Bathurst Bullet
 Endeavour at Sydney Central in October 2012 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| First service | 21 October 2012 |
| Current operator(s) | NSW TrainLink |
| Route | |
| Start | Sydney |
| End | Bathurst |
| Distance travelled | 240 kilometres |
| Service frequency | daily in each direction |
| Line used | Main Western |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Endeavour railcar |
The Bathurst Bullet is a passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink between Sydney and Bathurst.
History
In the 2011 election, the incoming Government of New South Wales committed to introduce a day return service from Bathurst to Sydney.[1][2]
Bathurst was already served by the daily Central West XPT and weekly Outback Xplorer services, but these were morning departures from Sydney, returning in the afternoon. The last day return service to Sydney had ceased in November 1988, being replaced by road coach services connecting with train services at Lithgow.[3]
The Bathurst Bullet commenced operating on 21 October 2012.[4][5] It is operated by a two-carriage Endeavour railcar. The service operates from Bathurst in the morning and lays over at Eveleigh Railway Workshops for between six and eight hours before returning in the evening.[6][7] Upon reaching Bathurst, it returns to Lithgow to stable.[8] During periods of high demand such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show, it is operated by two sets.[9]
In March 2014, a submission was made to extend the service to Orange.[10] The submission to extend the train service was not successful but a connecting road coach service commenced 15 June 2015 for a six-month trial instead.[11][12]
The service has never been officially named, but is universally known as the Bathurst Bullet.
References
- ↑ Bathurst to Sydney Rail Service Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Hansard, Parliament of New South Wales
- ↑ O'Farrell announces daily rail Sydney to Bathurst Lithgow Mercury 4 June 2012
- ↑ "Last Passengers" Railway Digest January 1989 page 20
- ↑ Changes to CityRail timetable CityRail 10 October 2012
- ↑ Bathurst Bullet embarks on maiden voyage Western Advocate 22 October 2012
- ↑ Bathurst Bullet timetable, 2014 Western Advocate 9 January 2014
- ↑ Bathurst Bullet Timetable and Prices, 2015 Western Advocate 20 January 2015
- ↑ "Blue Mountains line timetable" (PDF). NSW Trainlink. 20 October 2013 [amended January 2015].
- ↑ Get to the show fast as a speeding Bullet Western Advocate 15 April 2014
- ↑ Orange Council leads the charge to reschedule train services from Bathurst to Sydney ABC News 6 March 2014
- ↑ Giving the Bathurst Bullet a shot: six trial for Orange Passengers Central Western Daily 21 March 2015
- ↑ "Western timetable" (PDF). NSW Trainlink. 20 October 2013 [Updated 15 June 2013].