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35-513: Not all rail services shown The Blue Mountains Line (BMT) is an intercity rail service serving the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales , Australia . The line travels west from Sydney to the major town of Katoomba and on to Mount Victoria , Lithgow and Bathurst . Mount Victoria is the terminus for most electric services, but some services terminate at Lithgow instead. Two express services per day in each direction, known as

70-475: A then brand new "Camshaft controller", for controlling power to the traction motors. The electrical equipments was split between the power and trailer car, the motor-alternator suffered from numerous failures, preventing the air-conditioning system and the air brake comporessors from working. One class travel was introduced in September 1974, so the seating was all economy class. This led to the refurbishment of

105-432: Is mainly because many passengers use monthly passes giving a lower price per ride, and that lower average speed gives less distance, meaning less ticket revenue per hour of operation. Subsidies are justified on social or environmental grounds, and also because regional rail services often act as feeders for more profitable inter-city lines. There are also services that are something in between regional and inter-city, like

140-566: Is usually defined as providing services that link settlements to each other, unlike commuter rail which links locations within a singular urban area. Unlike inter-city services, regional trains stop at more stations and serve smaller communities. They may share routes with inter-city services, providing service to settlements that inter-city trains skip, or be the sole service on routes not busy enough to justify inter-city service. Regional rail services are much less likely to be profitable than inter-city, so they often require government funding. This

175-469: The Bathurst Bullet , commenced on 21 October 2012. A second Bathurst Bullet return service was introduced on 16 September 2019. Springwood services were previously the only services where an H set train would be scheduled. Due to the width of H sets, they risked striking platforms past Springwood with their outward opening plug doors and tunnels past Katoomba . The last H sets were removed from

210-563: The Central West XPT , Outback Xplorer and Indian Pacific passenger services and by freight trains. The Blue Mountains line is a section of the Main Western line which opened in 1868. The line was built with gradients as steep as 1 in 33 (3%) and curves as sharp as 8 chains (160 m; 530 ft). Most of the curves were eased to 12 chains (240 m; 790 ft) with duplication. The line originally ascended

245-584: The Bathurst Bullet , extend to the regional city of Bathurst, which is supplemented by road coaches connecting Bathurst to Lithgow . Due to electrification limits at Lithgow, the Bathurst Bullet is run using the Endeavour railcars , which operate on diesel. The Blue Mountains Line operates over a mostly duplicated section of the Main Western line . As such, the tracks are also traversed by

280-521: The Blue Goose nickname), semi-automatic doors, electronically controlled brakes and double-glazed windows. They had a different style of headlight and interior lighting to subsequent builds. There were: The configuration of these cars was unsuccessful. The cars were fitted with AEI electrical equipments, using similar traction motors to the 1955 electric single deck train stock ( U sets and New South Wales Sputnik suburban carriage stock ) but with

315-518: The Citydecker refurbishment carried out by A Goninan & Co in the 1990s, DCT 9031-9036 had their driver controls reinstated and were recoded as DTDs allowing CityRail to introduce The River, a two-car service from Wyong to St Marys . At the same time the DCMs were refurbished, receiving destination indicators and ditchlights. The refurbishment also saw the installation of air-conditioning in

350-591: The Oresundtrain (between Copenhagen and three cities in Sweden over 3 hours away) with stopping pattern like a regional train and pass prices attracting work commuters. This list describes the terms used for regional rail in various countries, as described above. NSW TrainLink V set The New South Wales V sets are a class of electric multiple units currently operated by Sydney Trains on its intercity routes. Built by Comeng between 1970 and 1989,

385-635: The DC series, up from 88 to 96 for the power cars, and from 92 to 112 for the trailers. The cars built were: DIM 8037-8068 and were the last cars to be delivered with the Blue Goose moulded fibreglass ends, cream & wood veneer interiors and green seats. DIM 8069-8092 were built with a white moulded fibreglass end incorporating the State Rail Authority 's corporate colours of red, orange and yellow, yellow interiors, newer air conditioning technology and ditchlights. These can be distinguished from

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420-479: The DDIU sets with the original luggage racks above the seating in the single deck section being removed. During this time the sets were targeted as U sets, the plates used on the single deck interurbans . In the early 1980s, it was decided to convert these to trailer cars hence 16 power cars were ordered with no matching trailers. Between March and December 1982 the cars were rewired at Electric Carriage Workshops , and

455-449: The TAP's completed projects page , whilst current projects can be viewed here . The line is operated almost entirely by V sets . As the electric overhead wiring ends at Lithgow, diesel Endeavour railcars operate the services to and from Bathurst. All electric Blue Mountains line services start and terminate from the intercity platforms (4–15) of Central (Sydney Terminal) station. During

490-623: The coastal ports, but a by-product of this programme was the introduction of electric interurban passenger services as far west as Bowenfels , later cut back to Lithgow . Goods trains are now exclusively diesel hauled. Electric passenger services were originally provided by a combination of electric locomotive hauled carriages and single deck electric multiple unit sets (known as U sets ), both of which have now been withdrawn and replaced by more modern rolling stock. In June 2012, New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell announced that services would be extended to Bathurst. The service, commonly known as

525-1395: The contract for Series 4, these cars were fitted with Chopper controls. NSWGR Contract 7/82 – Comeng Contract 8205 – Specification 2505 CH Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Yellow Light air conditioning. Crew air conditioning installed. High dashboard. Text fault lights. Slatted covering on roof over Chopper equipment. Series 6 NSWGR Contract 3/86 – Comeng contract 8601 Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Yellow Light air conditioning. Crew air conditioning installed. High dashboard. Text fault lights. Slatted covering on roof over Chopper equipment. Series 7 NSWGR Contract 7/87 – Comeng contract 8701 Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Yellow Light air conditioning. Crew air conditioning installed. High dashboard. Text fault lights. Mesh covering on roof over Chopper equipment. Series 8 The final series. NSWGR Contract 1/88 – Comeng contract 8801 Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Yellow painted interior. Sigma Yellow Light air conditioning. Crew air conditioning installed. High dashboard. Text fault lights. Mesh covering on roof over Chopper equipment. Power operated vestibule doors (Now all isolated). Wide body side fluting, similar to that used by A Goninan & Co on their S sets . Spring Parking Brake in trailer car (Now all disconnected). Semi-permanently coupled 2 car blocks. These cars feature smoother body panels than

560-428: The driver compartments removed and replaced by passenger toilets and luggage space. The reinforced plastic ends remained, albeit with the blue removed. The cars were subsequently renumbered: In 2005, these sets were withdrawn and scrapped following the discovery of rust in the steel frames. From October 1977, the second batch began to enter service, with many differences from the first batch. The electrical equipment

595-639: The driver's cabs of the DCMs, their lack of air-conditioning had a union ban preventing them being used as leading cars since 1995. DCM 8032–8036 were modified to have wheelchair seating, and recoded as DTMs. The DCMs that had destination indicators eventually had them removed and replaced with a metal blanking plate, after a decision not to use them on Interurban services. Some were withdrawn in 2011, and were scrapped in November-October 2021. From May 1981, DIM Power Cars and DIT trailers started to be delivered. These cars had increased seating compared with

630-492: The driver's side of the power car. DJM 8123–8137 had even larger open grilles on the pantograph end. DJM 8101 had its Candy livery moulded fibreglass end repainted into CityRail blue and yellow in 1990 to form a special set, with the commemorative wording "celebrating 20 years of double-deck intercity services to Gosford" applied near the driver's cab window. In 2009, DJM 8101's front was repainted into standard Intercity livery. The final V sets were introduced in 1989, and they were

665-448: The earlier DIMs by the air-conditioning grille cover. From 1985, DJM power cars and DIT trailer cars entered service. Technological advances saw a thyristor chopper system fitted to the next batch of power cars, coded DJM. The chopper cars gave a smoother and quieter ride. The chopper cars can be distinguished from the earlier camshaft cars by a large open grille at the pantograph end of the power car, and by different hatch coverings over

700-583: The earlier cars. In July 1968, the Department of Railways New South Wales placed an order for the first batch 16 cars with Commonwealth Engineering . The first 4 cars debuted on the Sydney to Gosford route on 22 June 1970, targeted as F111. All 16 cars were in operation by September 1970. These cars had many similar features to the later-built cars, including the one-piece moulded glass reinforced plastic end in royal blue & grey livery (earning them

735-539: The eastern and descended the western sides of the Blue Mountains via a series of zig-zag track sections. The eastern zig zag was by passed by a tunnel in 1892 and the western zig zag (currently a tourist railway ) was bypassed in 1910 with the Ten Tunnels Deviation . In the 1950s, the line was electrified primarily as a means of easing the haulage of coal freight from the western coalfields to

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770-448: The extension of the electrified network, their sphere of operation was extended to Wyong (April 1982), Newcastle (June 1984), Port Kembla (February 1986), Dapto (January 1993) and Kiama (November 2001). From January 2012, V sets ceased operating South Coast services. In June 2015, retired cars 8038-9031-9040-8040 were returned to service as V27. The remaining 15 original series cars were withdrawn in late 2005 due to corrosion in

805-580: The following locations: 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. Regional rail In North America, "regional rail" is often used as a synonym for "commuter rail", often using "commuter rail" to refer to systems that primarily or only offer service during the rush hour while using "regional rail" to refer to systems that offer all-day service. Regional rail

840-470: The last carriages to be built by Comeng's Granville factory. These cars were coded DKM and DKT and are permanently coupled. There were several changes: the cars were finished in corrugated steel, instead of the previous inserted Budd fluting. Seating had separate seat backs. Instead of the push-pull doors inside the previous V sets, the DKs were fitted with an electronically operated vestibule door, and no door

875-666: The line in 2017 and 2018, but they are still used as a replacement train. As the V sets are being replaced by the New Intercity Fleet , which are wider, the loading gauge of the line past Springwood will be increased. This will be done by a combination of carving notches into tunnel walls and reducing required clearances by lowering speed limits. Station upgrades as part of the Transport Access Program (TAP) were carried out, as well as more minor upgrades. A full list of completed upgrades can be viewed at

910-509: The morning and return in the afternoon. Two shuttle services operate from Lithgow to Bathurst in the early morning and return to Lithgow late at night. Some off-peak electric interurban services on the line only consist of four carriages, with peak hour services usually consisting of eight carriages. Regional diesel services on the line consist of two carriages. Darlington , Eveleigh Selected peak hour services only Bathurst Bullet only No service on weekday nights. Coach services stop at

945-488: The power car started to push the trailer. The controls in the DCTs were gradually stripped and used to replace defective controls in the DCMs. In 1990 DCT 9034 was refurbished by CityRail as a lounge car with lounge chairs and a kitchen for use as a charter car named Contura . It wasn't a success, not helped by poor marketing, and it was rebuilt as a conventional trailer (without controls) in 2000 and renumbered DET 9216. During

980-705: The refurbishment programme in 2014. All are to be replaced by D sets with passenger services expected to begin in late 2024. Six cars from the third batch were converted into test trains to test/trial the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system and the Digital Train Radio System (DTRS) across the electrified network in late 2015. DJMs 8121, 8127, 8128 & 8134 and DITs 9127 & 9131 were formed into two sets numbered Y1 and Y2. They were fitted with computers and test equipment, several CCTV cameras and small kitchens in

1015-1517: The sets are of stainless steel construction, and are currently the oldest in the electric fleet of NSW. First delivered under the Department of Railways , only sets from 1977 and onwards remain in service, now operating on Intercity services to Lithgow and Newcastle . The V sets were delivered over a 19-year period from 1970. Series 1 NSWGR Contract 8/68 – Comeng contract 68/11 – specification 2384 – entered service 1970 Series 2 NSWGR Contract 2/76 – Comeng contract 76/3 – specification 2505 – entered service 1977 Oerlikon brake valves. Sigma Blue Light air conditioning . No crew air conditioning. Low dashboard. Coloured fault lights. Mesh Resistor covering on roof. Series 3 NSWGR Contract 3/80 – Comeng contract 79/5 – specification 2505 – entered service 1982 Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Blue Light air conditioning. No crew air conditioning. Low dashboard. Coloured fault lights. Mesh resistor covering on roof. NSWGR Contract 3/80E – Comeng contract 8007 – specification 2505 Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Blue Light air conditioning. No Crew air conditioning. Low dashboard. Coloured Fault Lights. Mesh Resistor covering on roof. Series 4 NSWGR Contract 7/82 – Comeng contract 8205 – specification 2505 amended Davies & Metcalf brake valves. Sigma Yellow Light air conditioning. Crew air conditioning installed. Low dashboard (High from DIM8090). Text fault lights. Mesh resistor covering on roof. Series 5 A continuation of

1050-585: The trains are also changed to a grey, red and yellow scheme, featuring the NSW TrainLink logo. When introduced, the V sets operated interurban services from Sydney Central on the Main Northern line to Gosford and on the Main Western line to Mount Victoria . It wasn't until the Ten Tunnels west of Clarence were lowered in 1978 that they were able to operate to Lithgow . Following

1085-423: The underframes, these cars had mild steel underframes and stainless steel bodies and the contact between these 2 dissimilar metals resulted in galvanic corrosion . DMT 9204 was subsequently destroyed in an emergency services training exercise on 25 November 2008. In January 2011, an additional 25 Oscar H set cars were ordered to replace the 1977 batch of V sets. However some remain in service and were put through

Blue Mountains Line - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-459: The weekday off-peak, they operate hourly, alternating between services to Mount Victoria and Lithgow. During the morning and afternoon peaks, some express services operate, together with short workings to Springwood and Katoomba. There are two services each way from Bathurst to Central, known as the Bathurst Bullet , mainly catering for commuters working in Sydney. Two services run toward Central in

1155-554: Was all mounted on the power car, using Mitsubishi Electric equipment; they had stainless steel underframes ; were fitted with vacuum retention toilets, and had gold as opposed to green tinted windows. These cars were the first of the V sets , with the V showing that they were installed with vacuum retention toilets. They operated separately from the 1970 cars, as the two types were not compatible with each other. The cars built were: The driving trailers were not used that much, due to driver complaints about an uncomfortable "kick" when

1190-582: Was installed at the gangway. The State Rail Authority wanted to order an extra 50 but funding was not available. During 1993, the distinctive gold tinted windows were replaced by charcoal ones. Starting in May 1995 the earlier carriages were overhauled by A Goninan & Co , Broadmeadow as part of the CityDecker program. This saw the DCMs receive driver's cab air conditioning, destination indicators and ditchlights where not already fitted. The fibreglass end

1225-507: Was repainted grey and yellow. This was later changed to blue and yellow. Eventually all cars were put through the program with those with yellow interiors being refurbished in the same cream interior with green seats style as the older cars. On 1 July 2013, a refurbishment of the remaining 200 cars was announced as part of the NSW TrainLink and Sydney Trains restructure and branding. The refurbishment most notably included new carpets and seat covers themed in 'Bush Plum'. The external livery of

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