One of only two routes on the NSW TrainLink intercity network to run entirely on non-electrified railway lines, the Southern Highlands Line is operated with a rolling stock solely consisting of Endeavour railcars, with most services only using two cars. The service spans 169 kilometers of railway, making it the most extensive route on the NSW TrainLink network apart from the Blue Mountains Line's Bathurst Bullet service. The route also spans 22 stations, making it also the route with the lowest number of stops. An additional 2 stations and 55 kilometers of railway are traversed by Southern Highlands trains at peak hours.
In 1919, a new section of line opened between Picton and Mittagong, with the original section becoming the Picton-Mittagong loop line.[2] Originally a single track line, it was later doubled with the exception of the Picton-Mittagong loop line.
Rail replacement bus services operate between Picton and Bowral paralleling the Picton-Mittagong loop line and Bundanoon and Wollongong paralleling the Moss Vale-Unanderra line. A daytime bus service also operates between Moss Vale and Goulburn.[3] Some stations are also served by NSW TrainLink XPT and Xplorer services from Sydney to Canberra, Griffith and Melbourne.[4]
Up until the mid-1990s, most services on the line operated through to Sydney Central. Named trains that operated on the line included the Goulburn Day Train and Southern Highlands Express. In the late 1980s, air-conditioned HUB/RUB carriages were introduced. These would later be joined by Budd and Tulloch carriages and DEB railcars.[5]
In 1994, all were replaced by Endeavour railcars.[6] Most services were altered to operate only as far north as Campbelltown connecting with Sydney Trains electric services to Sydney.
As of 2014–15, the Southern Highlands Line experiences significantly worse peak hour on-time running performance than other suburban and intercity lines.[7]
The following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2022, based on Opal tap on and tap off data.[8]
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This article is about the NSW TrainLink service For the physical railway line see Main Southern railway line The Southern Highlands Line is an Intercity rail service operated by NSW TrainLink that services the Macarthur Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands regions of New South Wales First operating in 1869 the service runs from Campbelltown across the Main Southern railway line through to Goulburn with peak hour services extending the route to Central The railway service operates alongside a bus route from Picton to Bowral operating on the route of the Picton Mittagong loop railway line and a regional coach service from Bundanoon to Wollongong on the South Coast Line operating on the corridor of the Unanderra Moss Vale railway line Southern Highlands LineAn Endeavour railcar at MittagongOverviewService typeIntercity railLocaleMacarthur Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands New South WalesFirst service19 May 1869 1869 05 19 Current operator s NSW TrainLinkRouteTerminiCampbelltown CentralMoss Vale GoulburnStops22Distance travelled224 km 139 mi Line s usedMain SouthTechnicalRolling stockEndeavour railcarTrack gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gaugeTrack owner s Sydney Trains ARTCNSW TrainLink intercity servicesBlue MountainsCentral Coast amp NewcastleHunterSouth CoastSouthern HighlandsvteOne of only two routes on the NSW TrainLink intercity network to run entirely on non electrified railway lines the Southern Highlands Line is operated with a rolling stock solely consisting of Endeavour railcars with most services only using two cars The service spans 169 kilometers of railway making it the most extensive route on the NSW TrainLink network apart from the Blue Mountains Line s Bathurst Bullet service The route also spans 22 stations making it also the route with the lowest number of stops An additional 2 stations and 55 kilometers of railway are traversed by Southern Highlands trains at peak hours Contents 1 History 2 Services 2 1 Stations 3 Patronage 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory EditThe Main South line opened in stages to Picton in 1863 Moss Vale in 1867 and Goulburn in 1869 1 In 1919 a new section of line opened between Picton and Mittagong with the original section becoming the Picton Mittagong loop line 2 Originally a single track line it was later doubled with the exception of the Picton Mittagong loop line Services EditMost services operate between Campbelltown and Moss Vale with a limited number extending to Sydney Central and Goulburn 3 All services are operated by NSW TrainLink using Endeavour railcars Rail replacement bus services operate between Picton and Bowral paralleling the Picton Mittagong loop line and Bundanoon and Wollongong paralleling the Moss Vale Unanderra line A daytime bus service also operates between Moss Vale and Goulburn 3 Some stations are also served by NSW TrainLink XPT and Xplorer services from Sydney to Canberra Griffith and Melbourne 4 Up until the mid 1990s most services on the line operated through to Sydney Central Named trains that operated on the line included the Goulburn Day Train and Southern Highlands Express In the late 1980s air conditioned HUB RUB carriages were introduced These would later be joined by Budd and Tulloch carriages and DEB railcars 5 In 1994 all were replaced by Endeavour railcars 6 Most services were altered to operate only as far north as Campbelltown connecting with Sydney Trains electric services to Sydney As of 2014 15 the Southern Highlands Line experiences significantly worse peak hour on time running performance than other suburban and intercity lines 7 Stations Edit Southern Highlands Line stations Name Railway line Serving suburbs towns NotesCentral Main Suburban Haymarket Chippendale Ultimo Surry Hills Transport hub for Sydney Trains other Intercity trains Regional trains buses and light railGlenfield Main South Glenfield Interchange with Sydney TrainsCampbelltown Campbelltown Starting point of most servicesInterchange with Sydney Trains and Regional trainsMacarthur Ambarvale Blair Athol Glen Alpine Interchange with Sydney TrainsMenangle Park Menangle Park GileadMenangle MenangleDouglas Park Douglas Park WiltonPicton Picton Maldon Interchange with Picton Bowral loop line busTahmoor Tahmoor Couridjah Buxton ThirlmereBargo Bargo Yanderra and Pheasants NestYerrinbool Yerrinbool Colo Vale Hill Top AlpineMittagong Mittagong Braemar Balaclava Willow Vale Welby Aylmerton Interchange with Regional trains and Picton Mittagong loop line busBowral Bowral Berrima East Bowral Interchange with Regional trains Picton Mittagong loop line bus and Bundanoon Wollongong CoachBurradoo BurradooMoss Vale Moss Vale Bong Bong Robertson Sutton Forest Burrawang Terminus of most servicesInterchange with Regional trains and Bundanoon Wollongong CoachExeter Exeter Also served by Bundanoon Wollongong CoachBundanoon Bundanoon Also served by Regional trains and Bundanoon Wollongong CoachPenrose PenroseWingello WingelloTallong TallongMarulan MarulanGoulburn Goulburn Also served by Regional trainsPatronage EditThe following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2022 based on Opal tap on and tap off data 8 2021 22 NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line Blue Mountains Line 3 179 000Central Coast amp Newcastle Line 6 015 000Hunter Line 418 000South Coast Line 3 013 000Southern Highlands Line 334 000References Edit Main South Line NSWrail net Bayley William A 197x Picton Mittagong Loop Line Railway Bulli Austrail Publications ISBN 0 909597 14 6 a b Southern Highlands line timetable Transport for NSW Southern timetable NSW Trainlink 7 September 2019 Southern Passengers Railway Digest January 1989 page 21 New Timetable Sees Demise of Loco Hauled Services Railway Digest July 1994 Service Delivery Audit Office of New South Wales Retrieved 26 November 2015 Train Patronage Monthly Figures Transport for NSW Retrieved 20 August 2022 Further reading Edit Centenary of the Opening of the Southern Line to Picton Singleton C C Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin July 1963 Centenary of the Opening of the Southern Line to Mittagong Singleton C C Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin March 1967 Centenary of the Opening of the Southern Line to Goulburn Singleton C C Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin May 1969 Southern Highlands Express Peter Attenborough Eveleigh Press 2011 ISBN 978 1 87 656854 2External links EditRegional Transport Information Transport for NSW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Highlands Line amp oldid 1109107614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
