Bathurst Bullet

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] Upon reaching Bathurst, it returns to Lithgow to stable.[7] During periods of high demand such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show, it is operated by two sets.[8]

In March 2014, a submission was made to extend the service to Orange.[9] The service has never been officially named, but is universally known as the Bathurst Bullet.

References

  1. Bathurst to Sydney Rail Service Hansard, Parliament of New South Wales
  2. O'Farrell announces daily rail Sydney to Bathurst Lithgow Mercury 9 July 2014
  3. "Last Passengers" Railway Digest January 1989 page 20
  4. Changes to CityRail timetable CityRail 10 October 2012
  5. Bathurst Bullet embarks on maiden voyage Western Advocate 22 October 2012
  6. Bathurst Bullet timetable, 2014 Western Advocate 9 January 2014
  7. Blue Mountains timetable Sydney Trains
  8. Get to the show fast as a speeding Bullet Western Advocate 15 April 2014
  9. Orange Council leads the charge to reschedule train services from Bathurst to Sydney ABC News 6 March 2014

External links