Sydney to Grafton XPT retro revival turns heads as it officially returns to the tracks

After a year of coach replacements during essential fleet upgrades, the Minns Labor Government is ensuring the Grafton XPT train service will run once again from Sydney through the Central Coast, Hunter and Mid North Coast, bringing this critical connection back for regional NSW.

It's not just the train service making a comeback. As a nod to the popularity of the original livery, two power cars, called 'The City of Sydney' and 'The City of Grafton', and 6 carriages will be painted in the distinctive black, red, silver and warm white branding used by the State Rail Authority in the 1980s when the XPTs were first introduced into service. The first return service of the Grafton XPT will run as a full set in this livery.

Sydney to Grafton train services will resume from Tuesday, 28 April at 11.47am while return services from Grafton to Sydney kick off 29 April with the 05.15am service.

This transformation forms part of the Minns Labor Government's $40.3 million XPT Life Extension Project - necessitated by the Liberal-National privatisation and delays on the new regional rail fleet.

To keep the services reliable for regional communities, the XPT has undergone major upgrades and restoration, including:

• mechanical work to improve service reliability
• new carpeting and refurbished seats
• maintenance to improve operation of the air-conditioning and toilets

After its initial run as a special 'back to the future' train on the resumed Grafton XPT service, the retro-painted power cars and carriages will be used across the broader NSW TrainLink network.

Throughout the 12 month coach replacement of the Grafton train service, the north coast, including Grafton has continued to be serviced by two other daily return train services - the Casino and Brisbane XPT's.

Bookings can be made now for these train services at transportnsw.info/regional-travel.

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

"For many communities along the line, the XPT is a reliable and affordable lifeline to the rest of the state.

"We made a clear commitment to the people of Grafton and communities along the line that coaches would only replace the Grafton train service for 12 months while we carried out these major upgrades. We have delivered on that promise.

"Trainspotters - particularly those who have been around a few decades - will get the chance to relive the nostalgia of seeing the candy-striped livery of the first service making its way through regional NSW.

"I want to thank the community for their patience over the past year. It has meant we have been able to fast track the $40.3 million, five-year program to refurbish our ageing XPTs - the workhorses of our current regional rail fleet.

"We are overhauling them inside and out from mechanical systems to new carpets and windows, to ensure passengers have cleaner, more comfortable, and dependable journeys until the new regional rail fleet enters service."