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Sydney Trains
Operator of passenger rail services in and around Sydney
Operator of passenger rail services in and around Sydney
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | Sydney Trains | |
| image | Sydney Trains logo.svg | |
| image2 | Sydney Trains B Set (20231004).jpg | |
| caption2 | B set trains near station | |
| image3 | TfNSW T.svg | |
| caption3 | Roundel | |
| owner | Transport for NSW | |
| locale | {{Plainlist | |
| transit_type | Suburban rail | |
| Regional rail | ||
| began_operation | ||
| vehicles | 240 8-carriage trains | |
| system_length | 355.5 km | |
| lines | 9 | |
| line_number | T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 | |
| stations | 169 | |
| annual_ridership | 270 million (FY 2024–2025) | |
| chief_executive | Matt Longland | |
| website | [Transport for NSW: Sydney Trains](https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sydneytrains) | |
| track_gauge | ||
| el | from overhead catenary | |
| map | [[File:Sydney Trains Network Schematic Map (2024).svg | frameless]] |
| imagesize3 | 90 | |
| imagesize2 | 225 | |
| map_name | Suburban lines |
the operator of suburban and intercity train services
- Greater Sydney
- Central Coast
- Hunter
- Illawarra
- South Coast
- Southern Highlands
- Central West Regional rail
The metropolitan part of the network is a hybrid urban-suburban rail system with a central underground core. It covers 369 km of route length over 919 km of track, with 169 stations on nine lines.
The network has frequencies of 5–10 minutes at peak-time at most inner-city and major stations, and 15 minutes off-peak at most minor stations. During the weekday peak, train services are more frequent. Nearly the entire fleet consists of bilevel electric multiple unit trains.
The network is managed by Transport for NSW and is part of its Opal ticketing system. In 2024–25, 270 million passenger journeys were made on the suburban network, making it the most-used rail network in Australia.
History
Main article: CityRail
In May 2012, the Minister for Transport announced a restructure of RailCorp, the organisation that owned and managed the metropolitan rail network and operated passenger services throughout New South Wales.{{multiref2
Intercity and Hunter Line services previously operated by CityRail were taken over by NSW Trains, branded as NSW TrainLink. RailCorp remained the owner of the network infrastructure. When first created as subsidiaries of RailCorp, Sydney Trains and NSW Trains were not controlled entities of RailCorp, but were instead controlled by Transport for NSW. In July, they ceased to be subsidiaries of RailCorp and became independent standalone agencies in July 2017.
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).
In 2023, a process of transferring intercity services from NSW TrainLink to Sydney Trains began. In July 2024, Intercity services were taken under the responsibility of Sydney Trains.
Operations
In July 2013, Howard Collins , the former Chief Operating Officer of London Underground, was appointed as Chief Executive of Sydney Trains. In February 2020 Howard Collins moved to the role of Chief Operations Officer within Transport for NSW with Stewart Mills, Suzanne Holden and Pete Church, acting as interim Chief Executive until Matt Longland was appointed as permanent Chief Executive in June 2021.
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.
Suburban network
Sydney Trains operates nine electric suburban lines across Sydney.
In conjunction with a new timetable released in October 2013, the Sydney Trains network was reorganised with a new numbering system. The number of lines was reduced from eleven to seven, now nine, by merging several lines.
Network changes
In November 2017, an eighth line was created by splitting the T2 line into two separate lines — T2 and T8 — reversing the merge made in 2013. T5 services no longer travelled to Campbelltown, instead starting and terminating at Leppington.
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.
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.
From 2018, some sections of the network began to be transferred to the city's metro and light rail networks.
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.
In January 2020, the Carlingford Line between Clyde and Carlingford closed, becoming part of the Parramatta Light Rail network in December 2024. The adjacent section of track between Clyde and Camellia, including Rosehill railway station, became disused.
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.
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.
Lines
| Line colour, number and name | Between |
|---|---|
| North Shore & Western Line | |
| Leppington & Inner West Line | |
| Liverpool & Inner West Line | |
| Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line | |
| Cumberland Line | |
| Lidcombe & Bankstown Line | |
| Olympic Park Line | |
| Airport & South Line | |
| Northern Line |
The main hub of the Sydney Trains system is Central Station, which most lines pass through. Central is also the terminus of most NSW TrainLink lines. 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.
NightRide
Main article: NightRide (bus service)
NightRide bus services replace 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. NightRide services are contracted to external bus operators and are identified by route numbers beginning with "N".
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:
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Carriages | Entered service | Formation | Routes | km/h | mph | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K sets | [[File:Sydney Trains K Set, Sydenham (20240212) (2).jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | Electric multiple unit | 115 | 71 | 160 | 1981–1985 | 8 cars | ||
| T sets | [[File:2020-04-08_Tanraga_train_T45_at_Heathcote_railway_station,_Sydney_(cropped).jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | 115 | 71 | 447 | 1988–1995 | ||||
| M sets | [[File:M10approachingCentral.jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | 130 | 81 | 140 | 2002–2005 | ||||
| H sets | [[File:H49_(45785868011).jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | 130 | 81 | 220 | 2006–2012 | ||||
| A sets | [[File:Sydney Trains A Set at Ashfield (cropped).jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | 130 | 81 | 626 | 2011–2014 | ||||
| B sets | [[File:Waratah Series 2 train stopping at Summer Hill.jpg | alt= | frameless | 150x150px]] | 130 | 81 | 328 | 2018–2021 |
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.
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. 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.
The Sydney Trains network is divided into three sectors, based around three maintenance depots. Trainsets are identified by target plates, which are exhibited on the front lower nearside of driving carriages. 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.
| Sector # | Depot | Serviced lines | Target plate | Sets being |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| maintained | ||||
| 1 | Mortdale | T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line | ||
| Intercity services on the South Coast Line | Red (T) | T, H | ||
| Green (H) | ||||
| 2 | Flemington | T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T5 Cumberland, T7 Olympic Park and T8 Airport & South Lines | ||
| Intercity services on Blue Mountains Line (V sets only) | Blue | K, V | ||
| 3 | Hornsby | T1 North Shore & Western and T9 Northern Lines | ||
| Intercity services on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line (H sets only) | Black (T) | T, H, A | ||
| Green (H) | ||||
| rowspan="3" | Auburn Maintrain | UGL Unipart carry out maintenance at the various depots to which the trains are allocated but major work may be carried out at Auburn Maintrain. | All except A, B and M | |
| Auburn | All A, B and M sets are stabled at the depot for the sector in which they operate but are maintained at Auburn by Downer Rail. | Stickers only (A, B) | A, B, M | |
| Green (M) |
Intercity services
Sydney Trains also operate the Intercity Trains services to a distance approximately 200 km 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.
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.
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.
Lines
| Line colour and name | Between | Electric services | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central and Lithgow with limited services to Bathurst | to Lithgow | ||
| Central and Newcastle | Yes | ||
| Newcastle and Telarah with limited services to Dungog or Scone | No | ||
| Central and Bomaderry or Port Kembla | to Kiama and Port Kembla | ||
| Campbelltown and Moss Vale with limited services to Goulburn | No |
: Some peak services and most weekend services on the South Coast Line run to/from Bondi Junction : 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
| Class | Image | Type | Service speed | Number of carriages manufactured | Lines | Built | km/h | mph | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavour railcar | [[File:NSWTrainLink_Endeavour_(cropped).jpg | alt= | 150x150px]] | Diesel multiple unit | 145 | 90 | 28 | (*Bathurst Bullet* and between Lithgow and Bathurst)(between Kiama and Bomaderry) | 1994–1996 | |||
| Hunter railcar | [[File:Hunter_railcars_2751_&_2701_(45512879812).jpg | alt= | 150x150px]] | 14 | 2006–2007 | |||||||
| H set | [[File:H49_(45785868011).jpg | alt= | 150x150px]] | Electric multiple unit | 130 | 81 | 221 (being converted to suburban trains) | 2006–2012 | [[File:Artist Sketch Sydney New Intercity Fleet Carriage.jpg | frameless | 150x150px]] | |
| D set | [[File:D143-D43atDoonside.jpg | alt= | 150x150px]] | 610 (being built) | Planned: | 2019–present |
Future rolling stock
| Class | Image | Type | Service Speed | Carriage Numbers | Lines | Built | km/h | mph | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R set | [[File:R2-Eastwood-12Mar25.jpg | alt= | 150x150px]] | Bi-mode multiple unit | 160 | 99 | 117 (to be built) | (Bathurst Bullet and between Lithgow and Bathurst)(between Kiama and Bomaderry) | 2020–present |
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. 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 30 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.
Performance
Intercity services are considered on-time if they operate within six minutes of their scheduled time. The target is for 92 percent of intercity services to operate on-time.
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.
Quiet carriages are on Intercity services are located in four carriages on eight car sets, two carriages on four car sets and one carriage on two car sets.
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.
Patronage
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 (for example, patronage was severely affected during the Coronavirus pandemic).
| Year | Patronage | |
|---|---|---|
| (millions) | References | |
| 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 |
| 282.2 | ||
| 291.9 | ||
| 322 |
Ticketing and costs
Sydney Trains uses the Opal card ticketing system, which was introduced in April 2014. The fare system is fully integrated – trips involving suburban, metro and intercity services are calculated as a single fare and there is no interchange penalty. Students who use the Sydney Trains network to get to and from schools can apply for a free school Opal card. Opal is valid on bus, ferry, and light rail services. Separate fares apply for these modes. The following table lists Opal fares for reusable smartcards and single-trip tickets: ^ = $2.50 for Senior/Pensioner cardholders
A surcharge is levied when using the two privately operated stations serving Sydney Airport:
As there are no return or periodical options available, reusable Opal cards include several caps to reduce the cost for frequent travellers:
The previous ticketing system was introduced in 1992 and was based on magnetic stripe technology. It was shut down in August 2016.
References
References
- (2025-01-30). "Sydney Trains Annual Report 2023–24". Transport for NSW.
- (12 December 2023). "2023 Rail Infrastructure and Systems Review".
- "Routes and timetables".
- [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/ruthless-railcorp-reforms-planned-as-middle-management-axed/story-fnb5f12x-1226355250747 "Ruthless RailCorp reforms planned as middle management axed"]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Daily Telegraph]]''. 15 May 2012.
- (June 2012). "RailCorp Corporate Plan 2012/13". RailCorp: Rail Corporation New South Wales.
- [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/jobs-to-go-as-railcorp-gets-the-axe/story-e6freuy9-1226517985059 700 jobs to go as RailCorp gets the axe]. ''Daily Telegraph''. 16 November 2012.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130501044430/http://www.yourfuture.transport.nsw.gov.au/About-the-Reform "About the Reform: Transforming the way we move"]. ''Sydney Trains''. n.d. Archived from the [http://www.yourfuture.transport.nsw.gov.au/About-the-Reform original] on 3 May 2013.
- "Railcorp Annual Report 2013–14". Transport for NSW.
- "Transport for NSW Annual Report 2017–18". Transport for NSW.
- [https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2017/12/historical2017-04-11/sch1 Transport Administration Amendment (Transport Entities) Act 2017 No 12 Schedule 1] {{Webarchive. link. (3 December 2002 , Legislation NSW, retrieved 18 December 2018)
- (21 August 2023). "Agreement reached for New Intercity Fleet". Transport for NSW; NSW Government.
- "NSW TrainLink Corporate Plan 2024–2025: Draft for consultation". [[Transport for NSW]].
- (2024-10-29). "Orange community having a say on rail services".
- (13 March 2013). "Collins moves to Sydney".
- Savage, Robert. "Matthew Longland".
- (27 February 2017). "More Trains, More Services for South Western Sydney". NSW Government.
- O'Sullivan, Matt. (21 February 2019). "A New Red Line Through Sydney's Rail Map". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- (7 April 2018). "Station Link bus services to connect customers during Metro upgrade".
- "North West opening date announced". Sydney Metro.
- (19 February 2024). "Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1".
- "Parramatta Light Rail: Stage 1 – Westmead to Carlingford via Camellia: Environmental Impact Statement". Transport for NSW.
- (31 May 2017). "More Trains, More Services".
- (4 July 2024). "Rail Service Improvement Program".
- O'Sullivan, Matt. (10 April 2023). "'Nightmare': Residents enter fourth year of Metro pain as construction drags on". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "Late night services".
- (28 February 2017). "Millenium maintenance contract extension".
- [https://www.downergroup.com/millenium-maintenance-contract-extension Millenium maintenance contract extension] Downer Rail] 28 February 2017
- [https://www.ugllimited.com/en/news/2019/ugl-secures-277m-extension-with-sydney-trains "UGL secures $277M extension with Sydney Trains"]. ''UGL''. 30 January 2019. {{Webarchive. link. (29 June 2019)
- (1 June 2006). "Train Fleet Maintenance".
- Department of Railways, New South Wales: Working of Electric Trains, 1965{{nonspecific. (October 2025)
- "Ways to Get Around: Train".
- (23 December 2019). "New Intercity Fleet". Transport for NSW.
- (8 May 2014). "NSW Government to invest $2.8 billion in new intercity trains, making all trains air-conditioned". Transport for NSW.
- [http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects-intercity-fleet Intercity Fleet Program] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2014 Transport for NSW)
- (October 2025). "Our performance".
- "NSW Trains Annual Report 2017–18". NSW Trains.
- (1 September 2012). "Quiet carriages now permanent on Blue Mountains and South Coast intercity services".
- link. (5 December 2014)
- (22 September 2024). "Sydney Trains Annual Report 2022–23". Transport for NSW.
- "Transport for NSW Annual Report 2014–15". Transport for NSW.
- "Sydney Trains 2015–16 Annual Report Volume 1". Sydney Trains.
- "Sydney Trains Annual Report 2016–17". Transport for NSW.
- "Sydney Trains Annual Report 2017–18". Sydney Trains.
- (8 June 2017). "Train Patronage – Monthly Figures".
- "Sydney Trains Annual Report 2024–25". Transport for NSW.
- "What services can I use it on?: Trains". NSW Government.
- "Opal fares".
- "No more paper tickets". NSW Government.
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