 XPT at Sydney Terminal in November 2007 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Operational |
| First service | June 1990 |
| Current operator(s) | NSW TrainLink |
| Route | |
| Start | Sydney |
| End | Grafton |
| Distance travelled | 696 kilometres |
| Service frequency | daily in each direction |
| Line(s) used | North Coast |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | XPT |
The Grafton Express is an Australian passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink between Sydney and Grafton via the North Coast line.
NSW TrainLink is an Australian brand for the medium and long distance passenger rail and coach services in New South Wales. It operates services throughout New South Wales and into the neighbouring Australian states and territories of Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. Train services are operated by the government's NSW Trains. Coach services are contracted to private operators. It is an agency of Transport for NSW.
The Central railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The station is the largest and busiest railway station in New South Wales and serves as a major transport interchange for NSW TrainLink inter-city rail services, Sydney Trains commuter rail services, Sydney light rail services, State Transit bus services, and private coach transport services. Often abbreviated as Central or Central station, the station is also known as Sydney Terminal and Central Railway Stations Group and Central Railway; Central Station; Underbridges. The property is owned by RailCorp, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It recorded 11.35 million passenger movements in 2013.
Grafton railway station is a railway station on the North Coast line in South Grafton, Clarence Valley Council, New South Wales, Australia. It serves the city of Grafton, opening on 12 October 1915 as South Grafton when the line opened from Glenreagh. It was renamed Grafton City on 1 October 1976 when the original Grafton station north of the Clarence River closed. Since 2005 it has again been known as Grafton Station.
In February 1990 the long-standing Holiday Coast XPT was axed as part of a restructure of CountryLink services. [1] With the other XPT services struggling to keep up with weekend demand, in June 1990 a service to Grafton was reinstated. [2] It ran on Fridays only to Grafton and Sundays only to Sydney [3] but during school holidays ran daily. It was formed of locomotive hauled HUB/RUB stock with the headcode NL35/NL36. [4]
The North Coast Daylight Express was an Australian passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from November 1951 until February 1990.
CountryLink was an Australian passenger rail and road service brand operating in regional New South Wales, as well as to Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. Originally created as a business unit of the State Rail Authority of New South Wales, it later became a subsidiary of RailCorp, a Government of New South Wales entity. CountryLink operated rail services using XPT and Xplorer rolling stock, with connecting coach services operated under contract by private operators.
The New South Wales XPT is the main long-distance passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink on regional railway services in New South Wales, Australia from Sydney to Dubbo, Grafton and Casino as well as interstate destinations, Brisbane, and Melbourne. The XPT is based on the British Rail designed High Speed Train and entered service in April 1982.
Initially hauled by 86 class electric locomotives south of Broadmeadow, however from March 1992 it was hauled by diesel locomotives throughout usually a 442 class. The locomotive hauled Grafton Express last ran in November 1993. [4]
The 86 class is a class of electric locomotives built by Comeng, Granville for the State Rail Authority of New South Wales.
Broadmeadow railway station is located on the Main Northern line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the western Newcastle suburb of Broadmeadow, opening on 15 August 1887.
The 442 class are a class of diesel locomotives built by AE Goodwin and Comeng, Auburn for the New South Wales Government Railways between 1970 and 1973.
With the National Party having lost a number of North Coast seats in the 1990 Federal election in a policy reversal it was announced that Xplorer railcars would be purchased to extend the Northern Tablelands Express with an XPT to be released to operate a daily service to Grafton. [5] Thus in November 1993 the Grafton XPT began, a service that continues today. [6]
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. Traditionally representing graziers, farmers, and rural voters generally, it began as the Australian Country Party in 1920 at a federal level. It would later briefly adopt the name National Country Party in 1975, before adopting its current name in 1982.
Federal elections were held in Australia on 24 March 1990. All 148 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Bob Hawke defeated the opposition Liberal Party of Australia led by Andrew Peacock with coalition partner the National Party of Australia led by Charles Blunt. The election saw the reelection of a Hawke government, the fourth successive term.
The Xplorer is a diesel multiple unit train operated by NSW TrainLink on regional rail services in New South Wales, Australia from Sydney to Armidale, Moree, Broken Hill, Griffith and Canberra. The first Xplorers entered service in October 1993, and are mechanically identical to but feature a higher level of passenger amenity than the Endeavour railcars. All 23 carriages were built by ABB Transportation in Dandenong, Victoria.
