Hunter Line
{{Short description|Australian commuter train line}}
{{about|the NSW TrainLink service|the physical railway line|Main North railway line, New South Wales|the line used by hunters|trapline}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| logo = TfNSW HUN.svg
| logo_width = 60
| image = NSW Train Link 'J' Set or 'Hunter Railcar' 2-car dmu Nos.2752-2702.jpg
| caption = A Hunter railcar at {{rwsa|Hamilton|nsw}}
| type = Intercity rail
| locale = Hunter Region, New South Wales
| first =
| operator = Sydney Trains
| ridership =
| website =
| start = Newcastle Interchange
| stops = 28
| end = {{rwsa|Dungog}}
{{rwsa|Scone}}
| distance =
| journeytime =
| frequency =
| trainnumber =
| line_used = Newcastle
Main North
North Coast
| class =
| access =
| seating =
| sleeping =
| autorack =
| catering =
| observation =
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| otherfacilities =
| stock = Endeavour & Hunter railcars
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el =
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| owners = Transport Asset Holding Entity
| routenumber = HUN
| map = {{TFNSW nav|TL}}
| color = {{rcr|NSW TrainLink|Hunter}}
}}
{{HUN Hunter Line}}
The Hunter Line (HUN) is an intercity rail service running from Newcastle, with two branches to Dungog and Scone in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It operates on the Newcastle, Main North and North Coast lines.
Description of Route
Hunter Line services operate from Newcastle on the Newcastle branch line to Islington Junction, the Main North Line between Islington Junction and Scone, the North Coast Line between Maitland and Dungog. The Hunter Line shares its portion of the Main North Line and North Coast Line with NSW TrainLink North Western and North Coast regional services respectively.
Services
Services run regularly between Newcastle and Telarah, with infrequent services to Dungog and Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone.{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Hunter}} Services are operated by Endeavour and Hunter railcars.
Until 2007, 620/720 class railcars operated the service. The line was the last in Australia to have a regular steam hauled passenger service. The final service was hauled from Newcastle to Singleton on 24 July 1971 by 3246.[http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/d7a3e35beca9e2f6ca257d7e0002dcc6/$FILE/19514595.pdf/0176%20Name%20suppressed.pdf Inquiry in Planning Process in Newcastle and the Broader Hunter Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073057/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/d7a3e35beca9e2f6ca257d7e0002dcc6/$FILE/19514595.pdf/0176%20Name%20suppressed.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }} NSW Parliament 23 October 2014 Diesel locomotive hauled services operated until replaced by 620/720 and 660/760 class railcars in 1984.
The line was truncated to terminate at Hamilton from 5 January 2015.[http://www.transportnsw.info/en/transport-status/news/2014/newcastle.page? Upcoming transport changes in Newcastle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109003151/http://www.transportnsw.info/en/transport-status/news/2014/newcastle.page |date=9 January 2015 }} Transport Info NSW 8 December 2014 It was extended to Newcastle Interchange when this opened on 15 October 2017.
Trains that service the line have two carriages, while some peak hour services have four carriages.
Stations
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
|+Hunter Line stations !Name !Railway line !Places served !Notes |
| Newcastle Interchange
|rowspan="2"|Newcastle |Wickham, Newcastle, Hamilton East |Interchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line and Newcastle Light Rail |
| Hamilton
|Hamilton, Islington, Tighes Hill |Interchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line |
| Waratah
|rowspan="12"|Main North |Waratah, Georgetown, Mayfield, Mayfield East | |
| Warabrook
| Use for Newcastle University |
| Sandgate
| |
| Hexham
| |
| Tarro
| |
| Beresfield
| |
| Thornton
| |
| Metford
|Metford, Ashtonfield, Chisholm | |
| Victoria Street
| |
| East Maitland
|East Maitland, Pitnacree | |
| High Street
| |
| Maitland
|Maitland, Lorn, Gillieston Heights |Terminus of certain services. Use for 164 bus to Cessnock. |
| colspan="4"|At Maitland, the line branches. The northern branch is towards Dungog, and the northwestern branch is towards Scone. |
| colspan="4"|To Dungog |
|---|
| Telarah
|rowspan="8"|North Coast |Terminus of most services |
| Mindaribba
| |
| Paterson
| |
| Martins Creek
| |
| Hilldale
| |
| Wallarobba
| |
| Wirragulla
| |
| Dungog
| Terminus station |
| colspan="4"|To Scone |
| Lochinvar
|rowspan="7"|Main North | |
| Greta Than
| |
| Branxton
| |
| Singleton
|Terminus of certain services |
| Muswellbrook
|Terminus of certain services |
| Aberdeen
| |
| Scone
| Terminus station |
Patronage
{{NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line|HUN=y}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{List of public transport infrastructure in Sydney}}
{{coord missing|New South Wales}}
{{Authority control}}