NSW TrainLink
About the NSW TrainLink
It is a coach and train services covering the whole of New South Wales with its services reaching the Australian Capital Territory. NSW TrainLink also provides interstate services to Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.
In May 2012 Minister for Transport restructured the RailCorp in 2012 and following this, the NSW TrainLink took over in 2013. It was in charge of the operation of regional rail and coach services formerly run by CountryLink; non-metropolitan Sydney services formerly handled by CityRail; and operating the Main Northern railway line starting from Berowra railway station and Newcastle station, the Illawarra railway line starting from Waterfall station and ending in Bomaderry railway station, and the Main Western railway line starting from Emu Plains railway station and ending in Bowenfels railway station.
Network
The NSW TrainLink network is of two tiers – the Intercity and the Regional. Intercity services run commuter style services, with focus on train services from and to Sydney with few stops within the metropolitan area. The Transport for New South Wales Opal Ticketing System is employed on this network.
Thus, seats on Intercity services are first-come, first-served. On the other hand, the Regional services run in lower population density areas, providing passenger transportation services mostly between regional New South Wales and Sydney. There are some interstate and cross-country services. The reserved seat system is used for ticketing in the Regional services.
The intercity services go as far as about 200 200 kilometres from Sydney, which in the north is Dungog, in the north-west is Scone, in the west is Bathurst, in the south-west is Goulburn and to the south is Bomaderry.
Electric train services extend from Sydney to Newcastle in the north, Lithgow in west and Port Kembla & Kiama to the south. Most train services start from or end at Central.
The Diesel trains provide transport to the less populated or more distant parts of the intercity network. Southern Highlands Line services run between Campbelltown and Moss Vale and few of them extend to Sydney and Goulburn. Hunter Line services operate from Newcastle to Telarah, and some go as far as Dungog and Scone. The Diesel train services also travel along the South Coast Line between Bomaderry and Kiama. The Bathurst Bullet also provides two times a day, limited-stop service between Sydney and Bathurst.
North Coast
This service covers the Mid North Coast, South East Queensland and Northern Rivers regions. Its services operate along the North Coast and Main North lines, and it travels between Sydney Central station and Roma Street station in Brisbane.
Brisbane
The towns and cities covered by NSW TrainLink coaches connecting off North Coast services include Forster, Tea Gardens, Port Macquarie, Yamba, Alstonville, Ballina, Moree, Lismore, Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, and Surfers Paradise.
North Western
These services operate through the Hunter, North West Slopes & Plains and New England regions. Services cover the Main North line from Sydney Central station to Werris Creek. The service divides for Armidale and Moree.