Hunter railway line, New South Wales

The Hunter railway line is a regional railway line which is part of Sydney's CityRail

CityRail

CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...

network. The line runs from the central business district

Central business district

A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...

of Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

, on the coast, northwest to Scone

Scone, New South Wales

Scone is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is located on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter and Upper...

and Dungog

Dungog, New South Wales

Dungog is a country town on the Williams River in the upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Located in the middle of dairy and timber country, it is the centre of the Dungog Shire Local Government Area and at the 2006 census it had a population of 2,102 people. The area includes the...

in the Hunter Valley area.

History and features

See also: Main North Line
Main North railway line, New South Wales
The Main North Line is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Central Coast, Hunter and the New England regions. The line was the original main line between Sydney and Brisbane, however this required a change of gauge at Wallangarra...

and North Coast Line
North Coast railway line, New South Wales
The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....

.

The Hunter line consists of the Newcastle branch line

Newcastle railway line, New South Wales

The Newcastle railway line is a branch railway line in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The line branches from the Main North line at Broadmeadow and travels in an easterly direction through the inner suburbs of Newcastle to Newcastle station...

between Newcastle and Islington Junction, the Main North line

Main North railway line, New South Wales

The Main North Line is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Central Coast, Hunter and the New England regions. The line was the original main line between Sydney and Brisbane, however this required a change of gauge at Wallangarra...

between Islington Junction and Maitland

Maitland, New South Wales

Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...

, the North Coast Line

North Coast railway line, New South Wales

The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....

between Maitland and Dungog

Dungog, New South Wales

and the Main North line

Main North railway line, New South Wales

between Maitland and Scone

Scone, New South Wales

. The Main North line, formerly known as the Great Northern Railway (G.N.R.), was the original mainline between Sydney and Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

. This line, which ran via Armidale

Armidale, New South Wales

Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...

and required a change of train due to the break of gauge

Rail gauge

Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...

at Wallangarra

Wallangarra, Queensland

Wallangarra is a village on the border between Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It is the third most southerly town in Queensland, 258 km south west of Brisbane. Wallangarra is on the Queensland side of the border and Jennings is on the New South Wales side...

, was opened to East Maitland in 1857 and Maitland in 1858. It reached Singleton

Singleton, New South Wales

-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....

in 1863, Muswellbrook

Muswellbrook, New South Wales

Muswellbrook, a corruption of 'Muscle Brook', is a town and Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. The original spelling and etymology of the town's name is a matter of some debate...

in 1869, and Scone in 1871.

The G.N.R. was then extended beyond Scone to West Tamworth

Tamworth, New South Wales

Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...

in 1878, Armidale

Armidale, New South Wales

in 1883, and reached the Queensland border at Wallangarra in 1888. The new main line to Brisbane, via the North Coast was opened in stages between 1905 and 1930, but a ferry carried trains across the Clarence River at Grafton

Grafton, New South Wales

The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...

until the bridge was completed in 1932. The Newcastle rail network remained independent of the main network radiating from Sydney until 1889, when the line between Sydney and Newcastle was completed with the opening of the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge

Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge

The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge spans the Hawkesbury River just north of the town of Brooklyn on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia...

. Thus Newcastle was connected by rail with Wallangarra before it was connected with Sydney, such was the difficulty and expense of reaching and bridging the Hawkesbury River.

Between Islington Junction and Maitland, there is a four track section where the line runs parallel to the Newcastle coal lines, which serve a number of colleries along the route. The line is double track between Newcastle and St Heliers on the main line, and between Maitland and Telarah on the North Coast line, and single track between Telarah and Dungog, and between St Heliers and Scone (and beyond), with duplication of the 4 km from St Heliers to Muswellbrook due for completion in late 2009. The line is not electrified except between Hamilton and Newcastle for the benefit of Sydney trains, and the line is serviced by new Hunter railcars

Hunter railcar (CityRail)

Hunter Railcars are a diesel multiple unit operated by CityRail on its Hunter Valley line centred on Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, although in rare cases of rail car shortages, they have been sent to other diesel lines, like the Southern Highlands Line. The Railcars were built by United...

and older Endeavour railcar

Endeavour railcar (CityRail)

The Endeavour railcar is a class of Diesel multiple unit operated by CityRail in New South Wales, Australia. Built by Adtranz, they were designed to replace some of the ageing 620 %26 720 railcars from 1994. The Endeavours were built in conjunction with the CountryLink Xplorer...

sets, both running in a 2-car configuration. Until 2007, 620 & 720

620 & 720 railcar (CityRail)

The 620 & 720 class railcars are a Diesel Multiple Unit train used in the latter stages of their life by CityRail, primarily on its Hunter Valley line. The trains have since been phased out in favour of the newer Hunter railcar model. The 620/720 railcars were built by New South Wales Government...

class diesel railcars (DMUs) built in the 1960s previously serviced the line.

Services run regularly between Newcastle and Telarah

Telarah railway station, New South Wales

Telarah is a railway station on the North Coast Line branch of CityRail's Hunter Line in New South Wales, Australia. It has been given the nickname of 'the Rah' by its locals, the name originated from indigenous language, or from the Welsh word for pit pony...

, with infrequent services to Dungog

Dungog railway station, New South Wales

-Neighbouring stations:-References:...

and Scone

Scone railway station, New South Wales

-Neighbouring stations:-External links:***...

Stations

Hunter Lines
Name of Station	Code	Serving Suburbs	Pattern stops at this station	Connections
Newcastle	NTL	Newcastle, Newcastle East, The Hill
Civic Civic railway station, New South Wales -References:...	CVI	Newcastle, Honeysuckle, Cooks Hill
Wickham Wickham railway station, New South Wales -Transport links:Newcastle Buses runs one route via Wickham railway station:*Route 104 - between Jesmond and Newcastle station-References:...	WKH	Wickham, Newcastle West
Hamilton Hamilton railway station, New South Wales -Hamilton Junction Signal Box:Hamilton Junction Signal Box is separated from Hamilton Station by Beaumont Street Level Crossing. The elegant Victorian signal box was built by McKenzie & Holland in 1897, making it one of the oldest surviving mechanical signal boxes in Australia, and also one of the...	HMN	Hamilton, Islington, Tighes Hill
Waratah Waratah railway station, New South Wales Waratah railway station is a station on the New South Wales Main Northern Line located in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah. The station consists of 2 platforms and is served by CityRail's Hunter line...	WTH	Waratah, Georgetown, Mayfield, Mayfield East
Warabrook (University) Warabrook railway station, New South Wales Warabrook railway station is a station on the Hunter line, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the newest stations built on the line and consists of an island platform...	WBK	Warabrook, Callaghan
Sandgate Sandgate railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-Trackplan:-References:...	SDG	Sandgate
Hexham Hexham railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	HXM	Hexham
Tarro Tarro railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	TRJ	Tarro
Beresfield Beresfield railway station, New South Wales Beresfield is a railway station on the Main North railway line, , in the western suburbs of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia...	BLD	Beresfield, Woodberry
Thornton Thornton railway station, New South Wales -Transport links:Hunter Valley Buses runs one route to and from Thornton railway station:*Route 186 - to Greenhill Shops-Neighbouring stations:-References:...	THO	Thornton
Metford Metford railway station, New South Wales -Transport links:Hunter Valley Buses runs one route via Metford railway station:*Route 181 - between Woodbury and Rutherford-Neighbouring stations:- References :...	MFD	Metford
Victoria Street Victoria Street railway station, New South Wales -Transport links:Hunter Valley Buses runs four routes via Victoria Street railway station:Route 181 - between Woodbury and RutherfordRoute 183 - between Regiment Road and Tenambit*Route 184 - between Maitland and Chambers Street...	VST	East Maitland
East Maitland East Maitland railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-References:...	EAM	East Maitland, Pitnacree, Tenambit
High Street High Street railway station, New South Wales High Street is a railway station in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of CityRail's outer suburban network, on the Hunter Line.-Platforms and services:...	HGH	South Maitland, Maitland
Maitland Maitland railway station, New South Wales Maitland railway station is a station on the Hunter Line. It serves the town of Maitland, New South Wales. Maitland station is the branch point for the Main North railway line and the North Coast Line, with the Main North Line continuing to Scone, and beyond and the North Coast Line continuing to...	MTL	Maitland
Telarah Telarah railway station, New South Wales Telarah is a railway station on the North Coast Line branch of CityRail's Hunter Line in New South Wales, Australia. It has been given the nickname of 'the Rah' by its locals, the name originated from indigenous language, or from the Welsh word for pit pony...	TLR	Telarah, Rutherford
Mindaribba Mindaribba railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-External links:*...	MNB	Mindaribba
Paterson Paterson railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	PTR	Paterson
Martins Creek Martins Creek railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	MCR	Martins Creek
Hilldale Hilldale railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	HIL	Hilldale
Wallarobba Wallarobba railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:- References :...	WLB	Wallarobba
Wirragulla Wirragulla railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-External links:* - information and pictures of the station* - network operating Wirragulla Station...	WGL	Wirragulla
Dungog Dungog railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-References:...	DGG	Dungog
Lochinvar Lochinvar railway station, New South Wales - References :...	LCV	Lochinvar
Greta Greta railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:Historically, the next inbound station was Allandale, however that station has been unofficially closed since 2002, and services suspended until further notice since 2005.- References :...	GTA	Greta, North Rothbury
Branxton Branxton railway station, New South Wales Branxton is a railway station on the Main North Line of New South Wales, Australia. CityRail operates diesel self propelled railcars through Branxton as part of its Hunter Line regional service from Newcastle. The station serves the town of Branxton, New South Wales, Australia...	BNX	Branxton, East Branxton
Singleton Singleton railway station, New South Wales -Transport links:Hunter Valley Buses runs two routes via Singleton railway station:Route 182 - between Woodberry and Singleton HeightsRoute 401 - Singleton Town Circuit-Neighbouring stations:-References:...	SIX	Singleton
Muswellbrook Muswellbrook railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-References:...	MBK	Muswellbrook
Aberdeen Aberdeen railway station, New South Wales - References :...	ADM	Aberdeen
Scone Scone railway station, New South Wales -Neighbouring stations:-External links:***...	NSO	Scone

All stations on this line are within the MyMulti 3 zone. Stations between Newcastle and Telarah are also within the Green Newcastle TravelPass zone, which remains available despite the replacement of the Sydney TravelPass system with the MyMulti ticket.

Stopping patterns

Pattern 1: Newcastle, all to Telarah and vice-versa (peak and off-peak).
Pattern 2: Newcastle, all to Warabrook, then Beresfield, Thornton, Metford, Victoria Street, Maitland and Telarah and vice-versa (peak and off-peak – weekdays only).
Pattern 3: Newcastle all to Maitland and vice-versa (one afternoon off-peak service on weekdays, two services on weekends).
Pattern 4: Newcastle, all to Warabrook, then Beresfield, Thornton, Metford, Victoria Street, Maitland, Telarah, Paterson and all stations to Dungog and vice-versa (peak and off-peak, 5 services a day on weekdays, 3 services a day on Saturdays, 2 services a day on Sundays).
Pattern 5: Newcastle, all to Warabrook, then Beresfield, Thornton, Metford, Victoria Street, Maitland, and all stations to Scone and vice-versa (peak and off-peak, 3 services (1 early morning, 1 afternoon peak hour, 1 evening peak hour) on weekdays, 2 services (1 early morning, 1 evening) on weekends). For 1842 from Scone to Newcastle train, it stops all stations to Maitland, then Warabrook, then all stations to Newcastle.
Pattern 6: Newcastle, all to Warabrook, then Beresfield, Thornton, Metford, Victoria Street, Maitland and all stations to Muswellbrook and vice-versa (one mid-morning off-peak service on weekdays only).

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.