Friday 14 October 2005

Blue Mountains, Newcastle & Central Coast and South Coast lines
Maintenance inspections have uncovered the fact that some older CityRail intercity carriages have been affected by corrosion. With customer safety in mind we have decided to withdraw these carriages from service from Monday 17 October.

The carriages concerned are V sets, manufactured for 18 years from 1970. The corrosion is a result of the trains’ construction using mild steel, which was a common practice at the time. V sets built after that time were made from different materials, including stainless steel underframes.

The withdrawn carriages are being overseen by the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator.

Taking 15 carriages away from our intercity services means we have to substitute other rolling stock and reduce the length of some trains travelling on our Newcastle & Central Coast, South Coast and Blue Mountains lines. Some trains may be busier and some may not have onboard toilets. Station toilets will be open for your convenience.

Central Coast Line
On the Central Coast Line two weekday trains will be replaced with other rolling stock and two additional trains will be reduced from eight carriages to six.

Affected Newcastle & Central Coast Line services
6.25am from Newcastle, arriving Central at 9.14am (six carriages)
7.07am from Gosford, arriving Central at 8.37am
7.21am from Wyong, arriving Central at 9.07am
4.12pm from Central, arriving Newcastle at 6.48pm
5.29pm from Central, arriving Gosford at 7.04pm
5.30pm from Central, arriving Wyong at 7.21pm (six carriages)

South Coast Line
On the South Coast Line three weekday services will be replaced with other rolling stock and two of these trains will not have onboard toilets.

Affected South Coast Line services
5.53am from Kiama, arriving Central at 8.02am
6.25am from Thirroul, arriving Central at 7.42am and Martin Place at 7.48am (no toilets on this train)
2.38pm from Central, arriving Dapto at 4.20pm
3.08pm from Central, arriving Dapto at 5.10pm
4.46pm from Martin Place, arriving Central at 4.51pm and Port Kembla at 6.38pm (no toilets on this train)
6.36pm from Central, arriving Kiama at 9.00pm
7.37pm from Central, arriving Kiama at 10.00pm

Blue Mountains Line
Two Blue Mountains Line weekday trains will be reduced from eight carriages to six. Some trains may have fewer toilets.

Affected Blue Mountains Line services
5.51am from Lithgow, arriving Central at 8.46am
5.40pm from Central, arriving Mount Victoria at 7.59pm