Hunter Line

Last updated

Hunter Line
TfNSW HUN.svg
NSW Train Link 'J' Set or 'Hunter Railcar' 2-car dmu Nos.2752-2702.jpg
Overview
Service type Intercity rail
Locale Hunter Region, New South Wales
Current operator(s) NSW TrainLink
Route
Termini Newcastle
Scone
Dungog
Stops28
Line(s) used Newcastle
Main North
North Coast
Technical
Rolling stock Endeavour & Hunter railcars
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Track owner(s) Transport Asset Holding Entity
Timetable number(s)HUN
Route map
Hunter Line
BSicon CONTg.svg
BSicon INTACC.svg
Newcastle
Interchange
TfNSW CCN.svg TfNSW B.svg TfNSW L.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Hamilton TfNSW CCN.svg TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Waratah TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Warabrook TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Sandgate
BSicon HST.svg
Hexham
BSicon HST.svg
Tarro
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Beresfield TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Thornton TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Metford TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
Victoria Street TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HSTACC.svg
East Maitland TfNSW B.svg
BSicon HST.svg
High Street
BSicon INTACC.svg
Maitland TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg
BSicon SPLa.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHST.svg
Mindaribba
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHST.svg
Paterson TfNSW B.svg
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHSTACC.svg
Martins Creek
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHST.svg
Hilldale
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHSTACC.svg
Wallarobba
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dHST.svg
Wirragulla
BSicon dSTR.svg
BSicon dKINTe.svg
Dungog TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg
BSicon dHST.svg
Lochinvar
BSicon dHST.svg
Greta
BSicon dHST.svg
Branxton TfNSW B.svg
BSicon dHSTACC.svg
Singleton TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg
BSicon dHSTACC.svg
Muswellbrook TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg TfNSW C.svg
BSicon dHSTACC.svg
Aberdeen TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg
BSicon dKINTACCe.svg
Scone TfNSW T.png TfNSW B.svg

The Hunter Line (HUN) is an intercity commuter rail service operated by NSW TrainLink, running from Newcastle, with two branches to Dungog and Scone in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It operates on the Newcastle, Main North and North Coast lines.

Contents

Description of Route

Hunter Line services operate from Newcastle on the Newcastle branch line to Islington Junction, the Main North Line between Islington Junction and Scone, the North Coast Line between Maitland and Dungog. The Hunter Line shares its portion of the Main North Line and North Coast Line with NSW TrainLink North Western and North Coast regional services respectively.

Services

Services run regularly between Newcastle and Telarah, with infrequent services to Dungog and Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone. [1] Services are operated by Endeavour and Hunter railcars.

Until 2007, 620/720 class railcars operated the service. The line was the last in Australia to have a regular steam hauled passenger service. The final service was hauled from Newcastle to Singleton on 24 July 1971 by 3246. [2] Diesel locomotive hauled services operated until replaced by 620/720 and 660/760 class railcars in 1984.

The line was truncated to terminate at Hamilton from 5 January 2015. [3] It was extended to Newcastle Interchange when this opened on 15 October 2017.

Trains that service the line have two carriages, while some peak hour services have four carriages.

Stations

Hunter Line stations
NameRailway lineServing suburbs/townsNotes
Newcastle Interchange Newcastle Wickham, Newcastle, Hamilton EastInterchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line and Newcastle Light Rail
Hamilton Hamilton, Islington, Tighes HillInterchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line
Waratah Main North Waratah, Georgetown, Mayfield, Mayfield East
Warabrook Warabrook, CallaghanUse for Newcastle University
Sandgate Sandgate, Shortland
Hexham Hexham
Tarro Tarro
Beresfield Beresfield, Woodberry
Thornton Thornton, Chisholm
Metford Metford, Ashtonfield, Chisholm
Victoria Street East Maitland, Tenambit
East Maitland East Maitland, Pitnacree
High Street South Maitland, Maitland
Maitland Maitland, Lorn, Gillieston HeightsTerminus of certain services.

Use for 164 bus to Cessnock.

At Maitland, the line branches. The northern branch is towards Dungog, and the northwestern branch is towards Scone.
To Dungog
Telarah North Coast Telarah, RutherfordTerminus of most services
Mindaribba Mindaribba, Bolwarra Heights
Paterson Paterson
Martins Creek Martins Creek
Hilldale Hilldale
Wallarobba Wallarobba
Wirragulla Wirragulla
Dungog DungogTerminus station
To Scone
Lochinvar Main NorthLochinvar
Greta Greta, North Rothbury
Branxton Branxton, East Branxton
Singleton SingletonTerminus of certain services
Muswellbrook MuswellbrookTerminus of certain services
Aberdeen Aberdeen
Scone SconeTerminus station

Patronage

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. [4]

2021–22 NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line
3179000
6015000
418000
3013000
334000

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References

  1. "Hunter line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  2. Inquiry in Planning Process in Newcastle and the Broader Hunter Region Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine NSW Parliament 23 October 2014
  3. Upcoming transport changes in Newcastle Archived 9 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine Transport Info NSW 8 December 2014
  4. "Train Patronage – Monthly Figures". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 20 August 2022.