Central West Express
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| name = Central West Express
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Central West XPT at Bathurst 3.png
| image_size =
| caption = XPT at Bathurst in February 2024
| type = Passenger train
| status = Operational
| locale =
| predecessor =
| first = June 1941
| last =
| successor =
| operator = NSW TrainLink
| formeroperator =
| ridership =
| start = Sydney
| stops =
| end = Dubbo
| distance = 462 kilometres
| journeytime = 6 hours 30 minutes
| frequency = Daily in each direction
| trainnumber =
| line_used = Main Western
| class =
| access =
| seating =
| catering =
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| otherfacilities =
| stock = XPT
| gauge =
| speed =
| owners =
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| map =
}}
The Central West Express is the legacy name for the Australian passenger train operating on the Main Western line in New South Wales from Sydney to Dubbo.
History
The Central West Express commenced operating in June 1941 operating on alternate days from Sydney to Dubbo and Parkes. In the early 1950s it received air-conditioned RUB sets and began to be hauled by 42 and 43 class diesel locomotives, although steam locomotives of the 36 and 38 classes would regularly haul it until July 1967.
In September 1956 in a reorganisation of rolling stock, the Central West Express was cut back to operate as a day return service to Orange with the RUB sets replaced by a HUB set.{{Cite book|last1=Cooke|first=David|title=Railmotors and XPTs|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division|year=1984|isbn=0 909650 23 3}} From 1957, the service was hauled by 46 class electric locomotives between Sydney and Lithgow following the electrification of the Main Western line over the Blue Mountains.
The service was selected as the first to be converted to XPT operation. Rebranded the Central West XPT, it commenced operating in April 1982. Initially it operated six days a week to Orange extending to Dubbo on alternate days."The XPT Turns 15" Railway Digest April 1997 page 43 From August 1983 all services ran to Dubbo"1983/84 Annual Report" Railway Digest April 1985 page 93 and from December 1985 a Sunday service was introduced, a frequency it still maintains.[https://transportnsw.info/document/1816/western-nswtl-tt2017.pdf Western Region timetable] Transport for New South Wales 26 November 2017 The XPTs cut one hour and 54 minutes off the travel time from Sydney to Dubbo.{{Cite web |last=Hely |first=Susan |date=2022-04-07 |title=From the Archives 1982: First XPT was a minute late and two hours early |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/from-the-archives-1982-first-xpt-was-a-minute-late-and-two-hours-early-20220315-p5a4u9.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
Gallery
Further reading
- Central West Express Peter Attenborough Eveleigh Press 2011 {{ISBN|978 1 87 656853 5}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NSWLocos|state=collapsed}}
Category:Named passenger trains of New South Wales