View source for Blue Mountains Line

{{Short description|Rail service in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| logo            = TfNSW BMT.svg
| logo_width      = 60
| image           = V9 at Glenbrook.jpg
| caption         = A [[NSW TrainLink V set|V set]] at {{rwsa|Glenbrook|s}}
| type            = [[Commuter rail]]
| locale          = [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)|Blue Mountains]] and [[Central West (New South Wales)|Central West]], [[New South Wales]]
| first           = 1868 (as part of the Main Western Line) 
| operator        = [[Sydney Trains]]
| ridership       = 10,154,000 passengers in 2019 
| website         = 
| start           = {{rwsa|Central|s}}
| stops           = 21
| end             = {{rwsa|Bathurst|N}}
| distance        = 
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = 
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = [[Main Western railway line|Main Western]]
| class           =
| access          = 
| seating         = 
| sleeping        = 
| autorack        = 
| catering        = 
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = [[NSW TrainLink V set]] and [[New South Wales Endeavour railcar|Endeavour]] railcar
| gauge           = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| el              = 1957 (west to [[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]]) 
| speed           = 
| owners          = [[Transport Asset Holding Entity]]
| routenumber     = BMT 
| map             = {{TFNSW nav|TL}}
| status          = In operation
| color           = f99a1c
| color2          = 
| formeroperator  = [[State Rail]], [[CityRail]], [[NSW TrainLink]]
| successor       = 
| name            = 
}}
{{BMT Blue Mountains Line}}

The '''Blue Mountains Line''' ('''BMT''') is an [[regional rail|intercity rail]] service serving the [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)|Blue Mountains region]] of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The line travels west from [[Sydney]] to the major town of [[Katoomba railway station|Katoomba]] and on to [[Mount Victoria railway station|Mount Victoria]], [[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]] and [[Bathurst railway station, New South Wales|Bathurst]]. Mount Victoria is the terminus for most electric services, but some services terminate at Lithgow instead. Two express services per day in each direction, known as the [[Bathurst Bullet]], extend to the regional city of Bathurst, which is supplemented by road coaches connecting [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]] to [[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]]. Due to electrification limits at Lithgow, the Bathurst Bullet is run using the [[New South Wales Endeavour railcar|Endeavour railcars]], which operate on diesel. The Blue Mountains Line operates over a mostly duplicated section of the [[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western line]]. As such, the tracks are also traversed by the ''[[Central West Express|Central West XPT]]'', ''[[Outback Xplorer]]'' and ''[[Indian Pacific]]'' passenger services and by freight trains.

[[File:V14_and_V5_at_Leura_Station.jpg|thumb|V14 and V5 arriving on platform 1 at [[Leura railway station|Leura station]]]]
[[File:V41_arriving_at_Katoomba.jpg|thumb|[[New South Wales V set|V41]] arriving on platform 2 at [[Katoomba railway station|Katoomba Station]]]]

== History ==
{{See also|Main Western railway line|l1=Main Western railway line}}
The Blue Mountains line is a section of the [[Main Western railway line|Main Western line]] which opened in 1868.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:main_west| title=Main West Line| publisher=nswrail.net| access-date=20 February 2007| archive-date=24 October 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024154450/http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:main_west| url-status=live}}</ref> The line was built with gradients as steep as 1 in 33 (3%) and curves as sharp as {{Convert|8|chain|m ft|lk=in}}. Most of the curves were eased to {{Convert|12|chain|m ft|lk=in}} with duplication.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Steam Working over the Blue Mountains: Part I |author=Groves, K. T. |journal=[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]] |date=December 1971 |pages=265–280 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Steam Working over the Blue Mountains: Part II |author=Groves, K. T. |journal=[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]|date=January 1974 |pages=1–19 }}</ref>

The line originally ascended the eastern and descended the western sides of the Blue Mountains via a series of zig-zag track sections. The eastern zig zag was by passed by a tunnel in 1892 and the western zig zag (currently a [[Zig Zag Railway|tourist railway]]) was bypassed in 1910 with the [[Ten Tunnels Deviation]].

===Electrification and further upgrades===
[[File:Blue Mountains Line north of Lithgow station.jpg|thumb|left|View immediately north of Lithgow station. This is the limit of electric services on the Blue Mountains Line.]]
In the 1950s, the line was [[railway electrification system|electrified]] primarily as a means of easing the haulage of coal freight from the western coalfields to the coastal ports,<ref>{{cite book |title=Blue Mountains Electrification - 50 Years Later |author=Miller, Stephen |publisher=[[Australian Railway History]] |date=January 2008 |pages=1–21 }}</ref> but a by-product of this programme was the introduction of electric interurban passenger services as far west as [[Bowenfels railway station|Bowenfels]], later cut back to [[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sets.org.au/fleet/index.php?id=sdic| title=Single Deck InterUrban cars| publisher=SETS| access-date=21 April 2007| archive-date=29 August 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829002748/http://www.sets.org.au/fleet/index.php?id=sdic| url-status=live}}</ref> Goods trains are now exclusively diesel hauled. Electric passenger services were originally provided by a combination of electric locomotive hauled carriages and single deck [[electric multiple unit]] sets (known as [[New South Wales U set|U sets]]), both of which have now been withdrawn and replaced by more modern rolling stock.

In June 2012, New South Wales Premier [[Barry O'Farrell]] announced that services would be extended to Bathurst. The service, commonly known as the ''[[Bathurst Bullet]]'', commenced on 21 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/ofarrell-announces-daily-rail-service-to-sydney/2578847.aspx/|title=O'Farrell announces daily rail service to Sydney|work=Western Advocate|date=4 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Blue Mountains}}</ref> A second Bathurst Bullet return service was introduced on 16 September 2019.<ref>[https://transportnsw.info/news/2019/second-bathurst-bullet-service-added#homepage Second Bathurst Bullet service added] Transport for NSW 12 August 2019</ref>
[[Springwood railway station|Springwood]] services were previously the only services where an [[NSW TrainLink H set|H set train]] would be scheduled. Due to the width of H sets, they risked striking platforms past Springwood with their outward opening plug doors and tunnels past [[Katoomba railway station|Katoomba]]. The last H sets were removed from the line in 2017 and 2018, but they are still used as a replacement train. As the [[NSW TrainLink V set|V sets]] are being replaced by the [[NSW TrainLink D set|New Intercity Fleet]], which are wider, the loading gauge of the line past Springwood will be increased. This will be done by a combination of carving notches into tunnel walls and reducing required clearances by lowering speed limits.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/5432|title=New Intercity Fleet Springwood to Lithgow Rail Corridor Modifications|date=7 August 2017|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

Station upgrades as part of the [https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects-tap Transport Access Program] (TAP) were carried out, as well as more minor upgrades. A full list of completed upgrades can be viewed at the TAP's [https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/transport-access-program-completed completed projects page], whilst [https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects-tap current projects can be viewed here].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/4922|title=Transport Access Program - completed|date=18 June 2017|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ style="white-space:nowrap" |Station upgrades for the Blue Mountains Line<br/>
(Information accurate as of March 2024)
!Station
!Upgrade details
!Upgrade status
!Year completed
!Notes
|-
|[[Lapstone railway station|Lapstone]]
|New lift, new toilets, general station refresh, upgrades to footbridge and ramp, and new kiss and ride bay.
|Complete
|April 2021
| <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9898|title=Lapstone Station Upgrade|date=23 May 2019|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Glenbrook railway station, New South Wales|Glenbrook]]
|New lift, new kiss and ride bay, general station refresh, and new bathrooms.
|Complete
|December 2019
| <ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9266|title=Glenbrook Station Upgrade|date=5 September 2018|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Faulconbridge railway station|Faulconbridge]]
|New lifts, new toilets, general station refresh, upgrades to ramp, accessible car space and kiss and ride bay.
|Complete
| April 2021
| <ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9897|title=Faulconbridge Station Upgrade|date=23 May 2019|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Hazelbrook railway station|Hazelbrook]]
|New toilet, new lift, upgrades to pathways and accessible parking spaces.
|Complete
|December 2019
| <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9264|title=Hazelbrook Station Upgrade|date=5 September 2018|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| {{nowrap|[[Wentworth Falls railway station|'''Wentworth Falls''']]}}
|New lifts, new canopies, new kiss and ride bays, improved forecourt, improvements to toilets and waiting areas.
|Complete
|December 2017
| <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/5219|title=Wentworth Falls Station Upgrade|date=1 July 2017|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Leura railway station|Leura]]
|New lift and stairs, new canopy, new taxi rank, new pathway, general station refresh, new kiss and ride bay, and new bicycle facilities.
|Complete
|February 2018
| <ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/5207|title=Leura Station Upgrade|date=30 June 2017|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Katoomba railway station|Katoomba]]
|New commuter carpark and new accessible parking spaces.
| Complete
| July 2010
| <ref name=":1" />
|-
|Platform extension as part of [[NSW TrainLink D set|new fleet program]], as well as modifications to canopies and platform edges.
|Complete
|July 2020
|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=21 July 2020 |title=Upgrades to Blue Mountains Line now complete |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/11128 |access-date=25 July 2020 |website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
|[[Blackheath railway station, New South Wales|Blackheath]]
|New lifts, upgrades to taxi rank, kiss and ride bay, accessible parking spaces, general station and platform refresh, new water fountain, removal of pedestrian level crossing, and new bicycle hoops.
|Complete
|August 2023
| '''<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9896|title=Blackheath Station Upgrade|date=23 May 2019|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>'''
|-
|[[Mount Victoria railway station|Mount Victoria]]
|Platform extension as part of [[NSW TrainLink D set|new fleet program]], as well as modifications to canopies and platform edges.
|Complete
|July 2020
| <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9" />
|-
|[[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]]
|Platform extension as part of [[NSW TrainLink D set|new fleet program]], as well as modifications to canopies and platform edges.
|Complete
|July 2020
| <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9" />
|}

== Services ==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
[[File:V Set InterCity train at Wentworth Falls.jpg|thumb|A [[NSW TrainLink V set|V set]] at [[Wentworth Falls railway station|Wentworth Falls station]]]]
The line is operated almost entirely by [[NSW TrainLink V set|V sets]]. As the electric overhead wiring ends at Lithgow, diesel [[New South Wales Endeavour railcar|Endeavour railcars]] operate the services to and from Bathurst.

All electric Blue Mountains line services start and terminate from the intercity platforms (4–15) of Central (Sydney Terminal) station. During the weekday off-peak, they operate hourly, alternating between services to Mount Victoria and Lithgow. During the morning and afternoon peaks, some express services operate, together with short workings to Springwood and Katoomba.

There are two services each way from Bathurst to Central, known as the [[Bathurst Bullet]], mainly catering for commuters working in Sydney. Two services run toward Central in the morning and return in the afternoon. Two shuttle services operate from Lithgow to Bathurst in the early morning and return to Lithgow late at night.

Some off-peak electric interurban services on the line only consist of four carriages, with peak hour services usually consisting of eight carriages. Regional diesel services on the line consist of two carriages.

=== Stations ===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|+ style="white-space:nowrap" | Blue Mountains Line stations
! Name
! Railway line
! Serving suburbs/towns
! Notes
|-
! colspan=4 style=background:#{{rcr|NSW TrainLink|Blue Mountains}}|<span style="color:white;">Central – Emu Plains (Suburban section)</span>
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Central|s}}'''
| rowspan="3" | [[Main Suburban railway line|Main Suburban]]
|[[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]], [[Chippendale, New South Wales|Chippendale]], [[Strawberry Hills, New South Wales|Strawberry Hills]], [[Ultimo, New South Wales|Ultimo]], [[Surry Hills, New South Wales|Surry Hills]]
| [[Transport hub]] featuring Sydney Trains, other Intercity trains, <br>Regional trains, buses and light rail
|-
|'''[[Redfern railway station|Redfern]]'''
|[[Redfern, New South Wales|Redfern]], [[Waterloo, New South Wales|Waterloo]],
[[Darlington, New South Wales|Darlington]], [[Eveleigh, New South Wales|Eveleigh]]
|Interchange with Sydney Trains
Selected peak hour services only
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Strathfield|s}}'''
|[[Strathfield, New South Wales|Strathfield]]
|[[Transport hub]] featuring Sydney Trains, other Intercity trains, <br>Regional trains and buses.
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Parramatta|s}}'''
| rowspan="5" |[[Main Western railway line|Main Western]]
|[[Parramatta]]
| Interchange with Sydney Trains and Regional trains.
|-
|'''{{rwsa|Westmead|s}}'''
|[[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]]
| Interchange with Sydney Trains
Bathurst Bullet only
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Blacktown|s}}'''
|[[Blacktown]]
| Interchange with Sydney Trains
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Penrith|s}}'''
|[[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]]
| Interchange with Sydney Trains and Regional trains
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Emu Plains|s}}'''
|[[Emu Plains, New South Wales|Emu Plains]], [[Emu Heights, New South Wales|Emu Heights]]
| End of the Sydney Trains network
|-
! colspan=4 style=background:#{{rcr|NSW TrainLink|Blue Mountains}}|<span style="color:white;">Emu Plains – Lithgow (Electrified section)</span>
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Lapstone|s}}'''
| rowspan="21" |[[Main Western railway line|Main Western]]
|[[Lapstone, New South Wales|Lapstone]]
| rowspan="5" |N/A
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Glenbrook|s}}'''
|[[Glenbrook, New South Wales|Glenbrook]]
|-
| '''[[Blaxland railway station|Blaxland]]'''
|[[Blaxland, New South Wales|Blaxland]]
|-
| '''[[Warrimoo railway station|Warrimoo]]'''
|[[Warrimoo, New South Wales|Warrimoo]]
|-
| '''[[Valley Heights railway station|Valley Heights]]'''
|[[Valley Heights, New South Wales|Valley Heights]]
|-
| '''[[Springwood railway station|Springwood]]'''
|[[Springwood, New South Wales|Springwood]]
| Intermediate terminus, primarily during peak hours.
|-
| '''[[Faulconbridge railway station|Faulconbridge]]'''
|[[Faulconbridge, New South Wales|Faulconbridge]]
| rowspan="8" |N/A
|-
| '''[[Linden railway station, New South Wales|Linden]]'''
|[[Linden, New South Wales|Linden]]
|-
| '''[[Woodford railway station|Woodford]]'''
|[[Woodford, New South Wales|Woodford]]
|-
| '''[[Hazelbrook railway station|Hazelbrook]]'''
|[[Hazelbrook, New South Wales|Hazelbrook]]
|-
| '''[[Lawson railway station|Lawson]]'''
|[[Lawson, New South Wales|Lawson]]
|-
| '''[[Bullaburra railway station|Bullaburra]]'''
|[[Bullaburra, New South Wales|Bullaburra]]
|-
| '''[[Wentworth Falls railway station|Wentworth Falls]]'''
|[[Wentworth Falls, New South Wales|Wentworth Falls]]
|-
| '''[[Leura railway station|Leura]]'''
|[[Leura, New South Wales|Leura]]
|-
| '''[[Katoomba railway station|Katoomba]]'''
|[[Katoomba, New South Wales|Katoomba]]
| Major intermediate terminus. Interchange with Regional trains
|-
| '''[[Medlow Bath railway station|Medlow Bath]]'''
|[[Medlow Bath, New South Wales|Medlow Bath]]
| rowspan="2" |N/A
|-
| '''[[Blackheath railway station, New South Wales|Blackheath]]'''
|[[Blackheath, New South Wales|Blackheath]]
|-
| '''[[Mount Victoria railway station|Mount Victoria]]'''
|[[Mount Victoria, New South Wales|Mount Victoria]]
| Intermediate terminus
|-
| '''[[Bell railway station, New South Wales|Bell]]'''
|[[Bell, New South Wales|Bell]]
| Request stop
|-
| '''[[Zig Zag railway station|Zig Zag]]'''
| N/A
| Request stop, alight for [[Zig Zag Railway]] museum,
No service on weekday nights.
|-
| '''[[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]]'''
|[[Lithgow, New South Wales|Lithgow]]
| Terminus for Electric Services. Interchange with Regional trains
|-
! colspan=4 style=background:#{{rcr|NSW TrainLink|Blue Mountains}}|<span style="color:white;">Lithgow – Bathurst (Non-electrified section)</span>
|-
|[[Rydal railway station|'''Rydal''']]
| rowspan="3" |[[Main Western railway line|Main Western]]
|[[Rydal, New South Wales|Rydal]]
| rowspan="2" |N/A
|-
|[[Tarana railway station|'''Tarana''']]
|[[Tarana, New South Wales|Tarana]]
|-
| '''[[Bathurst railway station, New South Wales|Bathurst]]'''
|[[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]]
| Terminus for limited [[New South Wales Endeavour railcar|Endeavour]] services.
|}

[[File:BlueMountainsLine AltitudeVsDistance.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The Blue Mountains Railway Line showing station altitude vs distance from Central Station]]

Coach services stop at the following locations:
* {{rwsa|Lithgow}}
* [[Wallerawang, New South Wales|Wallerawang]]
* Mount Lambie
* [[Meadow Flat, New South Wales|Meadow Flat]]
* [[Yetholme, New South Wales|Yetholme]]
* [[Raglan, New South Wales|Raglan]]
* [[Kelso, New South Wales|Kelso]]
* {{rwsa|Bathurst|N}}

==Patronage==
{{NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line|BM=y}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160315211019/http://infobluemountains.net.au/rail/ Blue Mountains Railway Pages]

{{List of public transport infrastructure in Sydney}}

[[Category:Transport in the Blue Mountains (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:NSW TrainLink]]
[[Category:Sydney Trains]]