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The T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line is a suburban train service operated by Sydney Trains between Bondi Junction, Waterfall and Cronulla. The line is coded with the sign T4 on maps and at stations. The Illawarra Line is known for being the first railway line in Sydney to operate electric train services, which first commenced in March 1926.


Route[]

The Eastern Suburbs Line runs between Bondi Junction in Sydney's east and Redfern, just south of the Sydney central business district. It is mostly underground, and consists of 7 kilometres of bored tunnels and 1.5 kilometres of cut and cover tunnels, with only 2 kilometres above ground. In the Eastern Suburbs, three tunnels proceed in a westerly direction from Bondi Junction via Edgecliff and Kings Cross; in each of these tunnels there are stations. Between Bondi Junction and Edgecliff there is a short open-air cutting in 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, Central and Redfern stations, before emerging behind the Eveleigh Railway Workshops. The line is double track throughout, with turnback sidings at Martin Place and Bondi Junction for citybound trains, and at Central for trains from Bondi Junction.

The Illawarra Line commences at Illawarra Junction at Redfern and travel on the 'Illawarra' (eastern pair) tracks. A dive tunnel allows Intercity services from the South Coast Line to cross underneath the main suburban lines to access 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 and St Peters to Sydenham station. The 'main' pair of tracks are used by T4 and South Coast Line trains and the 'local' pair by T3 and peak T8 trains. At Sydenham, the Bankstown railway line branches off, but T8 trains continue along the Illawarra line until Wolli Creek, where a junction to the East Hills line branches off.

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 T4 trains. The four track section ends at Hurstville. The line then continues as two tracks south towards Sutherland, crossing the Georges River via the Como railway bridge between Oatley and Como. Both tracks are bi-directionally signalled between Hurstville and Sutherland.

At Sutherland, the Cronulla line branches in an easterly direction through Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda, Caringbah, Woolooware and Cronulla. The Cronulla branch opened in 1939 as the replacement for a former tram line.

The main line then heads in a southerly direction, through Loftus, Engadine and Heathcote, parallel to the Princes Highway to the west and bordering the Royal National Park on its eastern side until Waterfall, the last suburb on the T4 line in the Sydney metropolitan area. The track continues south from here as the South Coast Line through the Royal National Park towards the Illawarra region.

Branding[]

Year Colour Notes/Other Changes
1939 Dark Blue
1986 Light Blue
1998 #005EAD
2004 #0072C6
2014 #1B82C5 T4 line number added
2018 #005AA3 Probably changed for additional contrast with the new T2 colour

Services[]

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.

Trains on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra typically operate with 16 trains per hour (tph) during the peak, 6tph off-peak, and 4tph on late nights. The line has many possible termini, as seen in the table below, however only a small subset are used regularly. Bondi Junction is the only regularly used northern terminus. Waterfall and Cronulla are the regular southern termini, with Hurstville added during the peak.

The line also has a wide variety of stopping patterns. In general, Hurstville (peak only) and Waterfall (weekends and off-peak) trains stop at the smaller stations (e.g. Sydenham, Tempe, Arncliffe, Banksia, Como), while Cronulla trains skip most smaller stations. One afternoon train on weekdays also extends to Helensburgh (one station south of Waterfall).

On weekends, Waterfall services stop all stations between Sydenham and Mortdale, skipping Oatley and Como, and then going all-stations from Jannali to Waterfall. Cronulla services run to two stopping patterns - all-stations from Hurstville to Sutherland, and express services from Hurstville to Sutherland with a stop at Mortdale in-between.

Fleet[]

The last S sets were withdrawn from Mortdale Maintenance Depot in March 2013 (after the last S set ran T4 line services on 8th March 2013). This line is now operated by Tangara T sets for all services, except a few Hurstville services in the morning peak, which are operated by OSCAR H sets.

The T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line is the only major suburban line on the Sydney Trains network to not operate Waratah A sets. This is because the substations on the line cannot handle the high current draw of having many 4th generation trains on the line at once. Another strong reason is that this makes the line to be more self-contained, having its dedicated fleet of trains.

The T4 line is one of the most self-contained lines on the network, making it one of the lines with the highest train punctuality. All trains for the line are stabled at Bondi Junction, Mortdale or Cronulla, both of which are on the line. It almost has a dedicated fleet, with the only exceptions being H sets from the South Coast and some T sets being swapped to/from Hornsby overnight. It also doesn't share any track with other lines (except for the South Coast line) and is mostly controlled from Sydenham Control Centre (which only controls T3/4 lines).

Trackwork services[]

Some services on the T4 line occasionally make additional stops at Erskineville and St Peters stations if the T3 Bankstown Line is affected by trackwork, or during major service disruptions.

In instances where the Eastern Suburbs Line is closed for trackwork, T4 Illawarra Line trains from both Waterfall and Cronulla divert to North Sydney to terminate.

In instances where the entire Illawarra Line (Central ↔ Waterfall/Cronulla) is closed, trains run on the Eastern Suburbs Line from Bondi Junction to Central only, with a turnback provided south of platforms 24/25 at Central to allow trains to terminate.

If the line between Sydenham and Central is closed, trains are split into three sections, with an interchange required at Wolli Creek (if travelling from the Illawarra Line to the City) or Central (when travelling from the Eastern Suburbs to access Wolli Creek for Illawarra Line interchange). The sections are as follows:

  • Bondi Junction ↔ Central
  • Sydenham ↔ Cronulla
  • Hurstville ↔ Waterfall (as there is only 4tph terminating capacity at Sydenham)

Some late night trackwork periods close the main lines, forcing trains to use the local lines. Trains bypass Wolli Creek in these circumstances, with a trackwork bus service to operate between Sydenham, Wolli Creek and Arncliffe. All T4 trains make an additional stop at Arncliffe during these periods to allow for interchange with the bus service.

Stations[]

Name Code Distance from Central Opened Pattern Stops Serving Suburbs Other Lines Terminating Station?
Eastern Suburbs railway line (underground)
Bondi Junction BJN 6.76 km 1979 Express Bondi Junction, Woollahra TfNSW SCL Yes
Incompleted Woollahra station is located at ~5.8km. There is a short open-air cutting and partially constructed platform where the station was to be built.
Edgecliff ECF 4.82 km 1979 Express Edgecliff, Darling Point TfNSW SCL Yes (emergency only)
Kings Cross KNX 3.41 km 1979 Express Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay TfNSW SCL No
Martin Place MPL 2.10 km 1979 Express Sydney CBD TfNSW SCL Yes (peak only)
Town Hall TWH 1.21 km 1932 Express Sydney CBD, Darling Harbour T1
T2
T3
T8
T9
TfNSW SCL
No
Central CEN 0.00 km 1855 Express Central, Strawberry Hills, Ultimo, Surry Hills, Haymarket T1
T2
T3
T8
T9
TfNSW SCLNSW TrainLink
Light Rail
Yes (trackwork only)
Redfern REF 1.30 km 1878 Express Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington, University of Sydney T1
T2
T3
T8
T9
TfNSW BML
TfNSW CCN
TfNSW SCL
No
Illawarra railway line
Sydenham SDN 5.30 km 1884 Semi-express Sydenham, Marrickville, St Peters T3
T8
Yes (trackwork only)
Tempe TEP 6.84 km 1884 All stops Tempe, Earlwood No
Wolli Creek WIK 7.30 km 2000 Express Wolli Creek, Arncliffe T8
TfNSW SCL
No
Arncliffe ARN 8.42 km 1884 All stops Arncliffe No
Banksia BAN 9.60 km 1906 Banksia, Arncliffe, Rockdale No
Rockdale ROK 10,41 km 1884 Semi-express Rockdale, Bexley Yes (diesel trains only)
Kogarah KOG 11.61 km 1884 Kogarah, Bexley No
Carlton CRT 12.74 km 1889 Carlton, Bexley No
Allawah ALW 13.69 km 1925 Allawah, Hurstville No
Hurstville HVL 14.84 km 1884 Express Hurstville, South Hurstville TfNSW SCL Yes (peak and trackwork only)
Penshurst PEH 16.13 km 1886 Semi-express Penshurst No
Mortdale MOD 17.06 km 1897 Mortdale Yes (not regularly used)
Oatley OAT 18.28 km 1885 Oatley, Oatley West Yes (not regularly used)
Como CMO 21.24 km 1885 Como, Como West No
Jannali JAN 22.72 km 1931 Jannali No
Sutherland STH 24.64 km 1885 Express Sutherland TfNSW SCL Yes (not regularly used, trackwork only)
The Cronulla line branches off to the east. Selected services continue on the Illawara railway line to Waterfall.
Loftus LFT 26.29 km 1886 Express Loftus, Yarrahwarrah TfNSW SCL No
Engadine EGD 30.75 km 1920 Engadine, Woronora Heights TfNSW SCL No
Heathcote HCT 33.15 km 1886 Heathcote TfNSW SCL No
Waterfall WFL 38.74 km 1886 Waterfall TfNSW SCL Yes
Cronulla branch line
Kirrawee KIR 26.64 km 1939 Express Kirrawee No
Gymea GYM 27.94 km 1939 Gymea No
Miranda MRD 29.51 km 1939 Miranda No
Caringbah CRH 31.51 km 1939 Caringbah No
Woolooware WOW 33.60 km 1939 Woolooware No
Cronulla CNL 34.81 km 1939 Cronulla Yes

Gallery[]

Stations[]

Fleet[]

Railway Lines
Sydney Metro Lines
Metro North West Line

Tallawong, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Norwest, Hills Showground, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Epping, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde, Chatswood


Fleet
Alstom Metropolis


Line details - Sydney Metro


Sydney Trains Lines


T1 North Shore and Western Line

Richmond Branch
↑ Terminus, Richmond, East Richmond, Clarendon, Windsor, Mulgrave, Vineyard, Riverstone, Schofields, Quakers Hill, Marayong, Western Line ↓


Western Line
← Terminus, Emu Plains, Penrith, Kingswood, Werrington, St Marys, Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill, Doonside, Blacktown (Richmond Branch ↑), Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville, Westmead, Parramatta, Harris Park, Granville, Clyde, Auburn, Lidcombe, Strathfield, Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, North Shore Line →


North Shore Line
← Western Line, Milsons Point, North Sydney, Waverton, Wollstonecraft, St Leonards, Artarmon, Chatswood, Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra, Warrawee, Wahroonga, Waitara, Hornsby, Asquith, Mount Colah, Mount Kuring-gai, Berowra, Terminus →


Fleet
A set (Waratah) - T set (Tangara) - H set (OSCAR)


Line details - Sydney Trains


T2 Inner West and Leppington Line

City Circle
Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, Central


Main Suburban
City Circle ←
Redfern, Macdonaldtown, Newtown, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Summer Hill, Ashfield, Croydon, Burwood, Strathfield, Homebush, Flemington, Lidcombe, Auburn, Clyde, Granville
Parramatta Branch → Main South ↓


Main South
Merrylands, Guildford, Yennora, Fairfield, Canley Vale, Cabramatta, Warwick Farm, Liverpool, Casula, Glenfield
South West →


Parramatta Branch
Harris Park, Parramatta Terminus ←


South West
Edmondson Park, Leppington Terminus ←


Fleet
B set (Waratah Series 2) - A set (Waratah) - M set (Millennium) - K set


Line details - Sydney Trains


T3 Bankstown Line

City Circle
Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, Central


Redfern to Birrong
← City Circle Redfern, Erskineville, St Peters, Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown, Yagoona, Birrong
Lidcombe Branch ↓
Liverpool Branch →


Lidcombe Branch
Regents Park, Berala, Lidcombe Terminus ←


Liverpool Branch
Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Cabramatta, Warwick Farm, Liverpool Terminus ←


Fleet
B set (Waratah Series 2) - A set (Waratah) - M set (Millennium) - K set


Line details - Sydney Trains


T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line

City & Eastern Suburbs
Terminus ← Bondi Junction, Edgecliff, Kings Cross, Martin Place, Town Hall, Central, Redfern


Sydenham to Sutherland
Sydenham, Tempe, Wolli Creek, Arncliffe, Banksia, Rockdale, Kogarah, Carlton, Allawah, Hurstville, Penshurst, Mortdale, Oatley, Como, Jannali, Sutherland
Cronulla Branch →
Main Illawarra Line ↓


Main Illawarra Line
Loftus, Engadine, Heathcote, Waterfall Terminus ↓


Cronulla Branch
Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda, Caringbah, Woolooware, Cronulla Terminus →


Fleet
T set (Tangara) - H set (OSCAR)


Line details - Sydney Trains


T5 Cumberland Line

Richmond Branch
↑ Terminus, Richmond, East Richmond, Clarendon, Windsor, Mulgrave, Vineyard, Riverstone, Schofields, Quakers Hill, Marayong, Main Western ↓


Main Western
↑ Richmond Branch, Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville, Westmead, Parramatta, Harris Park, Main South ↓


Main South
↑ Main Western, Merrylands, Guildford, Yennora, Fairfield, Canley Vale, Cabramatta, Warwick Farm, Liverpool, Casula, Glenfield, South West ←


South West
→ Main South, Edmondson Park, Leppington, Terminus ←


Fleet
A set (Waratah) - M set (Millennium)


Line details - Sydney Trains


T7 Olympic Park Line

Central, Redfern, Strathfield, Olympic Park, Lidcombe


Fleet
B set (Waratah Series 2) - A set (Waratah) - T set (Tangara) - M set (Millennium) - K set


Line details - Sydney Trains


T8 Airport and South Line

City Circle
Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, Museum, Central


Airport Line
City Circle ← Green Square, Mascot, Domestic, International, Wolli Creek


East Hills Line
Airport Line ← Turrella, Bardwell Park, Bexley North, Kingsgrove, Beverly Hills, Narwee, Riverwood, Padstow, Revesby, Panania, East Hills, Holsworthy


Main South Line
East Hills Line ←
Glenfield, Macquarie Fields, Ingleburn, Minto, Leumeah, Campbelltown, Macarthur Terminus →


Illawarra Junction (peak only)
Redfern, St Peters, Sydenham
East Hills Line →


Fleet
B set (Waratah Series 2) - A set (Waratah) - M set (Millennium) - K set


Line details - Sydney Trains


T9 Northern Line

City & North Shore
↑ Terminus Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville, Chatswood, Artarmon, St Leonards, Wollstonecraft, Waverton, North Sydney, Milsons Point, Wynyard, Town Hall, Central


Redfern to Hornsby
Redfern, Burwood, Strathfield, North Strathfield, Concord West, Rhodes, Meadowbank, West Ryde, Denistone, Eastwood, Epping, Cheltenham, Beecroft, Pennant Hills, Thornleigh, Normanhurst, Hornsby Terminus ←


Fleet
A set (Waratah) - T set (Tangara)


Line details - Sydney Trains


NSW TrainLink Lines


Blue Mountains Line

Sydney Metropolitan
← Terminus, Central, Redfern, Strathfield, Parramatta, Westmead, Blacktown, Penrith, Emu Plains


Blue Mountains area
Lapstone, Glenbrook, Blaxland, Warrimoo, Valley Heights, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Linden, Woodford, Hazelbrook, Lawson, Bullaburra, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, Bell, Zig Zag, Lithgow, Rydal, Tarana, Bathurst, Terminus →


Fleet
V set - N set (Endeavour)


Line details - NSW TrainLink


Central Coast and Newcastle Line

Sydney Metropolitan
↓ Terminus, Central, Strathfield, Epping, Hornsby, Berowra
Peak only
Town Hall, Wynyard, Milsons Point, North Sydney, Waverton, Wollstonecraft, St Leonards, Artarmon, Chatswood, Gordon


Central Coast to Newcastle
Cowan, Hawkesbury River, Wondabyne, Woy Woy, Koolewong, Tascott, Point Clare, Gosford, Narara, Niagara Park, Lisarow, Ourimbah, Tuggerah, Wyong, Warnervale, Wyee, Morisset, Dora Creek, Awaba, Fassifern, Booragul, Teralba, Cockle Creek, Cardiff, Kotara, Adamstown, Broadmeadow, Hamilton, Newcastle Interchange, Terminus →


Fleet
V set - H set (OSCAR)


Line details - NSW TrainLink


South Coast Line

Sydney Metropolitan
Terminus ← Bondi Junction, Edgecliff, Kings Cross, Martin Place, Town Hall, Central, Redfern, Wolli Creek, Hurstville, Sutherland, Loftus, Engadine, Heathcote, Waterfall Main Illawarra Line ↓


Main Illawarra Line
Helensburgh, Otford, Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul, Bulli, Woonona, Corrimal, Towradgi, Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong, Wollongong, Coniston
Port Kembla Branch →
Kiama Branch ↓


Kiama Branch
Unanderra, Kembla Grange, Dapto, Albion Park, Oak Flats, Shellharbour Junction, Minnamurra, Bombo, Kiama Bomaderry Line ↓


Bomaderry Line
Gerringong, Berry, Bomaderry Terminus ↓


Port Kembla Branch
Lysaghts, Cringila, Port Kembla North, Port Kembla Terminus →


Fleet
T set (Tangara) - H set (OSCAR) - N set (Endeavour)


Line details - NSW TrainLink


Southern Highlands Line

↑ Terminus, Central, Glenfield, Campbelltown, Macarthur, Menangle Park, Menangle, Douglas Park, Picton, Tahmoor, Bargo, Yerrinbool, Mittagong, Bowral, Burradoo, Moss Vale, Exeter, Bundanoon, Penrose, Wingello, Tallong, Marulan, Goulburn Terminus ↓


Fleet
N set (Endeavour Railcar)


Line details - NSW TrainLink


Hunter Line

Newcastle Interchange to Maitland
Terminus ← Newcastle Interchange, Hamilton, Waratah, Warabrook, Sandgate, Hexham, Tarro, Beresfield, Thornton, Metford, Victoria Street, East Maitland, High Street, Maitland Dungog Branch ↑ Scone Branch →


Dungog Branch
Telarah, Mindaribba, Paterson, Martins Creek, Hilldale, Wallarobba, Wirragulla, Dungog
Terminus ↑


Scone Branch
Lochinvar, Greta, Branxton, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Scone Terminus →


Fleet
J set (Hunter Railcar) - N set (Endeavour)


Line details - NSW TrainLink


NSW TrainLink Regional North Coast Line

Sydney Metropolitan
Central, Strathfield, Hornsby,


Gosford, Wyong, Fassifern, Broadmeadow, Maitland, Dungog, Gloucester, Wingham, Taree, Kendall, Wauchope, Kempsey, Eungai, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Urunga, Sawtell, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Casino, Kyogle,


Queensland
Roma Street (Brisbane),


NSW TrainLink Regional North Western Line

Sydney Metropolitan
Central, Strathfield, Hornsby,


Gosford to Werris Creek
Gosford, Wyong, Fassifern, Broadmeadow, Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Scone, Murrurundi, Willow Tree, Qurindi, Werris Creek,


Armidale Branch
Tamworth, Kootingal, Walcha Road, Uralla, Armidale


Moree Branch
Gunnedah, Boggabri, Narrabri, Bellata, Moree


NSW TrainLink Regional Southern Line

Sydney Metropolitan
↑ Terminus, Central, Campbelltown,


Main South Line (Southern Highlands)
Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon, Goulburn,


Bombala Branch line (to ACT)
Tarago, Bungendore, Queanbeyan, Canberra, Terminus ←


Main South Line (Gunning to Junee)
Gunning, Yass Junction, Harden, Cootamundra, Junee,


Yanco-Griffith rail-line
Coolamon, Narrandera, Leeton, Griffith, Terminus ←


Main South Line (Wagga Wagga to Culcairn)
Wagga Wagga, The Rock, Henty, Culcairn,


Victoria
Albury, Wangaratta, Benalla, Seymour, Broadmeadows, Southern Cross, Terminus ↓


NSW TrainLink Regional Western Line

Sydney Metropolitan
↑ Terminus, Central, Strathfield, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith,


Blue Mountains and Western NSW
Katoomba, Mount Victoria, Lithgow, Rydal, Tarana, Bathurst, Blayney, Orange,


Dubbo Branch Line
Stuart Town, Wellington, Geurie, Dubbo, Terminus ←


Broken Hill Branch Line
Parkes, Condoblin, Eubalong West, Ivanhoe, Darnick, Menindee, Broken Hill, Terminus ←


Light Rail Lines


L1 Dulwich Hill Light Rail

Central Grand Concourse, Capitol Square, Paddy's Markets, Exhibition Centre, Convention, Pyrmont Bay, The Star, John St Square, Fish Market, Wentworth Park, Glebe, Jubilee Park, Rozelle Bay, Lilyfield, Leichhardt North, Hawthorne, Marion, Taverners Hill, Lewisham West, Waratah Mills, Arlington, Dulwich Grove, Dulwich Hill


Fleet
CAF Urbos 3


Line details - Light Rail


L2/L3 CBD & Southeast Light Rail

Sydney CBD
Circular Quay, Bridge Street, Wynyard, QVB, Town Hall, Chinatown, Haymarket, Central Chalmers St, Surry Hills, Moore Park
L2 Randwick Branch →
L3 Kingsford Branch ↓


L2 Randwick Branch
Royal Randwick, Wansey Road, UNSW High Street, Randwick


L3 Kingsford Branch
ES Marks, Kensington, UNSW Anzac Parade, Kingsford, Juniors Kingsford


Fleet
Alstom Citadis X05


Line details - Light Rail


Newcastle Light Rail

Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Civic, Crown Street, Queens Wharf, Newcastle Beach


Fleet
CAF Urbos 3


Line details - Light Rail


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