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The Hay railway line is a partly closed railway line in New South Wales. The line branches from the Main South line at Junee, and passes in a westwards direction through the towns of Coolamon and Narrandera to Yanco. The first train arrived in Hay on 4 July 1882.[1] The line beyond Yanco to Hay is now closed,[2] although the section to Willbriggie remained open for grain haulage until 2004.[3] At Yanco, the still-open Yanco to Griffith line branches off in a northwesterly direction to Griffith.

Passenger services[]

Until 1986, passenger service operated over the section of line between Junee and Yanco on their way to Griffith, consisting of a through train to Sydney (the Riverina Express) on several days per week, with a connection service between Grifith and Junee (connecting with the South Mail) on the other days. A connecting railcar service was provided at Narrandera for passengers on the Tocumwal line operated three days per week, until withdrawn on Saturday 26 November 1983.[4]

These services were withdrawn in 1986, and replaced by road coach services.[5] Between 1986 and 1996, no passenger trains operated over the line until services were reintroduced in 1996 after considerable political pressure was placed upon the NSW State Government.[6] A weekly locomotive train was initially reintroduced, subsequently replaced by the current Griffith Xplorer, which operates as part of the NSW TrainLink Regional Southern Line. The train runs mainly for political reasons rather than fulfilling a significant transport role. Railway stations remain open at Coolamon and Narrandera.

References[]

  1. The Centenary of the Railway from Junee to Hay Pollard, N.J. Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, April;May;June;July, 1982 pp65-86;104-112;113-136;148-162
  2. http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:hay
  3. http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/media/2005/19-04-05-min-grain.pdf
  4. Bob Whitehead, Tocumwal Railway Centenary, 2008
  5. Pollard, N.Rails to the Margins: The Griffith, Hillston, Roto Line. Australian Railway History, Vol 58, no. 836. June 2007.
  6. Date, K., Railway Digest - Network Review: Junee - Goulburn, November 1997
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