View source for Cumberland Line

{{Short description|Rail service in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Cumberland Line
| color                           = {{rcr|Sydney Trains|T5}}
| logo                            = TfNSW T5.svg
| logo_width                      = 60px
| logo_alt                        = 
| image                           = M_set.jpg
| image_width                     = 250px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = An [[Sydney Trains M set|M set]] at [[Warwick Farm railway station|Warwick Farm station]]
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = 
| locale                          = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]
| start                           = {{rwsa|Richmond|S}}
| end                             = {{rwsa|Leppington}}
| stations                        = 30
| ridership2                      = 
| mapcolourlink                   = 
| mapcolour                       = 
| website                         = 
| open                            = {{start date and age|df=yes|1996}}
| lastextension                   = 
| yearcompleted                   = 
| owner                           = [[Transport Asset Holding Entity]]
| operator                        = [[Sydney Trains]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = [[Mortdale Maintenance Depot|Mortdale]]
| stock                           = [[Sydney Trains M set|M]], [[Sydney Trains A set|A]] sets
| linelength_km                   = 
| tracklength_km                  = 
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| map                             = {{TFNSW nav|T}}
| map_state                       = collapsed
| map_name                        = Sydney rail services
}}
The '''Cumberland Line''' (numbered '''T5''' and coloured magenta) is a [[commuter rail]] line operated by [[Sydney Trains]] in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. It connects [[Schofields railway station|Schofields]] and [[Leppington railway station|Leppington]] stations in the western suburbs. Limited services extend from Schofields to [[Richmond railway station, Sydney|Richmond]]. The line opened in 1996, following the construction of a 'Y-link' track between [[Harris Park railway station|Harris Park]] and [[Merrylands railway station|Merrylands]] stations. The intention of this link was to allow direct services to operate from the south west suburbs to [[Parramatta railway station|Parramatta]] and [[Blacktown railway station|Blacktown]] without requiring a change of trains at [[Granville railway station|Granville]]. The line takes its name from the [[Cumberland Plain]] on which much of [[Western Sydney]] was built.

In 2025, the [[Albanese Government]] provided investment for a preliminary business case to create a '''New Cumberland Line'''.<ref>{{Cite press release|date=23 March 2025 |title=Sydney's future rail and road connections to be mapped out for funding from Albanese Government |url=https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/sydneys-future-rail-and-road-connections-be-mapped-out-funding-albanese-government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324101954/https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/sydneys-future-rail-and-road-connections-be-mapped-out-funding-albanese-government |archive-date=24 March 2025 |access-date=1 April 2025 |first=Catherine |last=King |author-link=Catherine King (politician) |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Sydney Trains Line/Cumberland Line}}

==History==
{{mapbox|above='''Cumberland Line history'''|text-left=yes
|text=Pre-2013 route (Blacktown to Campbelltown)|from=Cumberland Line Sydney (pre 2013).map
|text2=2013-17 route (Schofields to Campbelltown)|from2=T5 Sydney (2013-17).map
}}
Upon its opening in 1996, the line had a regular half-hourly service in each direction consisting of 38 journeys per day. Subsequent timetables saw its services significantly reduced to the point of running only during weekday peak hours, and from 2005 to 2013 the line only ran in one direction at a time: two services ran in the morning peak from [[Campbelltown railway station|Campbelltown]] towards [[Blacktown railway station|Blacktown]] and three services ran in the opposite direction in the evening. Some services operated to or from [[Quakers Hill railway station|Quakers Hill]] or [[Schofields railway station|Schofields]] on the [[Richmond railway line|Richmond line]], but the line's official terminus on network maps and other material remained at Blacktown.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Prior to the Y-Link's opening, passengers travelling between the Western and South lines were required to change trains at [[Granville railway station|Granville]]. With the reduction in services to peak hours only, this travelling strategy was resumed by most commuters.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

In 2006, the then-Iemma Labor Government's NSW State Plan committed to re-introduce a regular half-hourly service to the Cumberland line during 2007 "subject to detailed timetable and train planning... and fleet delivery, availability and rostering".<ref>New South Wales Government (2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20071023223028/http://nsw.gov.au/stateplan/download.aspx?id=83d5472d-e6a6-46be-b7cc-22cfb099a599 NSW State Plan: Appendices]. Archived from the [http://nsw.gov.au/stateplan/download.aspx?id=83d5472d-e6a6-46be-b7cc-22cfb099a599 original] on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2011.</ref> A CityRail news release on 15 December confirmed this intention, based on the gradual introduction of the then-new OSCAR ([[NSW TrainLink H set|H set]]) trains, which would displace outer suburban Tangara [[Sydney Trains T set|G sets]]; the latter trains then reassigned to suburban service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityrail.info/news/2006/061215-oscar|title=The first Oscars are out and about|publisher=Rail Corporation New South Wales|date=15 December 2006|access-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118224727/http://www.cityrail.info/news/2006/061215-oscar|archive-date=18 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> This promise was not delivered, and the Cumberland Line remained a peak-hour-only service with 4 car trains.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Daytime half-hourly services were re-introduced on 21 October 2013. Services finished in the early evening and did not operate on weekends. At this time, the line was also officially extended to [[Schofields railway station|Schofields]], where most northbound services terminated.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

As part of a major timetable change for the Sydney Trains network on 26 November 2017, Cumberland Line services were modified to no longer travel to and from Campbelltown, instead starting and terminating at [[Leppington railway station|Leppington]]. Simultaneous changes to the Airport, Inner West & South Line saw that line split into the [[Inner West & Leppington Line]] and [[Airport & South Line]]. These changes mean the section of the network between Glenfield and Macarthur is served exclusively by services operating via the [[East Hills railway line]].<ref name="aug2017" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Eliza |title=Southwest Sydney train service to increase with new peak hour trains and north-south connection from Leppington to Parramatta and Blacktown |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/liverpool-leader/southwest-sydney-train-service-to-increase-with-new-peak-hour-trains-and-northsouth-connection-from-leppington-to-parramatta-and-blacktown/news-story/d73b929edb43d030766ef7fb36eccf92 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301122850/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/liverpool-leader/southwest-sydney-train-service-to-increase-with-new-peak-hour-trains-and-northsouth-connection-from-leppington-to-parramatta-and-blacktown/news-story/d73b929edb43d030766ef7fb36eccf92 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Matt |title=Decision on rail link to new Sydney airport 'many years off', Transport Minister Andrew Constance says |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/decision-on-rail-link-to-new-sydney-airport-many-years-off-transport-minister-andrew-constance-says-20170227-gum5rs.html |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228063606/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/decision-on-rail-link-to-new-sydney-airport-many-years-off-transport-minister-andrew-constance-says-20170227-gum5rs.html |archive-date=28 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The changes also saw late night and weekend services introduced on the Cumberland Line.<ref>Transport for NSW (27 February 2017), [https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/projects/more-trains-more-services-sw-sydney-fact-sheet.pdf "More Trains, More Services for South Western Sydney"] Retrieved 27 February 2017</ref> The late night services extend to Richmond, replacing T1 services at these times.<ref name="aug2017">{{Cite web |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2017/mtms-sydney-network-changes-aug-2017.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809041550/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2017/mtms-sydney-network-changes-aug-2017.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2017|title=Changes to Sydney's train network |publisher=Transport for NSW |access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> On weekends, trains operate between Schofields and Liverpool only with early morning and late night services extending to Leppington and Richmond.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==Description of route==
[[File:T5 Sydney Trains diagram.png|thumb|300px|Diagram of the T5 Cumberland Line]]
Physically, the line consists of the [[Richmond railway line]] from Schofields/Richmond to Blacktown, the [[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western Line]] from [[Blacktown railway station|Blacktown station]] to [[Harris Park railway station|Harris Park]], the 'Y-link' as described below, the "[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Old Main South]]" between [[Merrylands railway station|Merrylands]] and [[Cabramatta railway station|Cabramatta]], the [[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Main South Line]] between [[Cabramatta railway station|Cabramatta]] and [[Glenfield railway station, Sydney|Glenfield]], and the [[South West Rail Link]] between [[Edmondson Park railway station|Edmondson Park]] and [[Leppington railway station|Leppington]].
{{#tag:mapframe| {{Map of T5 Cumberland Line}} | width="450" | height="450" | longitude="150.8766" | latitude="-33.8045" | zoom="10" | align="center" | text="T5 interactive map"}}

==Trains and services==
During the week, the Cumberland Line usually has 2 {{abbr|tph|trains per hour}} in each direction between Schofields and Leppington. In the peak, the services usually only run till Blacktown due to other services. This line runs 4 {{abbr|tph|trains per hour}}  from Leppington to Blacktown during peak in that direction only. On the weekend, this line holds 2 {{abbr|tph|trains per hour}} in both directions between Schofields and Liverpool. The line is usually serviced by 4-car [[Sydney Trains M set|Millenniums]], though sometimes being serviced by [[Sydney Trains A & B sets|Waratah A sets]].

===Y-link===
[[File:Y Link.png|500px|thumb|Track arrangement at the Y Link]]
The 'Y-link' was opened in 1996 as part of former Prime Minister [[Paul Keating]]'s 'Building Better Cities' programme in recognition of Parramatta's place as the capital of Sydney's west.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.arhsnsw.com.au/rdigest.htm| title=CityRail: Have times changed?| publisher=Railway Digest, November 2005. ARHS NSW Division| access-date=17 February 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317080018/http://www.arhsnsw.com.au/rdigest.htm| archive-date=17 March 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref> It cost $80 million to construct, and required the construction of a little over one kilometre of new track and no new stations. This track consists of the creation of a triangular junction at the junction of the '[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Old Main South]]' and the '[[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western Line]] by laying track between Merrylands and Harris Park stations. The work included a new flyover of the '[[Railways in Sydney#Terminology|Up]] Old Main South' over these new tracks.
{{clear}}

==Cumberland Line stations==
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
!Name
!Railway line
!Serving suburbs
!Other lines
|-
!colspan=8 style=background:#{{rcr|Sydney Trains|T5}}|<span style="color:white;">Richmond - Leppington</span>
|-
|'''[[Richmond railway station, Sydney|Richmond]]'''
| rowspan=11|[[Richmond railway line|Richmond]]
|Richmond, North Richmond
| rowspan="16" |{{TFNSW lines|T1}}
|-
|'''[[East Richmond railway station, Sydney|East Richmond]]'''
|Richmond
|-
|'''[[Clarendon railway station|Clarendon]]'''
|Clarendon
|-
|'''[[Windsor railway station, Sydney|Windsor]]'''
|Windsor
|-
|'''[[Mulgrave railway station|Mulgrave]]'''
|Mulgrave
|-
|'''[[Vineyard railway station|Vineyard]]'''
|Vineyard
|-
|'''[[Riverstone railway station|Riverstone]]'''
|Riverstone
|-
|'''[[Schofields railway station|Schofields]]'''
|Schofields
|-
|'''[[Quakers Hill railway station|Quakers Hill]]'''
|Quakers Hill
|-
|'''[[Marayong railway station|Marayong]]'''
|Marayong
|-
|'''[[Blacktown railway station|Blacktown]]'''
|Blacktown
|-
|'''[[Seven Hills railway station|Seven Hills]]'''
|rowspan=7|[[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western]]
|Seven Hills
|-
|'''[[Toongabbie railway station|Toongabbie]]'''
|Toongabbie
|-
|'''[[Pendle Hill railway station|Pendle Hill]]'''
|Pendle Hill
|-
|'''[[Wentworthville railway station|Wentworthville]]'''
|Wentworthville
|-
|'''[[Westmead railway station|Westmead]] '''
|Westmead
|-
|'''[[Parramatta railway station|Parramatta]]'''
|Parramatta
| rowspan="2" |{{TFNSW lines|T1}}{{TFNSW lines|T2}}
|-
|'''[[Harris Park railway station|Harris Park]]'''
|Harris Park
|-
|'''[[Merrylands railway station|Merrylands]]'''
| rowspan=5|[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Old Main South]]
|Merrylands
| rowspan="5" |{{TFNSW lines|T2}}
|-
|'''[[Guildford railway station, Sydney|Guildford]]'''
|Guildford
|-
|'''[[Yennora railway station|Yennora]]'''
|Yennora
|-
|'''[[Fairfield railway station, Sydney|Fairfield]]'''
|Fairfield
|-
|'''[[Canley Vale railway station|Canley Vale]]'''
|Canley Vale
|-
|'''[[Cabramatta railway station|Cabramatta]]'''
| rowspan=5|[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Main South]]
|Cabramatta
| rowspan="3" |{{TFNSW lines|T2}}{{TFNSW lines|T3}}
|-
|'''[[Warwick Farm railway station|Warwick Farm]]'''
|Warwick Farm
|-
|'''[[Liverpool railway station, Sydney|Liverpool]]'''
|Liverpool
|-
|'''[[Casula railway station|Casula]]'''
|Casula
|{{TFNSW lines|T2}}
|-
|'''[[Glenfield railway station, Sydney|Glenfield]]'''
|Glenfield
|{{TFNSW lines|T2}}{{TFNSW lines|T8}}
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Edmondson Park}}'''
| rowspan="2" | [[South West Rail Link|South West]]
| Edmondson Park
| rowspan="2" | {{TFNSW lines|T2}}
|-
| '''{{rwsa|Leppington}}'''
| Leppington
|}

==Patronage==
The following table shows the patronage of Sydney Trains network for the year ending 30 June 2024.
{{Sydney Trains patronage by line|T5=y}}
{{reflist|group=n.b.}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/sydney-trains/t5/020T5 Cumberland Line timetable] Transport for NSW

{{Sydney public transport}}

{{coord missing|New South Wales}}

[[Category:Sydney Trains]]