3] On 1 July 2013, NSW TrainLink took over the operation of regional rail and coach services previously operated by CountryLink; non-metropolitan Sydney services previously operated by CityRail; and responsibility for the Main North railway line from Berowra to Newcastle, the Main Western railway line from Emu Plains to Bathurst, and the South Coast railway line from Waterfall to Bomaderry.[4][5][6]

On 21 August 2023, it was announced that the majority of intercity passenger services, crew and stations would move from NSW TrainLink to Sydney Trains.[7]

The process of transferring intercity services from NSW TrainLink to Sydney Trains began in 2023.[8] From 1 July 2024, NSW TrainLink's Intercity services were transferred to Sydney Trains.[9]

## Network

[edit]

NSW TrainLink services operate in areas of lower population density, using a reserved seat ticketing system.

An XPT travelling from Melbourne to Sydney, pictured between Jindalee and Morrisons Hill, New South Wales

### Train services

[edit]

NSW TrainLink operates regional passenger services throughout New South Wales and interstate to Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. All rail services utilise diesel rolling stock. For more details of each train line see List of NSW TrainLink train routes.

Line colour and name  | Between

|

North Coast Region

| Central to Brisbane

North Western Region

| Central to Armidale or Moree

Southern Region

| Central to Canberra or Griffith or Melbourne

Western Region

| Central to Broken Hill or Dubbo

#### North Coast

[edit]

North Coast XPT diagram.

North Coast services operate through the Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers and South East Queensland regions. Services operate on the Main North and North Coast lines, travelling between Sydney Central station and Roma Street station in Brisbane.[10]

Principal stations served by XPT trains are:

* Taree
* Kempsey
* Coffs Harbour
* Grafton
* Casino
* Brisbane

See the full list of stations served.

Cities and towns served by NSW TrainLink coaches connecting off North Coast services include: Tea Gardens, Forster, Port Macquarie, Yamba, Moree, Alstonville, Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads and Surfers Paradise.

#### North Western

[edit]

Route diagram of the Armidale and Moree XPL services.

North Western services operate through the Hunter, New England and North West Slopes & Plains regions. Services operate on the Main North line from Sydney Central station to Werris Creek. where the service divides for Armidale and Moree.[11]

Principal stations served by Xplorer trains are:

* Singleton
* Muswellbrook
* Scone
* Tamworth
* Armidale
* Gunnedah
* Narrabri
* Moree

Cities and towns served by NSW TrainLink coaches connecting off North Western services include: Burren Junction (via Wee Waa), Inverell, Walcha, Grafton, Glen Innes and Tenterfield.

#### Western

[edit]

Dubbo XPT route diagram.

Broken Hill Xplorer route diagram.

Western region services operate through the Central Tablelands, Orana, and Far West regions. Services operate on the Main Western Line from Sydney Central station to Dubbo and the Broken Hill line to Broken Hill.[12] Principal stations served by XPT trains are:

* Bathurst
* Orange
* Dubbo

Principal stations served by Xplorer trains are:

* Bathurst
* Orange
* Parkes
* Broken Hill

Cities and towns served by NSW TrainLink coaches connecting off Western services include Oberon, Mudgee, Baradine, Cowra, Grenfell, Forbes, Parkes, Condobolin, Lightning Ridge, Brewarrina, Bourke, Warren and Broken Hill.

#### Southern

[edit]

Canberra Xplorer route diagram.

Griffith Xplorer route diagram.

Melbourne XPT route diagram.

Southern region services operate through the Illawarra, South Coast, Monaro, South Western Slopes, Southern Tablelands, Riverina, and Sunraysia regions, plus the Australian Capital Territory and parts of Victoria.

Services operate on the:

* Main Southern Line from Sydney Central station to Albury then continue on the North East line to Southern Cross station in Melbourne
* Bombala Line from south of Goulburn to Queanbeyan where services join the Canberra line to terminate inside the Australian Capital Territory at Canberra
* Hay Line from Junee to Yanco where services join the Yanco–Griffith line to Griffith[13]

Principal stations served by XPT trains are:

* Goulburn
* Cootamundra
* Wagga Wagga
* Albury
* Wangaratta
* Melbourne

Principal stations served by Xplorer trains are:

* Moss Vale
* Goulburn
* Queanbeyan
* Canberra
* Cootamundra
* Griffith

Cities and towns served by NSW TrainLink coaches connecting off Southern services include: Wollongong, Bombala, Eden, Tumbarumba, Bathurst, Dubbo, Condobolin, Griffith, Mildura and Echuca.

Roundel used to identify coach services

### Coach services

[edit]

Dysons Irizar i6 bodied Scania K310IB at Wagga Wagga station in September 2015 Dysons Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa at Wagga Wagga station in January 2015

NSW TrainLink continued with the existing contracts entered into by CityRail and CountryLink for the provision of coach services.

On 1 July 2014, the Lithgow to Gulgong, Coonabarabran, Baradine services passed from Greyhound Australia to Ogden's Coaches.[14]

In July 2014, Transport for NSW commenced the re-tendering process for most of the routes with the previous 24 contracts reorganised into 18 contracts. The new contracts commenced on 1 January 2015 for a five-year period, with an option to extend for three years if performance criteria are met.[14][15] The services operated by Forest Coach Lines and Sunstate Coaches commenced new five-year contracts on 1 July 2016.[16][17]

The full list of coach operators providing services as at January 2015 was:[14][18]

Operator | Services

|

Australia Wide Coaches | Lithgow to Bathurst, Orange and Parkes
BusBiz | Lithgow to Dubbo and Nyngan
Dubbo to Lightning Ridge
Dubbo to Bourke
Dubbo to Broken Hill
Coolabah to Brewarrina
Wagga Wagga to Kingston and Queanbeyan
Berrima Coaches | Picton to Bowral
Busways | Port Macquarie to Wauchope, Wauchope to Port Macquarie
CDC Canberra | Canberra to Bombala and Eden
Dysons | Wagga Wagga to Griffith
Cootamundra to Tumbarumba
Cootamundra to Bathurst or Dubbo
Parkes to Condobolin
Forest Coach Lines | Narrabri to Wee Waa & Burren Junction
Hunter Valley Buses | Fassifern to Toronto
Loader's Coaches | Lithgow to Grenfell
Oberon Bus Company | Mount Victoria to Oberon
Ogden's Coaches | Lithgow to Gulgong, Coonabarabran and Baradine
Oxley Explorer | Armidale to Tenterfield, Port Macquarie to Tamworth, Tamworth to Port Macquarie
Port Stephens Coaches | Broadmeadow to Taree
Premier Shoalhaven | Kiama to Bomaderry
Moss Vale to Bundanoon or Goulburn
G&J Purtill | Cootamundra to Condobolin
Cootamundra to Mildura
Wagga Wagga to Echuca
Albury to Echuca
Roadcoach | Moss Vale to Wollongong
Queanbeyan to Cootamundra
Sunstate Coaches | Grafton to Byron Bay
Casino to Tweed Heads
Casino to Surfers Paradise
Casino to Brisbane
Symes Coaches | Tamworth or Armidale to Inverell
Moree to Grafton

\+ not included in January 2015 re-tendering process

From 2018, NSW TrainLink introduced several new road coach services on a trial basis:[19][non-primary source needed]

* Brewarrina to Coolabah commenced May 2018[20]
* Bourke to Dubbo commenced May 2018[21]
* Tamworth to Port Macquarie
* Tamworth to Scone, had ceased by November 2018
* Tamworth to Dubbo
* Campbelltown to Goulburn commenced September 2018[22]
* Goulburn to Canberra commenced September 2018,[23] made permanent in June 2023[24]
* Forster to Coffs Harbour commenced April 2019[25]
* Wagga Wagga to Queanbeyan commenced April 2019[26]
* Broken Hill to Adelaide commenced June 2019,[27][28] made permanent in June 2023[24]
* Broken Hill to Mildura commenced June 2019,[27][28] made permanent in June 2023[24]
* Anglers Reach to Cooma commenced December 2019[29]
* Bigga to Goulburn commenced December 2019[30]
* Delegate to Nimmitabel commenced December 2019[31]
* Goodooga to Dubbo commenced December 2019[32]
* Moree to Walgett commenced December 2019[33]

## Rolling stock

[edit]

Main article: NSW TrainLink rolling stock

The entire NSW TrainLink fleet is maintained by Sydney Trains either directly or via a Sydney Trains contract with UGL Rail.

Class  | Image  | Type  | Service Speed  | Carriage Numbers  | Routes operated  | Built

|
|
|
|
|
|

km/h  | mph
XPT |  | Diesel power car | 160  | 99  | 19  |

North Coast Region

Southern Region

Western Region

| 1981–1994
XPT carriages |  | Passenger carriage | 60
Xplorer |  | Diesel multiple unit | 145  | 90  | 23  |

North Western Region

Southern Region

Western Region

| 1993

### Future fleet

[edit]

Class  | Image  | Type  | Service Speed  | Carriage Numbers  | Future routes  | Built

|
|
|
|
|
|

km/h  | mph
R set |  | Electro-diesel multiple unit | 160  | 99  | 117 (to be built)  |

North Coast Region

North Western Region

Southern Region

Western Region

| 2026/27 (scheduled)

A fleet of bi-mode CAF Civity trains is scheduled to replace the XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour fleets as part of the NSW TrainLink Regional Train Project.[34][35][36]

## Performance

[edit]

Patronage surged on regional trains in 2023, reversing pandemic-era losses and increasing a further three percent, with a particular increase in ridership on Sydney-Melbourne services. 107,000 monthly journeys were made on regional trains in 2023.[37]

Regional services are considered on-time if they operate within ten minutes of their scheduled time.[38] The target is for 92 percent of intercity services (formerly operated by NSW TrainLink) and 78 percent of regional services to operate on-time. In 2017–18 NSW Trains met both the Intercity target and the regional target. However, it failed to meet the Intercity target during peak hours.[39] These results partially reverse a trend of failing to meet punctuality targets. Since the organisation commenced operations in 2013–14, NSW Trains has never met the intercity peak punctuality target.[40][39] Regional train services have achieved their punctuality target twice, in 2015–16 and 2017–18. The 2015–16 result was the first time NSW Trains or its predecessor RailCorp had achieved the target in 13 years.[41][39]

The following table lists patronage figures for the network during the corresponding financial year. Australia's financial years start on 1 July and end on 30 June. Major events that affected the number of journeys made or how patronage is measured are included as notes.

NSW TrainLink patronage by financial year  Year  | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20  | 2023-24

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Intercity (millions)  | 32.9[b] | 34.5[c] | 38.5[d] | 40.8[e] | 44.7[f] | 41.3  | 31.2[g] | 33.4
Regional trains (millions)  | 1.23  | 1.22  | 1.24  | 1.69  | < 1.7[h] |  |  | 1.9
Regional coaches (millions)  | 0.572  | 0.537  | 0.510
References  | [42] | [43] | [44] | [45] | [46] | [47]

1. ^ Not including coach stops.
2. ^ Opal rollout completed in April 2014
3. ^ Services in central Newcastle replaced by buses in December 2014
4. ^ Increase largely due to a change in the calculation of journeys for Opal vs magnetic stripe tickets
5. ^ Non-Opal tickets discontinued in August 2016
6. ^ Newcastle Interchange extension opened in October 2017
7. ^ Patronage was lower than previous years due to people staying at home and not taking public transport to school or work during the COVID-19 pandemic
8. ^ Patronage reported as 1.7 million journeys but was down by 1.4 percent compared to the previous year

The following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2024, based on Opal tap on and tap off data.[48]

2023–24 NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line

Blue Mountains Line

| 7,152,563

|

Central Coast & Newcastle Line

| 13,189,811

Hunter Line

| 803,606

South Coast Line

| 7,132,670

Southern Highlands Line

| 755,919

## Depots

[edit]

The XPT fleet is maintained at the XPT Service Centre and the Endeavour and Xplorer fleets at Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The new bi-mode[49] fleet will be maintained at a new facility, Mindyarra Maintenance Centre, in Dubbo.[50][51]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McSweeney, Jessica and Gorrey, Megan (30 May 2025). "NSW government reaches agreement with rail unions after bitter dispute". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
2. ^ Saulwick, Jacob (15 May 2012). "RailCorp job cuts first of many: unions" Archived 27 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine The Sydney Morning Herald
3. ^ "Ruthless RailCorp reforms planned as middle management axed" The Daily Telegraph 15 May 2012
4. ^ Annual Report 30 June 2012 Archived 25 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine RailCorp
5. ^ Corporate Plan 2012/13 Archived 25 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine RailCorp
6. ^ Wood, Alicia (16 November 2012). "700 jobs to go as RailCorp gets the axe". AAP. The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012.
7. ^ Minister for Transport (21 August 2023). "Agreement reached for New Intercity Fleet". Government of New South Wales (Press release). Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
8. ^ "Agreement reached for New Intercity Fleet". NSW Government. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
9. ^ "Orange community having a say on rail services". www.transport.nsw.gov.au. 29 October 2024. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024. "Prior to 1 July 2024 the service was operated by NSW TrainLink"
10. ^ "North Coast timetable". NSW TrainLink. 7 September 2019.
11. ^ "North West timetable". NSW TrainLink. 7 September 2019.
12. ^ "Western timetable". NSW TrainLink. 7 September 2019.
13. ^ "Southern timetable". NSW TrainLink. 7 September 2019.
14. ^ a b c New NSW TrainLink Rural Coach Service Contracts Australian Bus issue 68 March 2015 page 20
15. ^ Provision of NSW Rural Coach Services Archived 31 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine NSW eTendering 11 July 2014
16. ^ Contract Award Notice Detail Archived 21 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine NSW eTendering 19 July 2016
17. ^ Contract Award Notice Detail Archived 21 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine NSW eTendering 19 July 2016
18. ^ suppliers NSW TrainLink
19. ^ NSW TrainLink Regional Coach trials Archived 13 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
20. ^ Brewarrina to Coolabah timetable NSW TrainLink May 2018
21. ^ Bourke to Dubbo timetable NSW TrainLink May 2018
22. ^ Campbelltown to Goulburn timetable NSW TrainLink September 2018
23. ^ Goulburn to Canberra timetable NSW TrainLink September 2018
24. ^ a b c "NSW makes multiple coach trials permanent | News". Australasian Bus and Coach. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
25. ^ Forster to Coffs Harbour timetable NSW TrainLink April 2019
26. ^ Wagga Wagga to Queanbeyan timetable NSW TrainLink April 2019
27. ^ a b Arriving now – Broken Hill to Mildura and Adelaide coach services Roads & Maritime Services 13 June 2019
28. ^ a b Broken Hill to Adelaide & Mildura timetable NSW TrainLink June 2019
29. ^ Cooma to Anglers Reach timetable NSW TrainLink December 2019
30. ^ Goulburn to Bigga timetable NSW TrainLink December 2019
31. ^ Delegate to Nimmitabel timetable NSW TrainLink December 2019
32. ^ Goodooga to Dubbo timetable NSW TrainLink December 2019
33. ^ Walgett to Moree timetable NSW TrainLink December 2019
34. ^ "Regional Rail". Transport for NSW. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
35. ^ NSW Region train fleet on track Archived 15 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transport for New South Wales 14 August 2017
36. ^ NSW region train fleet to be replaced Archived 19 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International 15 August 2017
37. ^ Bajkowski, Julian (19 December 2023). "Commuters dump planes for trains… in Australia". The Mandarin. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
38. ^ "Our performance". Sydney Trains. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
39. ^ a b c "NSW Trains Annual Report 2017–18" (PDF). NSW Trains. pp. 26, 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
40. ^ "NSW Trains 2016–17 Annual Report" (PDF). NSW Trains. 18 June 2017. p. 15\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
41. ^ "NSW Trains 2015–16 Annual Report Volume 1" (PDF). NSW Trains. pp. 17, 22–23\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
42. ^ Transport for NSW Annual Report 2014–15 (PDF) (Report). Transport for NSW. p. 131\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
43. ^ NSW Trains 2015–16 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). NSW Trains. 18 June 2017. p. 17\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
44. ^ NSW Trains 2016–17 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). NSW Trains. 18 June 2017. pp. 8, 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
45. ^ NSW Trains Annual Report 2017–18 (PDF) (Report). NSW Trains. pp. 8, 24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
46. ^ "Train Patronage – Monthly Figures". Transport for NSW. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
47. ^ NSW TrainLink Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Vol. 1\. NSW Trains. 2 September 2024. p. 10\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
48. ^ "Train Patronage – Monthly Figures". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
49. ^ "NSW chooses bi-mode option for regional train replacement". International Railway Journal. 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
50. ^ NSW seeks private finance for regional fleet Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine International Railway Journal 15 August 2017
51. ^ "Regional Rail". Transport for NSW. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to NSW TrainLink at Wikimedia Commons

* NSW TrainLink website

* v
* t
* e

Interstate rail in Australia

Corridors|

* Adelaide–Darwin
* Melbourne–Adelaide
* Inland Rail (under construction)
* Sydney–Brisbane
* Sydney–Adelaide–Perth
* Sydney–Melbourne

Passenger trains|

| Operational|

* Albury V/Line
* The Ghan
* Great Southern
* Indian Pacific
* New South Wales XPT
* The Overland

|

Defunct|

* The Alice
* Brisbane Limited
* Intercapital Daylight
* Southern Aurora
* The Southern Spirit
* Spirit of Progress
* Sydney–Melbourne Express
* Trans-Australian

Operators|

* Aurizon
* Journey Beyond
* Magnetic Rail Group
* NSW TrainLink
* Pacific National
* Qube Logistics
* SCT Logistics
* Southern Shorthaul Railroad
* V/Line

* v
* t
* e

Public transport in regional New South Wales

* Transport for NSW
* Ticketing
* Opal card

Train|

| Intercity|

* Blue Mountains
* Central Coast & Newcastle
* Hunter
* South Coast
* Southern Highlands

|

Regional|

* North Coast
* North Western
* Southern
* Western

Bus & Coach|

| Services|

* Newcastle
* NSW TrainLink Bus & Coach services

|

Metropolitan operators|

* Busways
* CDC NSW
* Blue Mountains Transit
* Hunter Valley Buses
* Dion's Bus Service
* Newcastle Transport
* Port Stephens Coaches
* Premier Transport Group
* Premier Charters
* Premier Illawarra
* Red Bus CDC NSW
* Rover Coaches

Rural operators|

* Australia Wide Coaches
* Busabout Wagga Wagga
* Buslines Group
* Ballina Buslines
* Bathurst Buslines
* Berrima Buslines
* Dubbo Buslines
* Forster Buslines
* Griffith Buslines
* Lithgow Buslines
* Northern Rivers Buslines
* Orange Buslines
* Tamworth Buslines
* Wingham Buslines
* Busways
* CDC NSW
* CDC Broken Hill
* CDC Canberra
* Forest Coach Lines
* Crisps Coaches
* Dineen Group
* Dysons
* Firefly Express
* Greyhound Australia
* Kinetic Gold Coast
* Murrays
* Picton Buslines
* Premier Transport Group
* Premier Motor Service
* Premier Shoalhaven
* Prior's Bus Service
* PBC Goulburn
* Shoal Bus
* Sid Fogg's
* Western Road Liners

Ferry|

| Services|

* Stockton

|

Operators|

* Central Coast Ferries
* Newcastle Transport

Light Rail|

* Newcastle Light Rail

Other|

* Cabcharge
* Taxis in New South Wales

Portals:

* New South Wales
* Trains

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