The metropolitan part of the network is a hybrid urban-suburban rail system with a central underground core that covers 369 km (229 mi) of route length over 813 km (505 mi) of track, with 161 stations on nine lines.[1]
Within Sydney, the network has frequencies of 5–10 minutes during 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.[2]
The network is managed by Transport for NSW and is part of its Opal ticketing system. In 2018–19, 377.1 million passenger journeys were made on the suburban network, making it the most-used rail network in Australia.
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.[3][4][5][6] Two new organisations were created to take over the operation of the services from 1 July 2013. Sydney Trains acquired all suburban services in the Sydney metropolitan area bounded by Berowra, Emu Plains, Macarthur and Waterfall from RailCorp's CityRail division. Intercity and Hunter Line services previously operated by CityRail were taken over by NSW Trains (branded as NSW TrainLink).[7] 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.[8] In July, they ceased to be subsidiaries of RailCorp and became independent standalone agencies in July 2017.[9][10]
On 21 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 also include the modifications, testing, and introduction of the New Intercity Fleet (NIF).[11]
A process of transferring intercity services from NSW TrainLink to Sydney Trains began in 2023.[12] Intercity services were taken under the responsibility of Sydney Trains from 1 July 2024.[13][14]
Operations
In July 2013, Howard Collins OBE, the former Chief Operating Officer of London Underground, was appointed as Chief Executive of Sydney Trains.[15] Stewart Mills was appointed Acting Chief Executive in February 2020, succeeded by Suzanne Holden as Acting Chief Executive in June 2020. In June 2021, Matt Longland was appointed as Chief Executive.[citation needed]
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.
Sydney Trains operates nine electric suburban lines across Sydney.
In conjunction with a new timetable released on 20 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
An eighth line was created on 26 November 2017 by splitting the T2 line into two separate lines; T2 and T8. T5 services were also modified to no longer travel to and from Campbelltown, instead starting and terminating at Leppington.[16]
From 28 April 2019, the section of the T1 line between Gordon and Hornsby via Strathfield was renumbered as T9, whilst the portion between Berowra and Richmond or Emu Plains via Chatswood and Parramatta remained as T1.[17]
The first expansion of the Sydney suburban network after the restructuring of CityRail into Sydney Trains occurred in 2015 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.
From 19 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]
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 Inner West & Leppington Line, T3 Bankstown 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 T7 Olympic Park Line is a suburban shuttle service.
NightRide bus services established in 1989, 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.[24] NightRide services are contracted to external bus operators and are identified by route numbers beginning with "N".
Though primarily operated on intercity lines, some H sets are also used on suburban services, and 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. Their contract for the M sets was extended by 10 years from June 2017.[25] 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 1 July 2019.[26]
The Sydney Trains network is divided into three sectors, based around three maintenance depots.[27] Trainsets are identified by target plates, which are exhibited on the front lower nearside of driving carriages.[28] 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, but instead, have 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.
T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown, T5 Cumberland, T7 Olympic Park and T8 Airport & South Lines Intercity services on Blue Mountains Line and Central Coast & Newcastle Line (V sets only)
An intercity service between Sydney and NewcastleIntercity network (excluding the Sydney suburban portions of lines)
Intercity services operate 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.
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 also operate on the South Coast Line between Kiama and Bomaderry. The Bathurst Bullet provides a twice daily, limited stop service between Sydney and Bathurst.
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.[29][30][31] The D sets will be maintained at a new facility at Kangy Angy.
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.[32] The target is for 92 percent of intercity services to operate on-time.[33]
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.[34]
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.[35]
Quiet carriages were first introduced on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line in early 2012 as a three-month trial. On 1 September 2012, quiet carriages were permanently introduced and expanded to all intercity services operating on the Blue Mountains and South Coast Line.[34]
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).
Sydney Trains currently uses the Opal card ticketing system, which was introduced to the network in April 2014.[44] 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 also valid on bus, ferry, and light rail services but separate fares apply for these modes. The following table lists Opal fares for reusable smartcards and single-trip tickets:[45]
^Transport for NSW, Bureau of Transport Statistics (2014). "Train statistics 2014"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
^"NSW TrainLink Corporate Plan"(PDF). Transport for New South Wales. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024. From 1 July 2024, the operation of all 'non-booked' services - including the electric fleet, the South Coast and Hunter intercity diesel services, the Bathurst Bullet and Southern Highlands services, and Moss Vale and Lithgow depots - are proposed to transfer to Sydney Trains.
^Section, Transport for NSW, Customer Experience Division, Customer Service Branch, Customer Information Services. "Late night services". transportnsw.info. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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