Countrylink
 |
|
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 16 January 1989 |
| Dissolved | 30 June 2013 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | New South Wales |
| Headquarters | Sydney |
| Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency |
State Rail Authority (1989-2003) RailCorp (2004-2013) |
| Key document |
|
| Website | www.countrylink.info |
CountryLink was an Australian passenger rail and road operator operating in regional New South Wales, as well as to Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. It was owned by RailCorp, a Government of New South Wales entity. CountryLink operated rail services using XPT and Xplorer rolling stock, with connecting coach services operated under contract by private operators.
CountryLink was established in January 1989 under the Transport Administration Act 1988 as a business unit of what was then the State Rail Authority to operate all non-metropolitan long distance passenger services. It inherited a fleet of XPT and locomotive-hauled passenger trains. Following the election of the Greiner State Government in March 1988, consultants Booz Allen Hamilton were commissioned to prepare a report into NSW rail services. On purely economic grounds, the report recommended closing all country passenger services as they were judged unviable, however this was not politically acceptable. If services were to be maintained, the report recommended an 'all XPT' option with an expanded network of coach services replacing many other services.
In November 1989, the Silver City Comet was withdrawn, while in February 1990 the Brisbane Limited and Pacific Coast Motorail were withdrawn and replaced by XPT services, the Canberra XPT was withdrawn and replaced by locomotive-hauled stock and the Northern Tablelands Express was truncated to Tamworth with road coaches introduced from Sydney to Armidale. The Intercapital Daylight ceased in August 1991 and the Sydney/Melbourne Express in November 1993 was replaced by an XPT in November 1993 following the delivery of additional stock.
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