newy.com.au – Four daily peak services on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line will be upgraded from eight-car to 10-car Mariyung trains by Monday, giving passengers an extra 173 seats on each service.
Two longer sets joined the daily peak timetable on Monday, 20 July, with another two due to replace eight-car trains from 27 July across the morning and afternoon peaks. The changes increase capacity on existing services rather than adding departures.
A further two upgrades are planned later this year, when the final two eight-car Mariyung sets on the line will be replaced by 10-car trains.
About 45,000 trips are made on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line each weekday, with thousands of passengers travelling between Newcastle, Gosford and Sydney.
Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said the additional capacity would help meet demand on the state’s busiest intercity line.
“More Mariyung seats in the peak on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line is an important step as we continue to deliver a high-quality intercity service,” Mr Longland said.
“Around 45,000 trips are taken on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line every weekday, so this additional capacity ensures we are better prepared to get more people to and from work and home on the more spacious and modern Mariyungs.”
There are now 19 Mariyung trains operating on the line and servicing every station. Sydney Trains uses the fleet in different configurations to meet peak demand and passenger numbers.
The first Mariyung entered passenger service between Newcastle Interchange and Sydney Terminal in December 2024. The trains have since been progressively introduced on the Blue Mountains and South Coast lines.
The fleet features heating and air conditioning, two-by-two seating, extra legroom, tray tables and charging ports, as well as dedicated spaces for luggage, prams, bicycles and wheelchairs. The trains also have accessible toilets, priority seating, CCTV and enhanced passenger information systems.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the increased capacity would benefit Novocastrians travelling to Sydney for work, university and appointments.
“Newcastle is a growing city, and our public transport network needs to keep pace. More 10-car Mariyung services mean more seats for local commuters and a more comfortable journey for the thousands of people travelling to and from Newcastle every day,” he said.
