Grafton Express
An XPT in the Hunter Valley | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Operational |
| First service | June 1990 |
| Current operator(s) | NSW TrainLink |
| Former operator(s) | CountryLink State Rail Authority |
| Route | |
| Termini | Sydney Grafton |
| Distance travelled | 696 kilometres |
| Service frequency | daily in each direction |
| Line(s) used | North Coast |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | XPT |
The Grafton Express is an Australian passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink between Sydney and Grafton via the North Coast line.
In February 1990, the long-standing Holiday Coast XPT was axed as part of a restructure of CountryLink services. With the other XPT services struggling to keep up with weekend demand, in June 1990 a service to Grafton was reinstated. It ran on Fridays only to Grafton and Sundays only to Sydney but during school holidays ran daily. It was formed of locomotive hauled HUB/RUB stock with the headcode NL35/NL36.
Initially hauled by 86 class electric locomotives south of Broadmeadow, however from March 1992 it was hauled by diesel locomotives throughout usually a 442 class. The locomotive hauled Grafton Express last ran in November 1993.
With the National Party having lost a number of North Coast seats in the 1990 Federal election in a policy reversal it was announced that Xplorer railcars would be purchased to extend the Northern Tablelands Express with an XPT to be released to operate a daily service to Grafton. Thus in November 1993 the Grafton XPT began, a service that continues today.