View source for Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line

{{Short description|Rail service in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia}}
{{about|the Sydney Trains service|the physical railway line sometimes known as the Illawarra Line|South Coast railway line, New South Wales|the physical railway line through the Eastern Suburbs|Eastern Suburbs railway line}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line
| color                           = {{rcr|Sydney Trains|T4}}
| logo                            = TfNSW T4.svg
| logo_width                      = 60px
| logo_alt                        = 
| image                           = 20230805 T3 leaving Banksia Railway Station 02.jpg
| image_width                     = 250px
| image_alt                       = 
| caption                         = A [[Sydney Trains T set|T set]] at {{rwsa|Banksia}}
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = 
| locale                          = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]
| start                           = {{rwsa|Waterfall|s}}/{{rwsa|Cronulla|s}}
| end                             = {{rwsa| Bondi Junction }}
| stations                        = 33
| ridership2                      = 
| mapcolourlink                   = 
| mapcolour                       = 
| website                         = 
| open                            = {{start date and age|df=yes|1884|10|15}}
| lastextension                   = 
| yearcompleted                   = 
| owner                           = [[Transport Asset Holding Entity]]
| operator                        = [[Sydney Trains]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = [[Mortdale Maintenance Depot|Mortdale]]
| stock                           = [[Sydney Trains T set|T]], [[NSW TrainLink H set|H]] sets (peak hours only)
| linelength_km                   = 
| tracklength_km                  = 
| gauge                           = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| map                             = {{TFNSW nav|T}}
| map_state                       = collapsed
| map_name                        = Sydney rail services
}}
The '''T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line''' is a [[commuter rail|suburban rail]] line on the [[Sydney Trains]] network in the [[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|eastern]] and [[Southern Sydney|southern]] suburbs of [[Sydney]]. The line was constructed in the 1880s to [[Wollongong]] to take advantage of agricultural and mining potentials in the [[Illawarra]] area. In March 1926, it became the first railway in [[New South Wales]] to run [[Electric Multiple Unit|electric train services]].

{{Sydney Trains Line/Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line}}

Today, the railway consists of three connected lines: the original Illawarra line from the [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]] to [[Waterfall railway station, Sydney|Waterfall]]; the [[Cronulla railway line|Cronulla line]] from [[Sutherland railway station|Sutherland]] to [[Cronulla railway station|Cronulla]], which opened in 1939 replacing an earlier tram service; and the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs line]] from the Sydney CBD to [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]], which opened in 1979.

Operationally and historically, the entire line from the [[Illawarra Junction]] at [[Redfern railway station|Redfern]] to its terminus in [[Bomaderry railway station|Bomaderry]] on the South Coast was known as the ''Illawarra Line''. However, since 1989, the suburban services to Waterfall and Cronulla have been marketed as the ''Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line'' and interurban services south to Wollongong and Bomaderry as the ''[[South Coast Line]]''.<ref>Fulton, Adam, "Rail users happy with Illawarra", ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 11 May 1989,page 4</ref><ref>Rail Corporation New South Wales, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130704062841/http://www.sydneytrains.info/stations/pdf/network_map.pdf – Sydney Train"]'' Retrieved 1 July 2013.</ref> The line is coloured an [[Azure (color)|azure]] [[blue]] on [[Sydney Trains]] timetables and other promotional materials.

==Alignment==

===Eastern Suburbs Line===
[[File:Eastern suburbs rail line, from Sydney Tower.jpg|left|thumb|The viaduct across [[Woolloomooloo]]]]
The Eastern Suburbs Line runs between [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]] in Sydney's east and [[Eveleigh, New South Wales|Eveleigh]], just south of the [[Sydney central business district]]. It is mostly underground, and consists of {{convert|7|km|mi|}} of [[Tunnel#Boring machines|bored tunnels]] and {{convert|1.5|km|mi|}} of [[Cut-and-cover|cut and cover tunnels]], with only {{convert|2|km|mi|}} above ground.<ref name="PTC1">Public Transport Commission of New South Wales (1979), ''The story of the Eastern Suburbs Railway''. Public Transport Commission of New South Wales: Sydney page 13.</ref> In the [[Eastern Suburbs (Sydney)|Eastern Suburbs]], three tunnels proceed in a westerly direction from Bondi Junction via [[Edgecliff railway station|Edgecliff]] and [[Kings Cross railway station, Sydney|Kings Cross]]; in each of these tunnels there are stations. Between Bondi Junction and Edgecliff, there is a short open-air cutting in [[Woollahra railway station|Woollahra]], and between Edgecliff and Kings Cross, there is a short [[viaduct]] over [[Rushcutters Bay]].

From Kings Cross, the line proceeds west towards the Sydney Central Business District on a viaduct that passes over the suburb of [[Woolloomooloo]] and the [[Eastern Distributor]]. The line then passes into a tunnel underneath the [[Art Gallery of New South Wales]] to a station underneath [[Martin Place]]. Turning south, the line proceeds through [[Town Hall railway station, Sydney|Town Hall]], [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central]] and [[Redfern railway station|Redfern]] stations, before emerging behind the [[Eveleigh Railway Workshops]].<ref name="Track">Rail Corporation New South Wales, ''Illawarra Line Track Diagram''. Retrieved 9 September 2002.</ref> The line is double track throughout, with turnback sidings at [[Martin Place railway station|Martin Place]] and [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]] for citybound trains, and at Central for trains from Bondi Junction.<ref name="PTC1" />

===Illawarra & Cronulla Lines===
The Illawarra Line commences at [[Illawarra Junction]] at Redfern and travels on the 'Illawarra' (eastern pair) tracks. A dive tunnel allows Intercity services from the South Coast Line to cross underneath the [[Main Suburban railway line|main suburban lines]] to access [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central station]]. The Illawarra lines are also connected at this point to the ''Illawarra Relief Lines'' which emerge from underground and lead to the Eastern Suburbs Line.

From Illawarra Junction, four tracks head south through [[Erskineville railway station|Erskineville]] and [[St Peters railway station|St Peters]] to [[Sydenham railway station, Sydney|Sydenham station]]. The 'main' pair of tracks are used by Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line trains and the 'local' pair by [[Airport & South Line]] trains. The Airport & South Line trains continue along the Illawarra line until diverging onto the [[East Hills railway line|East Hills line]] around [[Wolli Creek railway station|Wolli Creek]]. South of Wolli Creek station, a crossover allows trains from the 'main' pair of tracks to switch to the 'local' pair. This is used by peak hour all-stations Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line trains. The four track section ends at [[Hurstville railway station|Hurstville]]. The line then continues as two tracks south towards [[Sutherland railway station|Sutherland]], crossing the [[Georges River]] via the [[Como railway bridge]] between [[Oatley railway station|Oatley]] and [[Como railway station, Sydney|Como]]. At Sutherland the [[Cronulla railway line|Cronulla line]] branches in an easterly direction. This line is double track throughout.

The main line then heads in a southerly direction, parallel to the [[Princes Highway]] to the west and bordering the [[Royal National Park]] on its eastern side until [[Waterfall railway station, Sydney|Waterfall]], the last suburb in the Sydney metropolitan area. The track continues south from here as the [[South Coast railway line, New South Wales|South Coast Line]] through the Royal National Park towards the [[Illawarra|Illawarra region]].

<gallery>
File:ESI downtown map.png|Map of the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs Line]] (in red)
File:ESI map.png|Map of the Illawarra and [[Cronulla railway line|Cronulla]] lines (in red)
</gallery>

==History==

===Main line construction===
The Illawarra line route was approved by the New South Wales Government in 1880. This route originated near the inner-city locality of [[Macdonaldtown, New South Wales|Macdonaldtown]] and ran to Kiama via the locality of "Bottle Forest", a distance of {{convert|109|km|mi|0}}. The route selected comprises the present-day route of the Macdonaldtown to Waterfall section of the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line.<ref name="SAT2">Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 171.</ref> On 6 April 1881, Governor [[Augustus Loftus]] assented to Act 44 Vic. No. 28, which provided £1,020,000 for the construction of this railway, and proposed that the first section of {{convert|37|km|mi|0}}, constituting approximately the present suburban route, be completed by 30 September 1884.<ref name="SAT2" /> Almost immediately, concerns were raised about the new route's viability, most specifically over the cost of tunnelling between Waterfall and [[Otford, New South Wales|Otford]] to reach Wollongong. Work was suspended past the {{convert|24|km|mi||adj=on}} point at Como, and Government surveyors were instructed to re-survey a route via the Port Hacking River that had originally been surveyed in 1873. Their work allayed concerns about the new route: although the new route had more tunnelling, excavation and sharp curves, the total cost of the "Bottle Forest" route was estimated at £130,175 less than the original Port Hacking route. The Minister for Works eventually agreed on this new route, although construction was again briefly halted when the contractors refused to recommence work on the disputed section.<ref name="SAT3">Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 172.</ref> With new contractors hired, the line was complete to Hurstville by 15 October 1884, Waterfall by 9 March 1886,<ref>Bozier, Rolfe, ''[http://www.nswrail.net/locations/show.php?name=NSW:Waterfall "New South Wales Railways: Waterfall Railway Station"]''. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref> and the whole line to Kiama was opened officially in Wollongong on 22 June 1887.<ref name="SAT3" />

According to the official papers on the line's construction, when the line first opened for trains between Sydney and Sutherland construction was not quite complete, so excursion services initially ran on weekends only until the entire line was handed over. The first official train ran within the modern-day suburban area on 9 December 1885, although the line was closed once again between December 1885 and January 1886 to permit testing on the new bridge over the Georges River.<ref name="SAT3"/>

===Amplification and electrification===
[[File:Como Bridge.JPG|thumb|left|The old and new [[Como railway bridge|Como bridges]] over the [[Georges River]], facing west. The older bridge is in the foreground.]]

The line was originally constructed as double track between Illawarra Junction and Hurstville with single track thereafter; however, its rising use meant that the line required duplication soon afterwards. The line was duplicated between Hurstville and [[Loftus railway station, Sydney|Loftus Station]] (with the exception of the [[Como railway bridge|Como bridge]] over the [[Georges River]]) in April 1890, then southward to Waterfall by 12 December 1890. The section of track between Illawarra Junction and Hurstville was quadruplicated between 1913 and 1925.<ref name="SAT4">Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 100.</ref>

After duplication in 1890, the original lattice-girder Como Bridge across the Georges River was laid as [[gauntlet track]].<ref>
Dewick, Craig, ''[http://www.railzone.org/ppt_faq/faq2.html "Railzone FAQ#2: What is gauntlet track?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060107001604/http://www.railzone.org/ppt_faq/faq2.html |date=7 January 2006 }}''. Retrieved 11 January 2007. 
</ref> This arrangement remained in place for many decades, causing a notorious bottleneck on the line, until the New South Wales Government commissioned [[John Holland Group|John Holland & Co]] to build a new bridge in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=4801834|title=Como (Georges River) Underbridge|publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales Government|access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref> Construction of the new bridge, made of prestressed concrete box girders, commenced in 1969 and was first used by the 18:17 service from Como on 19 November 1972.<ref>Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 121.</ref> The old bridge, as well as a former alignment of the line between [[Mortdale, New South Wales|Mortdale]] and [[Oatley, New South Wales|Oatley]] replaced in 1905, is now used as a [[rail trail]] for pedestrians and cyclists.<ref>''[http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=59 "RailTrails Australia: Como Railway Bridge – Trail Description"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927212436/http://www.railtrails.org.au/states/trails.php3?action=trail&trail=59 |date=27 September 2011 }}''. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref>

The Illawarra Line was the first railway electrified in New South Wales, and was built in conjunction with the construction of the ''City Railway'' between Central and [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James]], opening on 1 March 1926, a few months before the line was connected to the new underground railway.<ref name="SAT4" /><ref name="Neety">
Lukaszyk, Anita, ''[http://www.railpage.org.au/neety/trains/elec.html "Neety's Train Page – Electrification"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929130027/http://www.railpage.org.au/neety/trains/elec.html |date=29 September 2007 }} '' (Table sourced from [http://www.het.org.au/ Historic Electric Traction]). Railpage Australia: Melbourne. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
</ref> By November 1926 the electric overhead had passed Sutherland and continued to the branch line constructed to the [[Royal National Park]].<ref name="SAT4" /> The line between Loftus and Waterfall remained unelectrified until 1980 and was serviced by steam and then diesel railcars.

===Cronulla branch line===
{{main|Cronulla railway line}}

[[File:Cronulla Station.jpg|left|thumb|The double length platform on [[Cronulla railway station|Cronulla station]] was built to cope with large holiday crowds. The platform was originally designed to accommodate five trains]]
A single track tramway line, with four stations and a goods siding, was opened on 12 June 1911 at a cost of £37,505. The route commenced at the southern end of Sutherland station, proceeded north-east to the [[Princes Highway]], east along the Kingsway, then south past the site of the present rail terminus to Shelly Park in the centre of Cronulla.<ref name="SAT5">Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, pp. 208–10.</ref>

By 1932, the Cronulla tramway had closed. Competing bus services had begun to run with unrestricted competition, and the tram line by this time was so full with services that trams often ran late due to holdups at the crossing loops and passengers missed their connections at Sutherland. The line suffered large losses in its later years, and the effect of the [[Great Depression]] at the time forced it to cease its services, the last passenger service operating on 3 August 1931. The goods service continued until 12 January of the next year.<ref name="Neve">
Neve, Peter (1997), ''[http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/f602d3c6-5af3-48e8-a2ff-9e800104c663/old_study_6_scanned.pdf "Railways (and tramways) in the Sutherland Shire": (Sutherland Shire Studies No. 6)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328115511/http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/f602d3c6-5af3-48e8-a2ff-9e800104c663/old_study_6_scanned.pdf |date=28 March 2011 }} '', [[Sutherland Shire|Sutherland Shire Council]]. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
</ref>

Although the closure of the tramway allowed planning to go ahead for a railway, the planning for the replacement railway line suffered various delays in the 1930s due to funding issues: the line's construction competed with a proposal to electrify the Illawarra Line to Waterfall, and there were disputes over the point at which the line would connect to the main line. Two early proposals to join the line at Como and north of Sutherland Station were rejected.<ref name="SAT6">Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 211.</ref> Despite the delays, Parliament finally gave approval to the line on 2 March 1936, and a route with five new stations was surveyed that would connect with the main line at the southern side of Sutherland station. The new line was opened on 16 December 1939.<ref>Bozier, Rolfe, ''[http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:cronulla&mode=history "New South Wales Railways: Cronulla Line: History"].'' Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref><ref>Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 216.</ref>

Although a crossing loop was installed at [[Caringbah railway station|Caringbah Station]] and Gymea Station when the line was opened, the single track line prevented the expansion of services to the Cronulla peninsula, and so in the 1980s, it was decided to duplicate a {{convert|3.5|km|mi||adj=on}} section of the line between Gymea and Caringbah, with Gymea, Miranda and Caringbah all receiving island platforms. The new section was opened on 15 July 1985.<ref>Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 206.</ref> In the 2000s, the remaining single track sections were duplicated. These opened on 19 April 2010.<ref>[http://www.cityrail.info/news/2010/100406-timetable Timetable and platform changes on the Cronulla branch line] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193706/http://www.cityrail.info/news/2010/100406-timetable |date=22 April 2010 }} CityRail. Retrieved 4 March 2013</ref>

===Eastern Suburbs Railway===
{{Main|Eastern Suburbs railway line}}
[[File:Bradfield Scheme Sydney CBD Railways alt.png|thumb|left|The original railway network for the Sydney CBD planned by John Bradfield. The Eastern Suburbs line is drawn in blue.]]
In 1916, a plan for the city railways, and an Eastern Suburbs extension was drawn up by the Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Railway Construction, [[John Bradfield (engineer)|John Bradfield]]. It was given subsequent approval by Parliament. Bradfield's plan entailed building a [[City Circle]] loop, with an extension through to the Eastern Suburbs by means of a viaduct over [[Woolloomooloo, New South Wales|Woolloomooloo]]. The line was to extend to [[Rosebery, New South Wales|Rosebery]] and [[Waterloo, New South Wales|Waterloo]], with ten stations, linking with the Illawarra Line near [[Erskineville railway station|Erskineville station]].<ref name="PTC2">Public Transport Commission of New South Wales (1979), ''The story of the Eastern Suburbs Railway''. Public Transport Commission of New South Wales: Sydney, pp. 5–6.</ref>

Upon the passing of the ''City and Suburban Electric Railways (Amendment) Act'' in 1947, construction finally commenced on a variation of the Bradfield's proposal.<ref name="ATS">
''[http://www.ats.org.au/index.php/component/content/article/4-projects/historical-projects/150-eastern-suburbs-railway-sydney "Australasian Tunnelling Society: Eastern Suburbs Railway – Sydney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107145915/http://www.ats.org.au/index.php/component/content/article/4-projects/historical-projects/150-eastern-suburbs-railway-sydney |date=7 January 2016 }} ''. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
</ref> Two lines would be built: one proceeding on a viaduct out to Kings Cross, then eventually to [[Bondi Beach, New South Wales|Bondi Beach]]. Another line would head from [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James]] via [[Taylor Square, Sydney|Taylor Square]] and the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], extending to [[Kingsford, New South Wales|Kingsford]], with a proposal to extend from Taylor Square to [[Coogee, New South Wales|Coogee]]. Construction commenced on sites around Central station but ceased in 1952 due to a recession.<ref name="PTC2" /> Work remained abandoned for over a decade.

In 1967, construction again commenced on yet another variation on Bradfield's design. This involved the earlier route used towards Bondi Junction through Woolloomooloo, then an extension towards Kingsford with five extra stations at [[Charing Cross, New South Wales|Charing Cross]], Frenchmans Road, Randwick, University and Kingsford. The New South Wales Government awarded the contract for the civil and structural design to the successful [[Snowy Mountains Scheme|Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority]].<ref name="ATS" /> An official Legislative Assembly inquiry in 1976, however, recommended that costs on the project be cut, and the extension to Kingsford, a [[Woollahra railway station|proposed station]] at [[Woollahra, New South Wales|Woollahra]],<ref>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20050827174814/http://www.geocities.com/trendy_rechauffe/Wset.html "Trendy's Train Page: Woollahra Station"]''. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref> and the expansion of concourse areas at [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]] and [[Martin Place railway station|Martin Place]] stations did not proceed.<ref name="PTC2" /> Nonetheless, it was resolved to fully integrate the railway with the Illawarra line. The Eastern Suburbs Railway opened between [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central station]] and Bondi Junction on 23 June 1979. Initially, trains ran as shuttle services between Central and Bondi Junction; it was not until a year later that work was finished to integrate the lines. A double-track junction with the Illawarra Line at [[Erskineville, New South Wales|Erskineville]] south of [[Illawarra Junction]], twin single track tunnels connecting to the Eastern Suburbs Railway platforms at Central, a set of underground platforms at [[Redfern railway station|Redfern]] and a turnback tunnel at [[Martin Place railway station|Martin Place]] opened to complete the project on 20 July 1980.<ref>Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 42.</ref>

Bondi Junction had originally been intended only as an intermediate turnback station before the extension to [[Kingsford, New South Wales|Kingsford]] was abandoned. As part of the [[Rail Clearways Program]], the $77 million Bondi Junction Turnback project saw a new rail crossover was built between the single-track tunnels, enabling 20 trains an hour, up from 14, to use the station.<ref>
Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, ''[http://www.tidc.nsw.gov.au/SectionIndex.aspx?PageID=590 "Bondi Junction Turnback: Project Profile"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821023430/http://www.tidc.nsw.gov.au/SectionIndex.aspx?PageID=590 |date=21 August 2006 }}''. Retrieved 11 January 2007. 
</ref><ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bondi-rail-project-to-boost-efficiency/2006/04/17/1145126044778.html "Bondi rail project 'to boost efficiency'"], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 17 April 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref> The work was completed in time for the introduction of a new timetable on 28 May 2006.<ref>Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060620004754/http://www.tidc.nsw.gov.au/Documents/656_BondiMedia.pdf "Media Release: Bondi Junction Clearways Project Completed"]'', 1 May 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref>

==Operation==
[[File:T4 Sydney Trains diagram.png|thumb|right|300px|Route diagram of T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line]]
===Trains===
[[File:Hurstville Railway Station, c.1910.jpg|left|thumb|A steam service stands at [[Hurstville railway station|Hurstville]] c. 1910. This was typical of the services on the line before the introduction of electric services.]]

In addition to Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line trains, the Illawarra railway line carries interurban and freight traffic. The Cronulla branch line and the Eastern Suburbs Railway are exclusively used by passenger trains.

Historically, passenger services were provided to the Sydney Central by steam locomotives. The first services to Hurstville were run by steam locomotives of the Q.158 and [[New South Wales Z18 class locomotive|R.285]] classes.<ref>Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 174.</ref> When the [[Sydney underground railways|City Underground]] opened to St James in 1926, a new electric service was provided to run there. From the time when the line to the Royal National Park was electrified, passengers received a steam train service at first, then when this became expensive, it was replaced by a rail motor service. This arrangement continued until the line was electrified to Waterfall, and the Eastern Suburbs Line was opened.<ref name="Neve" /> In 1979, the Eastern Suburbs Line being the first line to only use [[Sydney Trains S set|S set]] double-decker rolling stock.<ref name="PTC1" /> The current running operations for passenger services have remained generally unchanged since 1981 with the integration of the Illawarra line and the Eastern Suburbs Railway. Suburban services utilise Erskineville Junction and proceed to Central and Bondi Junction.

The last [[Sydney Trains S set|S sets]] were withdrawn from [[Mortdale Maintenance Depot]] in March 2013; all services now provided by [[Sydney Trains T set|Tangara]] and [[NSW TrainLink H set|OSCAR]] sets (as the infrastructure and electrical requirements of newer models are incompatible with the line).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barr |first1=Eliza |title=T4 Eastern Suburbs Illawarra Line to miss out on new train fleet |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/stgeorge-shire-standard/t4-eastern-suburbs-illawarra-line-to-miss-out-on-new-train-fleet/news-story/bbde9c8049b2d140e4e54c37919c0aee |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=St George & Sutherland Shire Standard |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=13 March 2019}}</ref> Trains typically operate with 12 services per hour in peak, six services per hour in off-peak, and four to six services per hour on weekends and public holidays.<ref name="TT">Rail Corporation New South Wales, ''[http://www.cityrail.info/timetable/ttable.jsp?line=il "CityRail Timetables: Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line"]''. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref>

===Map===
{{#tag:mapframe| {{Map of T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line}} | width="500" | height="550" | longitude="151.1334" | latitude="-34.004" | zoom="11" | align="center" | text="T4 interactive map"}}

===Stations===
The line currently has 33 operating stations. Only three stations or platforms have closed, the two stations on the Royal National Park Branch (the [[Royal National Park railway station|main station]], which closed in 1991, and the platform for the Scout's Camp, which closed in 1947), and the [[Woronora Cemetery railway station|station]] on the Woronora Cemetery branch, which also closed in 1947.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" id="toc"
!Name
!Distance from<br/>Central (km)<ref name="IL1">Sourced from Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, pp. 42–44, 101–128, 206–208 ''passim'', except where noted.</ref>
!Opened<ref name="IL1" />
!Railway line
!Serving suburbs
!Other lines
|-
!colspan=6 style=background:#{{rcr|Sydney Trains|T4}}|<span style="color:white;">Bondi Junction – Sutherland</span>
|-
|'''[[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]]'''
|6.76
|1979
| rowspan=6|[[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs]]
|Bondi Junction, Woollahra
| rowspan=3|{{color|grey|none}}
|-
|'''[[Edgecliff railway station|Edgecliff]]'''
|4.82
|1979
|Edgecliff, Darling Point
|-
|'''[[Kings Cross railway station, Sydney|Kings Cross]]'''
|3.41
|1979
|Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay
|-
|'''[[Martin Place railway station|Martin Place]]'''
|2.10
|1979
|Sydney CBD
|{{TFNSW lines|M1}}
|-
|'''[[Town Hall railway station, Sydney|Town Hall]]'''
|1.21
|1932<ref name="ESR1">The Eastern Suburbs Railway platforms for Town Hall and Central stations were first used in 1979. Cited in Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), ''Stations & Tracks''; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches – Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, pp. 42–43.</ref>
|Sydney, Darling Harbour
|{{TFNSW lines|T1}}{{TFNSW lines|T2}}{{TFNSW lines|T3}}{{TFNSW lines|T8}}{{TFNSW lines|T9}}
|-
|'''[[Central railway station, Sydney|Central]]''' (underground)
|0
|1979
|Central, Strawberry Hills<br />Ultimo, Surry Hills, Haymarket
|{{TFNSW lines|T1}}{{TFNSW lines|T2}}{{TFNSW lines|T3}}{{TFNSW lines|T8}}{{TFNSW lines|T9}}{{TFNSW lines|M1}}
|-
|'''[[Redfern railway station|Redfern]]''' (underground)
|1.32
|1980
|Illawarra Relief 
|Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington<br />The University<br />of Sydney
|{{TFNSW lines|T1}}{{TFNSW lines|T2}}{{TFNSW lines|T3}}{{TFNSW lines|T8}}{{TFNSW lines|T9}}
|-
|'''[[Sydenham railway station, Sydney|Sydenham]]'''
|5.30
|1884
| rowspan=16|[[South Coast railway line, New South Wales|Illawarra]]
|Sydenham, Marrickville, St Peters
|{{TFNSW lines|T8}}{{TFNSW lines|M1}}
|-
|'''[[Tempe railway station|Tempe]]'''
|6.84
|1884
|Tempe, Undercliffe (Earlwood)
|{{color|grey|none}}
|-
|'''[[Wolli Creek railway station|Wolli Creek]]'''
|7.30
|2000<ref>Bozier, Rolfe, ''[http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:airport&mode=history "New South Wales Railways: Airport Line: History"]''. Retrieved 24 January 2007.</ref>
|Wolli Creek, Arncliffe
|{{TFNSW lines|T8}}
|-
|'''[[Arncliffe railway station|Arncliffe]]'''
|8.42
|1884
|Arncliffe
| rowspan=13|{{color|grey|none}}
|-
|'''[[Banksia railway station|Banksia]]'''
|9.60
|1906
|Banksia, Arncliffe, Rockdale
|-
|'''[[Rockdale railway station|Rockdale]]'''
|10.41
|1884
|Rockdale, Bexley
|-
|'''[[Kogarah railway station|Kogarah]]'''
|11.61
|1884
|Kogarah, Bexley
|-
|'''[[Carlton railway station, Sydney|Carlton]]'''
|12.74
|1887
|Carlton, Bexley
|-
|'''[[Allawah railway station|Allawah]]'''
|13.69
|1925
|Allawah
|-
|'''[[Hurstville railway station|Hurstville]]'''
|14.84
|1884
|Hurstville, Hurstville South
|-
|'''[[Penshurst railway station, Sydney|Penshurst]]'''
|16.12
|1886
|Penshurst
|-
|'''[[Mortdale railway station|Mortdale]]'''
|17.06
|1897
|Mortdale
|-
|'''[[Oatley railway station|Oatley]]'''
|18.28
|1886
|Oatley
|-
|'''[[Como railway station, Sydney|Como]]'''
|21.24
|1885
|Como, Como West
|-
|'''[[Jannali railway station|Jannali]]'''
|22.22
|1931
|Jannali
|-
|'''[[Sutherland railway station|Sutherland]]'''
|24.46
|1885
|Sutherland
|-
!colspan=6 style=background:#{{rcr|Sydney Trains|T4}}|<span style="color:white;">Sutherland – Waterfall</span>
|-
|'''[[Loftus railway station, Sydney|Loftus]]'''
|26.29
|1886
|rowspan=4|Illawarra
|Loftus, Yarrawarrah
| rowspan=4|{{color|grey|none}}
|-
|'''[[Engadine railway station|Engadine]]'''
|30.75
|1920
|Engadine, Woronora Heights
|-
|'''[[Heathcote railway station|Heathcote]]'''
|33.15
|1886
|Heathcote
|-
|'''[[Waterfall railway station, Sydney|Waterfall]]'''
|38.74
|1886
|Waterfall
|-
!colspan=6 style=background:#{{rcr|Sydney Trains|T4}}|<span style="color:white;">Sutherland – Cronulla</span>
|-
|'''[[Kirrawee railway station|Kirrawee]]'''
|26.64
|1939
| rowspan=6|[[Cronulla railway line|Cronulla]]
|Kirrawee
| rowspan=6|{{color|grey|none}}
|-
|'''[[Gymea railway station|Gymea]]'''
|27.94
|1939
|Gymea
|-
|'''[[Miranda railway station|Miranda]]'''
|29.51
|1939
|Miranda
|-
|'''[[Caringbah railway station|Caringbah]]'''
|31.51
|1939
|Caringbah
|-
|'''[[Woolooware railway station|Woolooware]]'''
|33.60
|1939
|Woolooware
|-
|'''[[Cronulla railway station|Cronulla]]'''
|34.81
|1939
|Cronulla
|}

===Stopping patterns===
The stopping patterns on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line have generally been determined by several different termini. The steam era saw these termini change quite frequently as more terminating facilities were constructed: the first trains on the line after the Waterfall extension in 1887 either ran to Hurstville (16 per day), Sutherland (two per day) and Waterfall (two per day), with all trains stopping at every intermediate station. By 1907, however, Como and Oatley had been added to the list of termini, with nine and seven trains per day respectively. Seven trains per day at this time also ran to Sutherland, and one to Waterfall. Most trains terminated at Hurstville.<ref name="Neve" />

Since electrification, the terminus stations for suburban trains have remained consistent. From 1926 trains terminated at either Hurstville, Sutherland and The National Park. With the opening of the Cronulla branch in 1939, Cronulla become the fourth major terminus. In 1980 Waterfall was electrified and replaced The Royal National Park as a terminus, having been served by a diesel-operated shuttle service until then.<ref name="Neve" />

* ● – All trains stop
* ◐ – Some services do not stop
* ▼ – Only outbound trains stop
* ▲ – Only inbound trains stop
* | – Trains do not stop

{{Table alignment}}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
!colspan="9" style="background:#{{rcr|Sydney Trains|T4}};" |<span style="color:white;">T4 Services</span>
|-
!Station
!Waterfall
Off Peak
!Waterfall
Peak
!Helensburgh
!Hurstville
!Sutherland
!Cronulla
Off Peak
!Cronulla 
Peak (1)
!Cronulla
Peak (2)
|-
|Bondi Junction || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Edgecliff || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Kings Cross || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Martin Place || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Town Hall || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Central || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Redfern{{htxt|◻}} || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Sydenham || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | ●
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|▲
|-
|Tempe{{htxt|◻}} || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | |
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Wolli Creek || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Arncliffe || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | |
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Banksia || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | |
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Rockdale{{htxt|◻}} || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | ●
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Kogarah{{htxt|◻}} || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | ●
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Carlton{{htxt|◻}} || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | ◐
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Allawah || ● || | |||| ● 
|●|| | ◐
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|-
|Hurstville || ● || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Penshurst{{htxt|◻}} || ● || ◐ || ▼ 
| rowspan="17" | || | |
|◐|| <nowiki>|</nowiki>
|●
|-
|Mortdale || ● || ◐ || ▼ || | |
|◐|| <nowiki>|</nowiki>
|●
|-
|Oatley || | ◐|| ◐ ||  ▲|| | |
|●|| ▼ 
|●
|-
|Como || | ◐|| ◐ 
|<nowiki>|</nowiki>|| | |
|◐|| | <nowiki>|</nowiki>
|●
|-
|Jannali || ● || ● 
|▲|| | |
|●|| ▼ 
|●
|-
|Sutherland || ● || ● 
|●|| ● 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Kirrawee{{htxt|◻}} || colspan="3" rowspan="6" |
| rowspan="11" |
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Gymea 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Miranda 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Caringbah 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Woolooware 
|●|| ● 
|●
|-
|Cronulla{{htxt|◻}} 
|●||  ●
|●
|-
|Loftus{{htxt|◻}} || ● ||●
|▼
| rowspan="5" |
| rowspan="5" |
| rowspan="5" |
|-
|Engadine || ● ||●
|▼
|-
|Heathcote
|●
|●
|▼
|-
|Waterfall
|●
|●
|●
|-
|Helensburgh
|
|
|●
|}

===Patronage===
The following table shows the patronage of Sydney Trains network for the year ending 30 June 2024.
{{Sydney Trains patronage by line|T4=y}}
{{reflist|group=n.b.}}

==Performance==
[[File:Transport Sydney Trains 'T set' or 'Tangara' Class T20.jpg|thumb|A service at [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction station]]]]
In 2009–2010, 97.65% of all Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra services ran on-time, ranking it the most reliable line on the CityRail network.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.railcorp.info/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/8934/RailCorp_performance_2009-10.pdf | title=RailCorp_performance_2009-10. | publisher=RailCorp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217190608/http://www.railcorp.info/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/8934/RailCorp_performance_2009-10.pdf | access-date=2 September 2011| archive-date=17 February 2011 }}</ref> In the 2019–2020 financial year, this figure was 95.2%.<ref>Sourced from {{cite web |title=Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink (Intercity) performance reports |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/data-and-research/passenger-travel/sydney-trains-and-nsw-trainlink-intercity-performance-reports |website=Transport for NSW |date=11 September 2018 |publisher=New South Wales Government |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

Planning experts recognised a need to expand capacity on the Eastern Suburbs Line. In 2002, former CityRail chairman Ron Christie released a report, the "Long-term strategic plan for rail", which outlined the critical infrastructure that would need to be built between then and 2050 to ensure the long-term survival and operation of the CityRail network. The report highlighted the problems facing the network at that time and noted that capacity on Illawarra Line trains was often at 120%, and that 180% was not unexpected.<ref>Goodsir, Darren & Kerr, Joseph, "Exposed: Fast Track To Rail Chaos", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 25 February 2002, p. 1.</ref> Christie said that by 2011 there would be no capacity on the Eastern Suburbs Line for trains coming from the Illawarra Line.<ref>Christie, Ron, [http://www.aptnsw.org.au/christie/4.html#4.4i "Long-term strategic plan for rail: overview report: Greater Sydney metropolitan region" – Chapter 4.4], Action for Public Transport New South Wales, June 2001. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref> To address this, the NSW Government constructed the Bondi Junction Turnback, which enables an additional six trains per hour to terminate at the station. To take advantage of the new infrastructure, a new timetable was introduced in May 2006 which reduced the overcrowding.<ref>Australian Associated Press, ''[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/trains-running-on-time-for-timetable-day-two/2005/09/06/1125772505631.html "Trains running on time for timetable day two"]'', 6 September 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref>

A second project, the full duplication of the Cronulla branch line, was completed in 2010. This increases the capacity of the branch line from four to eight trains per hour.<ref name="cityrail xpress 126">[http://cityrail.info/news/xpress/pdf/CityRail_Xpress_126.pdf "CityRail Xpress"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721193032/http://cityrail.info/news/xpress/pdf/CityRail_Xpress_126.pdf |date=21 July 2011 }}, edition 126, 21 April 2010.</ref> The line between Oatley, Sutherland and Cronulla also received signalling upgrades to allow more services to run at shorter intervals.<ref name="cityrail xpress 126"/><ref>
New South Wales State Government, ''[http://www.nsw.gov.au/StatePlan/pdf/State_Plan_complete.pdf "New South Wales State Plan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117004953/http://www.nsw.gov.au/StatePlan/pdf/State_Plan_complete.pdf |date=17 January 2007 }}'', 2006, Appendix, pp. 2, 3 & 5. Retrieved 30 December 2006. 
</ref> A new timetable with extra services was introduced on 10 October 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityrail.info/timetables/2010/ |title=2010 timetable |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820083729/http://www.cityrail.info/timetables/2010/ |archive-date=20 August 2010 }}</ref>

It was proposed in the 2007 NSW State Plan that by 2017, the line capacity between Hurstville and Sutherland will be amplified to allow extra services to and from Cronulla, as well as for services accessing the Mortdale Maintenance Centre. The 2010 Metropolitan Transport Plan made no mention of the project. As of 2021, this project had not taken place but in August 2020, the New South Wales Government had announced an alternative project, the installation of a new rail crossover at Hurstville that would enable 20% more services in peak hour.{{clarify|date=August 2023}} The crossover project is planned to be completed by 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rail upgrades set to boost services at Hurstville |url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6901019/rail-upgrades-set-to-boost-services-at-hurstville/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader |publisher=Australian Community Media |date=29 August 2020}}</ref>

==Metro/light rail proposals==
{{Main|Sydney Metro}} 
Over the years, there have been a number of proposals to replace/supplement all/part of the Illawarra line with metro/light rail services. None of these have eventuated, as of 2023.
*Co-ordinator General of the state's rail industry [[Ron Christie (rail administrator)|Ron Christie's]] "Long-term strategic plan for rail" report issued in 2001, suggested that several "[[rapid transit|metro]]" lines be built to service new areas and to relieve capacity on existing lines. These included a metro line to supplement the Illawarra Line. The route would go from Cronulla to Miranda along the existing tracks, then along a reserved corridor for the [[Southern Freeway|F6 Southern Freeway]] up to [[Sydney Airport]]. The line would then extend to the Sydney CBD then to Sydney's [[Northern Beaches (Sydney)|Northern Beaches]] via [[Chatswood, New South Wales|Chatswood]]. Christie suggested that even if the entire line were not to be built, the first stage between Cronulla, the Airport and the City would provide "essential capacity relief" for the Illawarra line which would be "severely capacity-constrained" within two decades. Both heavy rail and [[light rail]] were mooted as alternatives.<ref>Christie, Ron, [http://www.aptnsw.org.au/christie/5.html "Long-term strategic plan for rail: overview report: Greater Sydney metropolitan region" – Chapter 5], Action for Public Transport New South Wales, June 2001. Retrieved 11 January 2007.</ref>
*Christie was not the only person to suggest the F6 Corridor as an alternative. In 2002, the then Minister for Transport [[Carl Scully]] officially abandoned the corridor, reserved since 1951 for the extension of the Southern Freeway north to [[St Peters, New South Wales|St Peters]], and suggested that light rail, bus-only roads or high-frequency train services could run on the corridor. He wished to encourage innovative public transport solutions in the area, while maintaining the green space available near [[Botany Bay]].<ref>Goodsir, Darren, [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/06/1031115937550.html "Buses, light rail replace freeway plan"], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 7 September 2002. Retrieved 12 January 2007.</ref> The plan received support from environmental groups, with environmental transport group EcoTransit proposing their own {{convert|25.5|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} light rail line to supplement the Illawarra Line on the reservation, called the "Bay Light Express".<ref>EcoTransit, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20030201040331/http://www.ecotransit.org.au/campaigns/baylight/west.php Bay Light Express: Bay Light West"]''. Retrieved 1 February 2003.</ref>
*Since 2005, however, the future of an alternative corridor was in doubt, with the then State Treasurer [[Michael Costa (politician)|Michael Costa]] announcing that the corridor would again be reserved for a motorway.<ref>Smith, Alexandra, [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Scully-buried-it-now-Costa-resurrects-F6/2005/03/15/1110649203065.html "Scully buried it, now Costa resurrects F6"], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 16 March 2005, retrieved 13 January 2007.</ref> By 2019, construction of the first stage of the [[M6 Motorway (Sydney)|M6 Motorway]] had been approved for part of the corridor, between [[Arncliffe, New South Wales|Arncliffe]] and [[Kogarah, New South Wales|Kogarah]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trembath |first1=Murray |title=Stage one of M6 motorway from Arncliffe to Kogarah receives formal approval |url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6553065/m6-formally-approved/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader |publisher=Australian Community Media |date=20 December 2019}}</ref>
*In 2012 when the new [[Sydney Metro Northwest]] was announced, it was proposed that at a later date the line would be extended across [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] and then split between {{rws|Bankstown}} and {{rws|Hurstville}} on the Illawarra line.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Saulwick|first1=Jacob|title=Sydney transport shake-up: plan for single deck metro-style trains and second harbour crossing|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-transport-shakeup-plan-for-single-deck-metrostyle-trains-and-second-harbour-crossing-20120620-20ngm.html|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=20 June 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> However subsequent plans no longer mention the Illawarra Line.<ref>[https://www.sydneymetro.info/citysouthwest/project-overview About Sydney Metro City & Southwest] Sydney Metro Retrieved 11 January 2021</ref>

==See also==
'''Operators and companies connected to the line'''
*[[Sydney Trains]] – operator of services on the line.
*[[Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation]] – State-owned corporation constructing the upgrade to the Cronulla Line.

'''Other railways in the area'''
*[[Illawarra railway line|Illawarra line]] – connects to the line at its southern end.
*[[Trams in Sydney]] – details on other tramway services in the Southern Suburbs of Sydney in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

'''General articles on railways in Sydney'''
*[[List of Sydney railway stations]]
*[[Railways in Sydney]]
*[[Rail transport in New South Wales]]
*[[Sydney underground railways]] – other underground lines in Sydney

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
; Books and articles
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation |last = Keenan |first = D. R. |year = 1979 |title = Tramways in Sydney |publisher = Transit Press |location = Sydney |isbn = 0-909338-02-7 }}
* {{Citation |last = Neve |first = P. |year=1997 |title = Railways (and tramways) in the Sutherland Shire (Sutherland Shire Studies No. 6) |publisher = Sutherland Shire Council |url = http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/f602d3c6-5af3-48e8-a2ff-9e800104c663/old_study_6_scanned.pdf |access-date = 14 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110328115511/http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/files/f602d3c6-5af3-48e8-a2ff-9e800104c663/old_study_6_scanned.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2011 }}
*{{Citation |author = New South Wales Public Transport Commission |year=1979 |title = The story of the Eastern Suburbs Railway |publisher=New South Wales Public Transport Commission |location=Sydney }}
*{{Citation |editor-last=Forsyth |editor-first = J. H. |year=1988–93 |title = Stations & Tracks: Vol. 1: Main Suburban & Branches, Illawarra & Branches |publisher = State Rail Authority of New South Wales, Archive Section |location=Sydney }}
{{refend}}

; Web sites
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web |last=Bozier |first=Rolfe |title = New South Wales Railways:South Coast Line |url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:south_coast |date=December 1999 |access-date=12 January 2007 }} – information, pictures and data on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line.
* {{cite web |last=Christie |first=Ron |title = Long-term Strategic Plan for Rail: Greater Sydney metropolitan region |publisher = Government of New South Wales |date = June 2001 |url = http://www.aptnsw.org.au/christie/ |access-date = 12 January 2007 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/sydney-trains/t4/020T4 Sydney Trains timetable – Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line timetable]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070716071538/http://www.railpage.org.au/neety/trains/ESR_Illa_names.html Neety's Train Page: ESR/Illawarra Line: Names and Meanings] – meanings of station names on the line, and photos of stations.
*[http://www.nsw.gov.au/stateplan/ New South Wales Government State Plan]
*[http://home.iprimus.com.au/hklam/day.htm Public Transport Ticketing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730215908/http://home.iprimus.com.au/hklam/day.htm |date=30 July 2020 }} – includes pictures of the original tickets sold on the Eastern Suburbs Line in 1979.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051239/http://railpix.railmedia.com.au/index.php?page=illawarra Railpix Australia – Quality Rail images: The Illawarra Line]

{{Featured article}}
{{Sydney public transport}}
{{Illawarra region topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra railway line}}
[[Category:Illawarra railway line| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1884]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Australia]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Sydney Trains]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1500 V DC railway electrification]]