Extra services promised for Blue Mountains rail route

1320
Photo: Maxim75/ CC BY-SA 3.0.
Listen to this article

The NSW Government is planning to add a host of additional services between Sydney and the Blue Mountains to meet an upsurge in demand.

Twenty-four new weekend express services will be added on the popular tourist line through the new $1.5 billion ‘More Trains, More Services’ programme.

Trains for the six existing weekend services will also be lengthened from four to eight cars.

Around a million people currently visit the Blue Mountains in New South Wales each year. The region relies on its rail links but services are regularly running at full capacity, with some operating at more than 150 per cent capacity, Transport for NSW has said.

The measures will add 25,000 seats during the week and a further 18,000 on weekends. Transport for NSW has also promised some journey time improvements.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said: “We’re seeing the popularity of the train go through the roof so we’re adding capacity to both weekend and weekday Blue Mountains services.”

He added: “We know many weekend trains are packed to the brim so we’re taking action right now, ahead of the new timetable due to be implemented late this year.”