Central Coast & Newcastle Line

Central Coast & Newcastle Line

A NSW TrainLink H set
Overview
Service type	Intercity rail
Locale	Central Coast and Newcastle, New South Wales
Current operator(s)	NSW TrainLink
Route
Termini	Central Hamilton
Stops	36
Line(s) 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
NSW TrainLink intercity services Sydney Trains intercity services 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 Newcastle Interchange is built as a permanent terminus. 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. 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 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 and Newcastle in June 1984.

In progress

As part of the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor project the following projects are underway: The projects are:

Project	Description	Start date	Completion date
North Strathfield underpass	Grade separation for southbound freight trains heading to Flemington	2013	estimated late-2015
Epping to Pennant Hills third track	Third track for northbound trains climbing 1 in 40 grades	2013	estimated mid-2016
Gosford passing loops	One passing loop in each direction to allow fast trains to overtake slower trains	2013	estimated mid-2015

Proposed

Warnervale station

A new station is proposed for Warnervale. The draft Central Coast Transportation Strategy states that construction of the new railway station will be completed by 2016. 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.

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.

Stations

This table does not include the services which run via the Template: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	Template:South coast line Template:Blue mountains line Template:Southern highlands line* Sydney Trains Regional trains *peak hours only
Redfern (peak hours only)	RDF	Main Suburban	Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington The University of Sydney	Template:South coast line* Template:Blue mountains line* Sydney Trains *peak hours only
Strathfield	SFD	Main Suburban	Strathfield, Burwood	Template: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, Regional trains
Booragul	BGL	Main Northern	Booragul, Marmong Point
Teralba	TRB	Main Northern	Teralba
Cockle Creek	CKK	Main Northern	Cockle Creek, Boolaroo, Argenton
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	Template:Hunter line, Buses to Wickham, Civic, and Newcastle railway stations. The train replacement bus also stops at Queens Wharf, allowing passengers to transfer to the Stockton ferry service.

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 Wynyard, 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.

Further reading

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