Hay railway line, New South Wales

The Hay railway line is a partly closed railway line in New South Wales, Australia. 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 line beyond Yanco to Hay is now closed, [cite web| title=Hay Branch| url = http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:hay| publisher=www.nswrail.net| accessdate = 2006-12-03 ] although the section to Willbriggie remained open for grain haulage until 2004. [cite news| author=NSW Minister for Transport| url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/media/2005/19-04-05-min-grain.pdf| title=News Release| format=PDF| date=19 May 2005| ] 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 an 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railcar service was provided at Narrandera for [passengers on the Tocumwal line operated three days per week, until withdrawn on Saturday November 26, 1983.cite book | author = Bob Whitehead | title = Tocumwal Railway Centenary | year = 2008 ]

These services were withdrawn in 1986, and replaced by road coach services. [Pollard, N."Rails to the Margins: The Griffith, Hillston, Roto Line". Australian Railway History, Vol 58, no. 836. June 2007.] 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. [cite journal| author=Date, K| title=Network Review: Junee- Goulburn| journal=Railway Digest| month=November| year=1997 ] A weekly locomotive train was initially reintroduced, subsequently replaced by a weekly Xplorer train. The train runs mainly for political reasons rather than fulfilling a significant transport role. Railway stations remain open at Coolamon and Narrandera.

ee also

*Rail transport in New South Wales

References