South Coast Line | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overview | |||||||||||||||
Service type | Intercity rail | ||||||||||||||
Locale | Illawarra region, New South Wales | ||||||||||||||
First service | 21 June 1887 | ||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Sydney Trains | ||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||
Termini | Central Bondi Junction Bomaderry | ||||||||||||||
Stops | 45 | ||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 166 km (103 mi) | ||||||||||||||
Line(s) used | Eastern Suburbs Main Suburban (between Central and Redfern) South Coast | ||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | H sets (all electric services) Endeavour railcars (between Kiama and Bomaderry) T sets (additional electric services between Waterfall/Thirroul and Port Kembla) | ||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||
Electrification | to Kiama, all on the Port Kembla branch | ||||||||||||||
Track owner(s) | Transport Asset Holding Entity | ||||||||||||||
Timetable number(s) | SCO | ||||||||||||||
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The South Coast Line (SCO) is an intercity rail service that services the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The service runs from Central, and runs the entire length of the eponymous South Coast railway line to Bomaderry. The service also runs along the Eastern Suburbs railway line at peak hours and the Port Kembla railway line to Port Kembla. It is operated with Sydney Trains H sets and T sets, with Endeavour railcars operating the service on the non-electrified line between Kiama and Bomaderry.
Passenger trains first operated on the South Coast railway line in 1887, and is one of five routes on the NSW TrainLink Intercity network. The South Coast Line routes span 40 stations, across 159 km (99 mi) of railway. An additional 5 stations and 7 km (4.3 mi) of railway are travelled by South Coast Line trains at peak hour on the Eastern Suburbs railway line.
The first passenger train services on the Illawarra commenced on 21 June 1887, after the line was completed from Clifton to Wollongong, and later, North Kiama on 9 November 1887. The line was later connected to Waterfall via Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Park and Coalcliff the following year between July and October 1888, after delays on construction between Waterfall and Clifton. The line was further extended to Bomaderry through Kiama, opening on 2 June 1893. [1] [2]
Throughout its long history, the South Coast Line's roster of stations has changed significantly. Many stations in the Upper Illawarra had closed and new ones opened towards the first half of the 20th century. Stations such as the ones serving Clifton were closed, along with a majority of the original railway between Waterfall and Coalcliff between 1915 and 1920, replaced with a new alignment that made use of a flatter gradient and made the infamous Otford Tunnel defunct. New stations along the line that opened throughout this period included Coledale in 1902, North Wollongong in 1915, Coniston in 1916, Wombarra in 1917, and Towradgi in 1948. Further removals of stations from the line in the latter half of the 20th century included the station serving Yallah in 1974, the majority of the stations on the line between Kiama and Bomaderry, and Lilyvale in 1983. [1] Dunmore was also closed in November 2014, replaced by Shellharbour Junction, after rising commercial and residential development in Flinders and Shell Cove and their distance from Dunmore station, prompted the Government of New South Wales to build a replacement station closer to the area of urban growth. [3]
While the railway network at Port Kembla was built in 1916, stations and passenger trains servicing the surrounding suburbs did not operate until 5 January 1920, when the Port Kembla railway station was opened. A station at Cringila was added to the Port Kembla commuter branch in 1926, along with one at Port Kembla North, a decade later, in 1936. A railway station for workers at Port Kembla, named Lysaghts, after the nearby Lysaght steel plant, was also opened in 1938. [1]
Some platforms on the line (e.g. Scarborough) are only 4 or 6 cars long, so not all doors may open on 8-car trains.
Services were originally operated with locomotive-hauled trains, and later, diesel railcars, prior to the electrification of the South Coast railway line. The line was electrified to Helensburgh in 1984, with the suburban Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line service occasionally extending its service past the terminus at Waterfall to Helensburgh during peak hours, a practice that the current Sydney Trains Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line service still follows today. Electrification extended to Wollongong the following year. Despite the newly installed electrification, diesel sets and locomotive-hauled trains still operated along the line from Kiama all the way past Wollongong to Sydney, including the South Coast Daylight Express , until 1991. [4] Electrification of the South Coast railway line was further extended to Dapto in 1993 and, finally, to Kiama in 2001. The railway between Kiama and Bomaderry is the only part of the line that remains non-electrified, operated by New South Wales Endeavour railcars since their introduction in 1994.
The electrified rolling stock of the South Coast Line began with V set intercity trains. There were later accompanied by Tangaras when they were introduced into the CityRail network in 1988. Originally, the Tangaras that ran on the South Coast Line were different variations of T sets known as G sets. G sets differed from T sets in that they had reversible seats, toilets, fresh water dispensers and luggage racks. In late 2005, it was discovered that a majority of the V set rolling stock operating on the South Coast Line were suffering from corrosion in their underframes. More G sets were introduced onto the South Coast Line to compensate, and eventually became the standard rolling stock on the South Coast Line after V sets ceased operating on the service. From January 2012, V sets ceased operating South Coast services. In 2009, however, after the introduction of OSCARs onto the intercity CityRail network, All G sets were recalled for conversion into T sets. The OSCAR fleet effectively replaced the G set rolling stock and, since 2010, standard Sydney Trains T sets, owned by NSW TrainLink, have been operating services to Port Kembla.
In 2017, it was revealed that the Liberal state government had reviewed a 3.6 billion dollar tunnel between Thirroul and Waterfall that could reduce travel time between Sydney and Wollongong by 22 minutes, but that rail improvements were being sidetracked in favour of improving and extending the nearby Princes Motorway. [5]
On 20 December 1994, an accident involving two empty S sets occurred during a shunting procedure at Waterfall. One of the trains jack-knifed onto the platform, demolishing the concrete pedestrian bridge. No injuries or casualties, however, were reported. [6]
On the morning of 31 January 2003, an intercity Tangara en route to Port Kembla derailed at high speed between Waterfall and Helensburgh, resulting in the deaths of seven people and injury of forty. [7] The accident was the third major accident resulting in fatalities on the CityRail network in 13 years, after the Cowan rail accident in 1990 and Glenbrook rail accident in 1999.
On 24 November 2011, a Pacific National coal train derailed near Clifton, causing the suspension of South Coast Line services between Waterfall and Thirroul. Services were resumed four days later, after the derailed train was removed from the tracks. [8] The train had derailed immediately after coming out of the Clifton tunnel, with the front eight clearing the tunnel and derailing, and the rear twelve carriages remaining inside the tunnel. The Office of Transport Safety Investigations found that the cause of the derailment was a broken axle. [9]
Peak hour and weekend services commence from Bondi Junction or Martin Place on the Eastern Suburbs railway line, and stop at Central at Platform 25. At other times, services depart from Central (Sydney Terminal).
Some peak hour and weekend services are listed as pickup only at intermediate suburban stations (eg. Redfern, Hurstville, Sutherland). This restriction is to ensure the train does not fill up with suburban passengers, who have plenty of other suburban services to take. Pickup only stations are not displayed on platform screens, but will be displayed on in-train screens.
The most common Central to Kiama services are operated by 4/8 car H sets (OSCARs). All-stations services operate between Waterfall, Thirroul and Port Kembla with 4-car T sets (Tangaras). Shuttle train services between Kiama and Bomaderry are operated by 2-car diesel Endeavour railcars, due to the line not being electrified past Kiama. [10]
From 2024, all services are to be taken over by 4 and 6 car D sets. This will free up H sets for transferral to suburban railway work. Two-car Endeavour sets will continue to operate the Kiama to Bomaderry section. These are set to be replaced by the R sets in 2027.
Name | Code [11] | Distance from Central | Travel Time [ab 1] | Railway | Suburbs serviced | Connecting Services |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bondi Junction – Waterfall (Suburban section) | ||||||
Bondi Junction | BJN | 6.7 km | dep. | Eastern Suburbs | Bondi Junction, Woollahra | |
Edgecliff | ECL | 4.8 km | 3 min | Edgecliff, Darling Point | ||
Kings Cross | KSX | 3.4 km | 3 min | Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay | ||
Martin Place | MPC | 2.1 km | 2 min | Sydney | ||
Town Hall | THL | 1.1 km | 3 min | Sydney | ||
Central | CEN | 0.0 km | 3 min | Sydney, Strawberry Hills, Ultimo, Surry Hills | ||
Redfern | RDF | 1.3 km | 2 min | Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington | ||
Sydenham | SDN | 5.3 km | 5 min | South Coast | Sydenham, Marrickville, St Peters, Tempe | |
Wolli Creek | WOC | 7.3 km | 4 min | Wolli Creek, Arncliffe | ||
Hurstville | HVL | 14.8 km | 9 min | Hurstville, Hurstville South | ||
Sutherland | SLD | 24.6 km | 11 min | Sutherland | ||
Waterfall | WFL | 38.7 km | 11 min | Waterfall | ||
Waterfall – Coniston | ||||||
Helensburgh | HSB | 46.3 km | 9 min | South Coast | Helensburgh, Lilyvale | |
Otford | OTF | 54.6 km | 6 min | Otford, Stanwell Tops | ||
Stanwell Park | SWP | 56.0 km | 4 min | Stanwell Park | ||
Coalcliff | CCF | 59.3 km | 6 min | Coalcliff | ||
Scarborough | SWP | 62.5 km | 5 min | Scarborough, Clifton | ||
Wombarra | WMJ | 64.4 km | 3 min | Wombarra | ||
Coledale | COL | 66.2 km | 3 min | Coledale | ||
Austinmer | AUR | 68.6 km | 3 min | Austinmer | ||
Thirroul | TRL | 70.2 km | 2 min | Thirroul | ||
Bulli | BUI | 72.2 km | 2 min | Bulli | ||
Woonona | WOJ | 74.0 km | 2 min | Woonona | ||
Bellambi | BLM | 75.6 km | 2 min | Bellambi, Russell Vale | ||
Corrimal | CIM | 77.0 km | 1 min | Corrimal, East Corrimal | ||
Towradgi | TOW | 78.0 km | 1 min | Towradgi, Tarrawanna | ||
Fairy Meadow | FMW | 79.4 km | 2 min | Fairy Meadow | ||
North Wollongong | NHW | 81.3 km | 3 min | North Wollongong, Gwynneville, Mount Ousley | ||
Wollongong | WOL | 82.9 km | 4 min | Wollongong | Wollongong – Bundanoon Coach | |
Coniston | CNI | 84.1 km | 2 min | Coniston | ||
Coniston – Port Kembla (Port Kembla branch) | ||||||
Lysaghts | LYS | 86.3 km | 3 min | Port Kembla | ||
Cringila | CRG | 87.7 km | 2 min | Cringila | ||
Port Kembla North | PBN | 88.8 km | 2 min | Warrawong | ||
Port Kembla | PKM | 90.2 km | 3 min | Port Kembla | ||
Coniston – Kiama | ||||||
Unanderra | UDR | 88.3 km | 5 min | South Coast | Unanderra | |
Kembla Grange | KGG | 91.6 km | 3 min | Kembla Grange | ||
Dapto | DAP | 95.1 km | 5 min | Dapto, Horsley | Wollongong – Bundanoon Coach | |
Albion Park | ALP | 103.3 km | ~9 min | Albion Park Rail | Wollongong – Bundanoon Coach | |
Oak Flats | OAF | 105.5 km | 3 min | Oak Flats, Blackbutt, Shellharbour | ||
Shellharbour Junction | 108.9 km | 4 min | Croom, Flinders, Shell Cove | |||
Minnamurra | MUR | 113.4 km | 5 min | Minnamurra | ||
Bombo | BMB | 117.6 km | 5 min | Kiama Downs | ||
Kiama | KAM | 119.2 km | 3 min | Kiama | ||
Kiama – Bomaderry (Non-electric service) | ||||||
Gerringong | GOG | 128.6 km | 9 min | South Coast | Gerringong | |
Berry | BRY | 140.8 km | 9 min | Berry | ||
Bomaderry | BOM | 153.4 km | 9 min | Bomaderry, Nowra | ||
The following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2024, based on Opal tap on and tap off data. [12]
7,152,563 | |
13,189,811 | |
803,606 | |
7,132,670 | |
755,919 |
CityRail was a passenger railway brand operated by the State Rail Authority from 1989 to 2003 and by RailCorp from 2003 to 2013 with services in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities in New South Wales, Australia. It was established in January 1989 and abolished in June 2013 when it was superseded by Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink.
The T sets, also referred to as the Tangara trains, are a class of electric multiple units that currently operate on the Sydney Trains network. Built by A Goninan & Co, the sets entered service between 1988 and 1995, initially under the State Rail Authority and later on CityRail. The T sets were built as "third-generation" trains for Sydney's rail fleet, coinciding with the final withdrawals of the "Red Rattler" sets from service in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Tangaras were initially built as two classes; the long-distance intercity G sets and the suburban T sets, before being merged after successive refurbishments.
Waterfall is a small suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of the Sydney central business district in the Sutherland Shire. It is the southernmost suburb of Sydney in the eastern corridor, on the Princes Highway, bordering Helensburgh.
The Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line is a commuter railway line on the Sydney Trains network in the eastern and southern suburbs of Sydney. The line was constructed in the 1880s to Wollongong to take advantage of agricultural and mining potentials in the Illawarra area. In March 1926, it became the first railway in New South Wales to run electric train services.
The South Coast Railway is a passenger and freight railway line from Sydney to Wollongong and Bomaderry in New South Wales, Australia. Beginning at the Illawarra Junction, the line services the Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales.
Stanwell Park railway station is located on the South Coast railway line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the seaside village of Stanwell Park opening on 23 December 1901, relocating to its current location on 10 October 1920.
Gerringong railway station is a single-platform intercity railway station located in Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink diesel multiple unit trains travelling south to Bomaderry and north to Kiama. Early morning and late night services to the station are provided by train replacement bus services. In the past, the station precinct also catered to freight trains carrying dairy products.
Kiama railway station is a heritage-listed intercity train station located in Kiama, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink diesel multiple unit trains traveling south to Bomaderry and electric multiple unit trains north to Wollongong and Sydney. Early morning and late night services to and from stations to the south are provided by train replacement bus services. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Oak Flats railway station is a single-platform intercity train station located in Oak Flats, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink trains travelling south to Kiama and north to Wollongong and Sydney. Together with the Dunmore and later Shellharbour Junction stations, Oak Flats has long served as the rail connection for the coastal suburbs of the City of Shellharbour.
Dapto railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the South Coast railway line in the Wollongong suburb of Dapto, New South Wales, Australia.
Kembla Grange railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located in Kembla Grange, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink trains travelling south to Kiama and north to Wollongong and Sydney. The station ranked equal last for patronage on the metropolitan network in 2012, and was one of 23 on the metropolitan rail network to record an average of fewer than one passenger per day in 2014.
Unanderra railway station is located on the South Coast railway line in the Wollongong suburb of Unanderra, New South Wales, Australia.
Helensburgh railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the South Coast railway line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the town of Helensburgh. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Coniston railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located in Coniston, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink trains travelling south to Port Kembla or Kiama and north to Wollongong and Sydney.
Port Kembla railway station is a single-platform intercity train terminal located in Port Kembla, Australia, on the South Coast railway line's Port Kembla branch. The station serves NSW TrainLink trains traveling north to Wollongong and Sydney. The station also serves as a stabling location for South Coast line trains.
The New South Wales H sets, commonly referred to as the OSCAR trains, are a class of electric multiple units (EMU) currently operated by Sydney Trains on its intercity routes and some Sydney suburban routes. Built by UGL Rail in Broadmeadow, the H sets first entered service under the CityRail brand in December 2006, with the last in December 2012. Their introduction allowed for the retirement of some second-class V set carriages. As long-distance trains, the H sets share a similar overall layout and design to the previous Intercity Tangara G sets. Currently operating as 55 four-carriage sets, the H sets now operate between Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle and between Sydney and the South Coast.
The Unanderra–Moss Vale railway line is a cross country railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The line branches from the Illawarra line at Unanderra and winds west up the Illawarra escarpment to join the Main South line at Moss Vale. The line is one of the most scenic in New South Wales, and for the first 20 km (12 mi) after leaving Unanderra has an almost continuous grade 1 in 30 providing extensive views over the Illawarra coastline.
The South Coast Daylight Express was a limited stops passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways and its successors between Sydney and Bomaderry from 1933 until January 1991.
Premier Transport Group is an Australian operator of bus and coach services in New South Wales and Queensland. Its origins can be traced back to December 1987 when John King purchased Nowra Coaches. It has since expanded through a number of acquisitions.
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