Your guide to Sydney trains

Guardian service

Guardian serviceGuardian services operate on selected lines on Friday and Saturday night services. This initiative is part of our Customer Charter commitment to secure and safe travel, providing customers with further peace of mind when travelling at night.

Guardian services include additional security measures:

  • Transit officers travel on board each Guardian service and work closely with train crew and station staff to help ensure passenger safety and security.
  • CityRail and security staff are present at major 'Hub Stations'. We recommend passengers alight Guardian services at these stations.
  • Guardian services may operate with only the four centre carriages open to ensure passengers are close to transit officers and the guard. Please wait for your Guardian service near the centre of the platform, close to the Emergency Help Point.

Guardian services on your line


Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line

  • Friday night - depart Bondi Junction 10.33pm, arrive Cronulla 11.40pm
  • Saturday night - depart Bondi Junction 10.33pm, arrive Cronulla 11.39pm

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Hurstville and Cronulla.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line.

Bankstown Line

  • Friday night - depart Circular Quay 11.26pm, arrive Liverpool 12.37am
  • Saturday night - depart Circular Quay 11.56pm, arrive Campbelltown 1.34am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Sydenham, Bankstown and Liverpool.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Bankstown Line.

Inner West Line

  • Friday night - depart Circular Quay 9.12pm, arrive Bankstown 10.08pm
  • Saturday night - depart Circular Quay 10.22pm, arrive Bankstown 11.19pm

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Strathfield.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Inner West Line.

Airport & East Hills Line

  • Friday night - depart Circular Quay 11.29pm, arrive Campbelltown 12.42am
  • Saturday night - depart Circular Quay 11.14pm, arrive Campbelltown 12.28am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Kingsgrove, Glenfield and Campbelltown.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Airport & East Hills Line.

South Line

  • Friday night - depart Circular Quay 10.09pm, arrive Campbelltown 11.37pm
  • Saturday night - depart Circular Quay 11.19pm, arrive Campbelltown 12.47am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Strathfield, Granville, Liverpool, Glenfield and Campbelltown.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the South Line.

North Shore Line

  • Saturday night - depart Central 10.28pm, arrive Hornsby 11.20pm

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Chatswood and Hornsby.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the North Shore Line.

Western Line

  • Friday night - depart Central 9.29pm, arrive Richmond 10.52pm
  • Friday night - depart Central 10.44pm, arrive Penrith 11.58pm
  • Saturday night - depart Central 10.36pm, arrive Richmond 11.59pm
  • Saturday night - depart Central 10.51pm, arrive Penrith 12.02am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Strathfield, Granville, Parramatta, Blacktown, Riverstone, Richmond and Penrith.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Western Line.

Northern Line (via Macquarie Park)

  • Friday night - depart Central 11.18pm, arrive Hornsby 12.16am.

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Chatswood and Hornsby.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Northern Line.

South Coast Line

  • Friday night - depart Bondi Junction 11.13pm, arrive Kiama 1.57am
  • Saturday night - depart Bondi Junction 11.13pm, arrive Kiama 1.57am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Hurstville, Waterfall, Thirroul, Wollongong, Dapto and Kiama.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the South Coast Line.

Newcastle & Central Coast Line

  • Friday night - depart Central 10.15pm, arrive Newcastle 1.18am
  • Friday night - depart Central 12.15am, arrive Wyong 2.05am
  • Saturday night - depart Central 10.15pm, arrive Newcastle 1.16am
  • Saturday night - depart Central 12.15am, arrive Wyong 2.05am.

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Strathfield, Epping, Hornsby, Morisset, Gosford, Wyong and Newcastle.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Newcastle & Central Coast Line.

Hunter Line

  • Friday night - depart Newcastle 1.40am, arrive Telarah 2.24am
  • Saturday night - depart Newcastle 1.40am, arrive Telarah 2.24am

CityRail and security staff will be present on arrival at the following Hub Stations: Newcastle and Maitland.

Guardian services will be altered or cancelled during trackwork. Check for trackwork on the Hunter Line.

Travel tips

  • Guardian services are marked with a 'G' in the online CityRail timetable.
  • Check for trackwork and other service disruptions on our website before you travel.
  • Listen for announcements at your station.
  • Wait for your service near the centre of the platform, close to the Emergency Help Point.
  • If possible, consider alighting at a Hub Station.

FAQs

Why are Guardian services operating?

Since we introduced transit officers in 2002, offences against the person on the rail network have fallen by one third. However, some customers have told us that they remain concerned about security on trains, particularly at night.

Guardian services have additional security measures to provide extra peace of mind to customers travelling on selected Friday and Saturday night services.

Why do Guardian services operate on Friday and Saturday nights?

The Friday and Saturday night services have been selected based on customer feedback indicating when they would most likely be utilised.

How do I know which services are Guardian services?

Before you travel, check the list above to find Guardian services on your line. Guardian services are also marked with a 'G' in the online CityRail timetable. When you're at the station, listen for announcements.

Will more Guardian services be introduced?

As a result of positive feedback from customers about Guardian services, 12 additional services began operating on 18 March 2011. We will continue to monitor the success of these services.

Will the introduction of Guardian services result in a reduction of security on other services?

No. The introduction of these services is consistent with our security deployment strategy and other resources will continue to be available to provide security across the rail network.

Can a Guardian service be cancelled?

Guardian services will not be available:

  • during trackwork, where train replacement bus services are in operation
  • where the train scheduled to provide a Guardian service is withdrawn due to safety or reliability concerns.

For information about alternative transport arrangements, check the trackwork page.

Please note that Hub Stations will not be in operation during trackwork.

More information