Sydney Trains

Network changes

Sydney trains began operation with 11 lines, just on the suburban network. This was nominally reduced to 7 lines following a reorganization in the October 2013 timetable.

In 2015, the first expansion of the Sydney suburban network after the restructuring of CityRail into Sydney Trains occurred when the South West Rail Link opened between Glenfield and Leppington.^[12]

In November 2017, an eighth line was created by splitting the T2 line into two separate lines — T2 and T8 — reversing their merger in 2013. Additionally, T5 services no longer travelled to Campbelltown, instead starting and terminating at Leppington.^[13]

In September 2018, the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link between Chatswood and Epping was closed for conversion to form part of the Sydney Metro Northwest project, which opened as the Metro North West Line in May 2019.^[14][15]

In April 2019, the section of the T1 line between Gordon and Hornsby via Strathfield was renumbered as T9 — restoring a similar pre-2009 route. The portion between Berowra and Richmond or Emu Plains via Chatswood and Parramatta remained as T1.^[16]

In January 2020, the Carlingford Line between Clyde and Carlingford closed, becoming part of the Parramatta Light Rail network in December 2024.^[17] The adjacent section of track between Clyde and Camellia, including Rosehill railway station, became disused.^[18]

In August 2023, it was announced that the majority of NSW TrainLink's intercity operations would be transferred to Sydney Trains, including rolling stock, maintenance, operations, stations, and staff. This would include the modifications, testing, and introduction of the New Intercity Fleet (NIF).^[19] This process was completed by July 2024^[20][21]

In October 2024, the T6 Line became the Bankstown to Lidcombe shuttle (Lidcombe & Bankstown Line), with commuters interchanging at Regents Park or Lidcombe for connecting services to Liverpool or City Circle.^[22][23]

The section of the Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown will form part of Sydney Metro City & Southwest project, which is due to open as the Metro North West & Bankstown Line in 2026.^[24]

Suburban network

Sydney Trains operates nine electric suburban lines across Sydney. All lines are electrified at 1,500 volt DC overhead.

The main hub of the Sydney Trains system is Central station, which most lines pass through. Central is also the terminus of most intercity, long distance and interstate lines including NSW TrainLink. After leaving Central, trains coming from the T2 Leppington & Inner West Line, T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line and T8 Airport & South Line then travel through the City Circle – a ring line beneath the Sydney central business district.

After completing the City Circle, these trains pass through Central for a second time and return to the suburbs. The T1 North Shore & Western, T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra and T9 Northern lines pass through the central business district and continue to other areas of Sydney.

The T5 Cumberland Line serves Western Sydney and provides access to the major centre of Parramatta from the southwest of the city without requiring a change of trains at Granville. The T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line, and the T7 Olympic Park Line are suburban shuttle services.^{[citation needed]}

Rolling stock

Main article: Sydney Trains rolling stock

Sydney Trains operates a fleet of double-deck electric multiple units. The trainsets are divided into the following classes:

More information Class, Image ...

Sydney Trains fleet

Class	Image	Type	Service speed		Carriages	Entered service	Formation	Routes
			km/h	mph
K sets		Electric multiple unit	115	71	160	1981–1985	8 cars	T2 T8
T sets			115	71	447	1988–1995		T1 T2 T4 T5 T8 T9
M sets			130	81	140	2002–2005		T2 T3 T5 T6 T7 T8
H sets			130	81	220	2006–2012		T1 T4 T9
A sets			130	81	626	2011–2014		T1 T2 T3 T5 T7 T8 T9
B sets			130	81	328	2018–2021		T1 T2 T3 T7 T8 T9

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Though primarily operated on intercity lines, some H sets are also used on suburban services. With the delivery of the D sets for operations on intercity lines in 2024, most of the sets will be transferred to suburban services.^{[citation needed]}

Intercity network

Sydney Trains also operate intercity services to a distance approximately 200 kilometres (124 mi) from Sydney, bounded by Dungog in the north, Scone in the north-west, Bathurst to the west, Goulburn in the south-west and Bomaderry to the south.^[25]

Electric services extend from Sydney north to Newcastle, west to Lithgow and south to Port Kembla and Kiama. Most electric services originate from or terminate at Central.^{[citation needed]}

Diesel trains serve the more distant or less populated parts of the Intercity network. Hunter Line services operate from Newcastle to Telarah with some extending to Dungog and Scone. Southern Highlands Line services operate between Campbelltown and Moss Vale with a limited number extending to Sydney and Goulburn. Diesel services operate on the South Coast Line between Kiama and Bomaderry. The Bathurst Bullet provides a twice daily, limited stop service between Sydney and Bathurst.^{[citation needed]}

Lines

More information Line colour and name, Between ...

Line colour and name	Between	Electric services	Map
Blue Mountains Line	Central and Lithgow with limited services to Bathurst	to Lithgow
Central Coast & Newcastle Line	Central and Newcastle
Hunter Line	Newcastle and Telarah with limited services to Dungog or Scone	—
South Coast Line	Centrala and Bomaderry or Port Kembla	to Kiama and Port Kembla
Southern Highlands Line	Campbelltownb and Moss Vale with limited services to Goulburn	—

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^a Some peak services and most weekend services on the South Coast Line run to/from Bondi Junction

^b Some peak services on the Southern Highlands Line run to/from Central. At other times, a change of train is required at Campbelltown

Rolling stock

More information Class, Image ...

Class	Image	Type	Service speed		Carriages	Lines	Built
			km/h	mph
Endeavour railcar		Diesel multiple unit	145	90	28	Blue Mountains Line (Bathurst Bullet and between Lithgow and Bathurst) South Coast Line (between Kiama and Bomaderry) Southern Highlands Line	1994–1996
Hunter railcar					14	Hunter Line	2006–2007
H set		Electric multiple unit	130	81	221 (being converted to suburban trains)	South Coast Line Central Coast & Newcastle Line (Some peak hour services via the North Shore)	2006–2012
D set					610 (being built)	Central Coast & Newcastle Line Blue Mountains Line South Coast Line	2019–2024

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Future rolling stock

More information Class, Image ...

Class	Image	Type	Service Speed		Carriages	Lines	Built
			km/h	mph
R set		Bi-mode multiple unit	160	99	117 (to be built)	Blue Mountains Line (Bathurst Bullet and between Lithgow and Bathurst) South Coast Line (between Kiama and Bomaderry) Southern Highlands Line	2020–present

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A fleet of 610 D set carriages will be introduced to the intercity network. They will replace the V sets and allow the H sets to be transferred to suburban services. The first was delivered in December 2019.^[26][27][28] The D sets will be maintained at a new facility at Kangy Angy. The R sets will run on the entirety of the regional rail network.

A fleet of 117 R Set carriages are being built to replace the Endeavour railcar used on the non-electrified sections of the network. They are expected to enter service in 2026–2027. The R sets will be maintained at a new facility in Dubbo.^{[citation needed]}

NightRide

NightRide bus services replace suburban trains between midnight and 4:30 am, leaving the tracks clear of trains for maintenance work. Such bus services mainly stop near stations, operating typically at hourly intervals. Some routes depart more frequently on weekends. Many services depart the city from bus stops near Town Hall station.^[29] NightRide services are contracted to external bus operators and are generally identified by route numbers beginning or ending with "N".^{[citation needed]}

Maintenance

In addition to operating suburban train services, Sydney Trains maintains the New South Wales Metropolitan Rail Area and maintains all but a handful of operational railway stations in the state.^{[citation needed]}

The Sydney Trains network is divided into three sectors, based around three maintenance depots.^[30] Trainsets are identified by target plates, which are exhibited on the front lower nearside of driving carriages.^{[31][not specific enough to verify]} Each target plate includes the letter of the class the set belongs to and the number of the individual set. Waratahs do not have a target plate, having the information written directly on the front of the train. The composition and formations of train sets and the target designations are subject to alteration. M sets and H sets carry green target plates.^{[citation needed]}

All A, B and M sets are maintained by Downer Rail. From June 2017, their contract for the M sets was extended by 10 years.^[32][33] All other types of trains including the V and H sets are maintained by UGL Unipart. The contract with UGL Unipart was extended for two years from July 2019.^[34]

Quiet carriages

Quiet carriages are designated carriages where noise made by passengers is requested to be kept to a minimum. Passengers are asked to place mobile phones on silent, move carriages in order to have a conversation with another passenger and use headphones when listening to music.^[35]

Quiet carriages are on Intercity services are located in four carriages on ten and eight car sets, two carriages on six and four car sets and one carriage on two car sets.^[36][37]

Quiet carriages were introduced on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line in early 2012 as a three-month trial. In September 2012, quiet carriages were permanently introduced and expanded to all intercity services operating on the Blue Mountains and South Coast Line.^[35]

Punctuality

Intercity services are considered on-time if they operate within six minutes of their scheduled time.^[38] The target is for 92 percent of services to operate on-time.^[39]

Patronage

The following table lists patronage figures for the network during the corresponding year.

More information Mode, Patronage ...

2024–25 Transport for NSW patronage in Sydney by mode^[43]

Mode	Patronage	% of total
Metro	63,708,783	10.26
Train	272,792,709	43.91
Bus	224,926,815	36.21
Ferry	17,165,666	2.76
Light rail	42,600,487	6.86
Total	621,194,460	100.00

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The following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2025, based on Opal tap on and tap off data.^[44]