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CountryLink is a government-owned passenger train and bus network connecting 350 destinations in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. CountryLink is a business unit of Rail Corporation New South Wales, owned by the Government of New South Wales.

Urbanisation and competition from low-cost airlines have driven down passenger numbers over the past decade, threatening the network's long-term viability. CountryLink spent $217.3 million in 2002-03 on revenues of $68.9 million.

Already, a substantial portion of CountryLink's rail network has been shut down and replaced with contracted bus services in a bid to stem the group's losses: a process that has angered rural communities while failing to arrest falling patronage or mounting losses. The 2003 Ministerial inquiry into sustainable public transport in New South Wales made a number of recommendations under the heading of "refocusing CountryLink".

CountryLink's flagship train is the XPT, a unit based on the British High Speed Train.

Contents 1 Network 1.1 North Coast region 1.2 North Western region 1.3 Southern region 1.4 Western region 2 Rolling stock 2.1 XPT 2.2 Xplorer 2.3 Refurbishment 3 Reform 3.1 Ministerial Inquiry 3.2 Government response 4 See also 5 External links

CountryLink owns and operates stations and rolling stock, and makes use of track owned by Rail Infrastructure Corporation, CityRail, the Australian Rail Track Corporation and other entities. The hub of its operation is Sydney's Central railway station, one of the city's main commuter and long-distance transport hubs.

The North Coast region covers the Central Coast, North Coast and Northern Rivers regions, and South-East Queensland. Accordingly the Government of Queensland makes a contribution to the provision of these services. North Coast region services appear on the network map in red. Services run along the main Northern line from Sydney to Roma Street station in Brisbane. XPT trains serve:

• Brisbane, Queensland
• Broadmeadow, New South Wales
• Casino, New South Wales
• Grafton, New South Wales
• Taree, New South Wales

Connecting buses serve coastal destinations including Alstonville, Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Lismore, Murwillumbah, Port Macquarie, Robina, Surfers Paradise, Tuncurry and Tweed Heads.

The North Western region covers the state's North West, Northern Tablelands and Hunter regions. North Western region services appear on the network map in orange. Services run from Sydney to the junction at Werris Creek. Two branch lines are in operation, to Moree and Armidale. Xplorer trains serve:

• Armidale, New South Wales
• Moree, New South Wales
• Narrabri, New South Wales
• Tamworth, New South Wales

Connecting buses serve smaller destinations including: Burren Junction, Inverell, Tenterfield, Walcha and Wee Waa.

The Southern region covers the Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes, Southern Tablelands, Riverina and Sunraysia regions plus the Australian Capital Territory and parts of Victoria. Accordingly the Government of Victoria (though not the ACT Government) makes a contribution to the provision of these services. Southern region services appear on the network map in green. Services run on the main Southern line between Sydney and Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, with a branch at Goulburn serving Canberra and a branch at Junee serving Griffith. XPT trains serve:

• Melbourne, Victoria

Xplorer trains serve:

• Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
• Griffith, New South Wales

Connecting buses serve smaller destinations including: Bombala, Echuca, Eden, Griffith, Jindabyne, Mildura, Queanbeyan, Tumbarumba and Wollongong.

Southern region services, which cover destinations in the Snowy Mountains, run to an amended timetable in the summer months.

The Western region covers the Central Tablelands and Western regions. Western region services appear on the network map in yellow. Services run on the main Western line between Sydney and Broken Hill, with a branch at Orange serving Dubbo. XPT trains serve:

• Bathurst, New South Wales
• Dubbo, New South Wales
• Orange, New South Wales

Xplorer trains serve:

• Broken Hill, New South Wales
• Parkes, New South Wales

Connecting buses serve smaller destinations including: Baradine, Bourke, Brewarrina, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Grenfell, Gulgong, Lightning Ridge, Nyngan and Oberon.

XP2004 in its new livery at Central Station, Sydney

XPT at Central railway station, Sydney.

Interior of sleeper. The seats and the overhead compartments convert to beds. Tray tables fit into the armrests.

An XPT shower/toilet. The basin and bowl are modular and integrate into the wall.

Today, the CountryLink fleet consists of two train types, the XPT and the Xplorer. The XPT fleet is maintained at a purpose-built facility in the Sydney suburb of Sydenham. Xplorer Railcars are maintained at Eveleigh, next to the facilities used to maintain Cityrail's Millennium Train. It is anticipated that a significant investment in new rolling stock—around $855 million—will be required in the next decade if CountryLink is to continue as a provider of services by rail.

The XPT, short for "eXpress Passenger Train", is used on key routes including the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane services. The trains were built by Commonwealth Engineering, Granville (Comeng), and ABB Transportation (Bombardier Transportation) Dandenong, Victoria. The first XPTs began to enter service from 1982. The train is based on the striking High Speed Train design used by British Rail, however the XPT required substantial modifications from the High Speed Train to suit Australian conditions.

The XPT made its debut in the red, orange and black livery of the then State Rail Authority of New South Wales. Between 1990 and 1992, with the inception of the CountryLink brand, the trains were repainted in a new blue, turquoise and white livery.

With an operating speed of over 160 km/h, the XPT took over the title from Western Australia's 1971 Prospector as the nation's fastest train. On a demonstration run to Albury on September 6, 1981 the XPT set a new Australian speed record of 183km/h between Table Top and Gerogery, about 40km from Wagga Wagga. On a test run to Albury on September 10, 1992 the XPT reached 193km/h between Table Top and Yerong Creek. However this record was broken by Queensland's QR Tilt Train in 1999.

The XPTs are used on Key Routes (As above) and also on smaller day and night routes. The following (from Sydney) are the XPT's destinations:

• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Dubbo
• Grafton
• Casino

CountryLink's fleet currently includes

• 19 XPT power cars
• 8 Sleeping cars
• 9 First class saloon cars
• 9 First class saloon/buffet cars
• 25 Economy class saloon cars
• 9 Economy class saloon/luggage cars

Carriage coding, features and numbers are as follows:

• XP- Power Cars: XP 2000 - XP 2018. 2000 - 2014 were built by Comeng, 2015 - 2018 were built by ABB Transportation.
• XFH- Economy Class, Booked Luggage & Guard's Lookout: XFH 2104 - XFH 2010, XFH 2112 and XFH 2113. All built by Comeng.
• XF- Economy Class: XF 2210 - XF 2224. All built by Comeng.
• XBR- First Class & Buffet: XBR 2150 - XBR 2158. All built by Comeng. XBR 2157 was rebuilt economy class saloon XD 2225 and XBR 2158 was rebuilt from economy saloon/luggage car XDH 2111; both were rebuilt by ABB Transportation.
• XL- First Class: XL 2228 - XL 2236. XL 2228 - XL 2232 were built new and XL 2233 - 2236 were rebuilt by ABB Transportation from XFH/XDH saloon/luggage cars.
• XAM- First Class sleeping car, can also be used as a day sitting car: XAM 2175 - XAM 2182 were built by ABB Transportation.

XPT power cars feature a Paxman VP185 12-cylinder, turbo-charged diesel electric engine boasting 1492 kW / 2000 horsepower. A typical XPT consist will include two power cars, one pulling and the other pushing.

As at 2007, CountryLink's XPT rolling stock is currently undergoing refurbishment. This is being done at United Goninan's facilities at Chullora, NSW. They emerge with new seating, carpets, improved buffets, improved toilets, upgraded driver's cabs and painted in the new Countrylink corporate scheme.

The Xplorer, are externally identical to CityRail's Endeavour railcars, and entered service in 1993. All 23 carriages were built by ABB Transportation in Victoria, Australia. These trains travel on CountryLink's Day routes, from Sydney to the location during the day, either returning on the same day or returning the next day. The following destinations from Sydney are the Xplorer's destinations:

• Canberra (Via Goulburn. Normally a 3 car Xplorer service, under certain circumstances the train will be a 4 cars). Daily services.
• Armidale (Via Werris Creek and Tamworth. Divides from the Moree service at Werris Creek and joins back onto the Moree service at Werris Creek the next day. Normally a 3 to 4 carriage Xplorer). Daily services.
• Moree (Via Werris Creek. Divides from the Armidale service at Werris Creek and joins back together on the Armidale service at Werris Creek the next day. Normally a 2 carriage Xplorer, sometimes a 3 Carriage Xplorer). Daily services.
• Griffith (Via Goulburn and Junee. This train divides from the Canberra Xplorer service at Goulburn, on Saturdays. The train will rejoin the Canberra Xplorer service on the next day, at Goulburn. This train is a two car Xplorer, usually units 2508 and 2528). This service operates on Saturdays only.
• Broken Hill (Via Blue Mountains. Usually a 3 car set consisting of Units 2508 and 2528 with any intermidiate carriage. Other units may sometimes run this route). Operates once a week.

Coding for the carriages are as follows:

• EA- First Class Driving Power Car: First Class seating, Buffet and Satellite Telephone.
• EB- Economy Class Intermediate Power Car: Economy Class seating and Toilet.
• EC- Economy Class Driving Power Car: Economy Class seating, Disabled toilet with baby change facilities, wheelchair space and booked Luggage space.

Carriage numbering is as follows:

• EA- 2501-2508
• EB- 2511-2517
• EC- 2521-2528

EA 2508 and EC 2528 used to be Endeavour Railcars LE 2815 and TE 2865. They were renderred surplus when the Kiama Electrification took place, and were converted to Xplorers by Bombardier Transportation Dandenong, Victoria.

Each car is powered by a Cummins KTA 19R engine rated at 352 kW at 1800rpm, and an auxiliary engine.

Railcorp has released a tender regarding the refurbishment of the Xplorer and Endeavour Railcars. The contract specifies: new seating, buffet upgrades, new carpets, toilet upgrades, extended booked luggage section, and more wheelchair spaces for the Xplorer Railcars. The Endeavour Railcars include: new seating, improved toilet facilities, removal of carpet with the conventional lino flooring to be replacing the carpet and more wheelchair spaces. Included in the contract, is a provision of an Entertainment System being retrofitted onto the Xplorer units, however this is only pending a report and may not be installed in the refurbishment. All units will be repainted to the new corporate scheme of Cityrail and Countrylink. The refurbishment will start in mid 2007 and is expected to conclude at the end of 2008.

Tenders closed on 20 December 2006, and there are three companies on the list:

• Bombardier Transportation
• United Group Rail
• Downer EDI Rail

"CountryLink currently operates a number of train services that move relatively small numbers of passengers," the Ministerial Inquiry concluded, noting that the high cost of maintenance and the need to replace rolling stock "makes these services very expensive ... they are expected to become even more expensive in the future."

The low numbers of passengers are due largely to the high prices Countrylink charges for tickets. This is due to the government view of the service not as an essential part of regional transport infrastructure, but as a cost against their budget that must be reduced wherever possible. The Inquiry does not apppear to attempt any calculation of the economic benefits produced by enhanced urban-regional and inter-regional transport links.

The Inquiry also noted that in 2002-03, CountryLink incurred $29.9 million in costs associated with advertising, booking and selling tickets, against $43.5 million in fare revenue. "This is more than two thirds of the revenue received from passengers and is excessive," the Inquiry report stated.

The Inquiry made eight specific recommendations for "refocusing CountryLink":

• review the allocation of costs to CountryLink to improve the transparency of government railway accounts
• seek efficiencies in the marketing of tickets
• align subsidies to CountryLink with the benefits to the community
• seek to have the ACT Government contribute to the cost of the Sydney-Canberra service
• explore alternatives to rail on a case-by-case basis for all rural and regional routes
• include CountryLink in integrated regional transport planning
• establish "Solutions Teams" to assess various areas of CountryLink's operations
• review fare structures and discounting

It seems unlikely that CountryLink's on-rail network will expand—or indeed, maintain its current extent—in the years to come.

In 2005, the State Government announced a rationalisation of ticket offices across the CountryLink network, but ruled out the closure of further rail services in the immediate future. Ticket prices increased on 1 November.

Transport minister John Watkins told the Sydney Morning Herald that "To protect commuters who want a continued rail option, the Government has made a number of changes to booking options in an effort to secure CountryLink's future and boost patronage." Mr Watkins also said in front of news crew that the refurbishment of the XPTs would also encourage more people to use the trains. However the Opposition questioned how price increases would increase patronage. He[1]

• CityRail
• Indian Pacific
• New South Wales Ministry of Transport
• Rail Corporation New South Wales
• Rail transport in New South Wales

• CountryLink website
• CountryLink - network map
• http:/www.railpage.org.au/xpt RailPage - Information on design, construction and rolling stock