Frequently asked questions

CityRail is the passenger rail service which covers the greater Sydney region. It is the sister company to CountryLink, the passenger rail service which covers country and long distance services in NSW.

CityRail and CountryLink are two independent services operating under Rail Corporation New South Wales (RailCorp), the government agency responsible for all passenger rail services in NSW. RailCorp, not CityRail, is responsible for developing and maintaining railway infrastructure such as tracks and overhead wiring.

RailCorp is not responsible for freight. Since 2002, all rail freight operators in NSW are privately owned.

The CityRail network covers suburban Sydney and extends to the Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast regions. It comprises four areas:

1. Sydney Suburban Area
   The area bounded by Cowan, Emu Plains, Macarthur and Otford.
2. Outer Metropolitan Area
   The area (outside the Sydney Suburban Area) bounded by Moss Vale, Morisset, Lithgow and Nowra.
3. Newcastle Suburban Area
   The area bounded by Newcastle, Gosford, Dungog, Muswellbrook, Karuah and the road coach route between Fassifern and Toronto.
4. Greater CityRail Area
   The area (outside the Outer Metropolitan Area and Newcastle Suburban Area) bounded by Scone, Goulburn and Bathurst.

To see an overview of the CityRail network visit the Network maps section.

CountryLink provides rail and coach services to over 365 destinations in NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Victoria. For more information and to book your trip visit http://www.countrylink.info.

CountryLink can also book your Indian Pacific (Perth) and The Ghan (Darwin) experience.

Roles and responsibilities for ensuring safety at railway crossings are shared by a number of NSW agencies, with strategic co-ordination and oversight by the NSW Level Crossing Strategy Council (LCSC).

The LCSC member agencies are:

• Australian Rail Track Corporation
• Country Rail Infrastructure Authority
• Independent Transport Safety Regulator
• Local Government Association and Shires Association of NSW
• NSW Police Force
• RailCorp
• Roads and Maritime Services
• Transport for NSW.

For more information visit the Level Crossing Strategy Council website.

Besides CityRail and CountryLink there are a number of other operators that utilise the rail network.

Operators include Pacific National, Australia Western Railroad, Patrick, Silverton, Lachlan Valley Rail Freight, Interail, South Spur and Freight Australia. The main commodities carried are coal, steel, containers, fuel, stone, ore, cement, and flour.

Heritage operators run steam and diesel locomotives, usually operating not-for-profit, to preserve and promote railway heritage for the community.

Yes. We developed a Customer Charter to outline and describe what customers can expect when they travel on CityRail. Our Customer Charter is updated yearly.