Born and bred in Newcastle 80 years ago. I was one of many protesting the closure of the original line. Having to alight with luggage/bicycles twice now instead of going all the way to Newcastle station on the same train. Costly to no advantage and time delays. Really enjoyed your video. I travel a lot on the train from my home near Fassifern south of Newcastle.
I must be old, I still remember spending 26 hour working days nearly 40 years ago on a Newcastle station reverb, like most of my work for NSW Railways, it's no longer in use. At least it hasn't been pulled down.
@@TransportVlog They actually spent a fortune on renovating the station buildings including removal of some of the less than sympathetic additions that had been thrown up over the years.
Yes Parramatta Light Rail is very high on the list for post lockdown videos. I also want to do another update video for Sydney Metro West and my first for the Western Airport line.
A lot of people protested all this but to me it is a much improved service with the tram only a few meters from the train,the tram is very regular and gets you closer to the beach also having the bus station right there.
I almost feel like I've wandered there in person. Very thoughtful camerawork to give us a comprehension of the area. Don't particularity care for the same ole same ole modern style and that bus dungeon would not be a nice place to wait too long in. I think the greatest beneficiaries of this whole set up is the developers -by far.
Hi James, glad you think so! I enjoy doing these tour of station type videos. Yes I'm sure the developers benefit a lot. However, it will benefit people too. by living or working in a new development and having a major interchange on their doorstep.
@@TransportVlog that's progress eh? Always an upside I guess. Glad to hear you had a good time doing it, and I'll be honest, I love hearing an Englishman's take on our system and you present it so thoroughly!
Thanks! You're not the first person that's said that! Yes the city has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and its much more vibrant now, than I remember it when I first went to Newcastle back in 2011.
I went here to Newcastle last year on the intercity when the new train station interchange was finished & must say it has now integrated good transport together.with train to light rail. & that It's really much improved since the last time I về been there.& i noticed the difference between the Newcastle light rail & Sydney's light rail. Because Sydney's one runs on electricity while Newcastle's one is battery powered.
What a outstanding video Paul! You’ve done a great job of explaining Newcastle’s transport hub. Very useful information! BTW, I know that Kaohsiung light rail in Taiwan use the same system as Newcastle and with CAF urbos 3 and Alstom Citadis 305 trams.
Thanks! Great to know that Kaohsiung light rail uses a similar system. I just google it on RUclips and found this video from CAF - ruclips.net/video/PYSdS1qGGv4/видео.html
i liked what they did to the original station, even though it's kinda silly that the trains terminate here and you have to tram it over to the original end where the CBD kinda starts
The Coffee Shop you mentioned at 1:29 in the video is owned by Ampol which used to be Caltex so for the people watching this, that will explain why they called it 'The Foodary' which matches up to the Convenience Store name they use at their fuel stations.
I read in the News that the Interchange will celebrate its Tenth anniversary It recorded 85.4 million passenger movements in 2024 and serves over 250,000 people daily. That's alot more since the former station closed
I've been to this station and its a very nice station and town surrounding it. There's the Cambridge Hotel around the corner where live bands used to play. Exciting times
Yet another clear and precise video...well done Paul...Newcastle is really coming along as a city and I can’t wait to visit (from Melbourne) once things open up again..I’m still amazed that I can do a day trip from Sydney to Newcastle on my senior Opal card for only $2.80...I was particularly interested in the bus station as I have friends who live in Port Stephens so thanks to your video I know exactly where the bus leaves from(Stand A)..it was hard to tell from the video but there didn’t appear to be much signage at the bus station...I also saw Reece’s RMTransit video where he gave you a shout out..keep up the good work.. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed this video Terence. I'll look forward to the Opal travel perks when I'm a little older! I was actually staying in Ports Stephens for a few days myself when I recorded this (and other videos in this area), so I know stop A very well too! Yes Reece and I are planning to work more closely (and do some collabs) and he's already given me a few good tips (like getting on Twitter!). Yes, the signage probably could be better. I didn't pay much attention to it when I was there.
Thanks for that, I haven"t been up there since they made all these changes but with this information provided I'll look like I know what I'm doing, lol. Cheers.
The light rail in the Sydney CBD does something similar to connect to the power. Between Circular Quay and Town Hall all the power in underneath the ground. When the trams get to Town Hall the power connection like you showed in the Newcastle light rail connects to the overhead power lines
Yes that's right Julian, and I definitely want to cover that section of Sydney Light Rail from Circular Quay to Town Hall in a separate video. I've already figured out which button the driver presses to lower and raise the pantograph at Town Hall!
Absolutely fascinating! I have always been wanting to see an in-depth tour and explanation of this modern and beautiful station. Very unique designs, it looks great! I do miss the old one though, it was very special and a landmark in Newcastle. But I guess Newcastle needed to be revitalised, so building this new station and the light rail line was one of the solutions. Also, I was watching RMTransit's video on the Sydney Metro expansion the other day, and I noticed he gave you a shoutout! That was very nice. And he also mentioned how he would like to do a collaboration with you if he comes over. That would be fantastic! He sure would learn a lot with your knowledge! Thanks mate.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Reece and I have been chatting about doing a collab. We've got a few ideas up our sleeves for after the lockdown and yes we'll definitely do a collab video when Australia / NSW will let him in!
woooah, the bus interchange is done! I wish it was done when I visited lemon tree passage a year ago, waiting in the sun without shelter wasn't fantastic. The other time I visited a little later the original station was behind barriers, so didn't get to check it out. Although I had used it before, it is but a distant memory for me and I barely remember what it looked like. I see there is a Newcastle to lemon tree passage service now, that would have been nice when I went; I needed to change busses halfway at some large roundabout with no pedestrain crossings (obviously, being in the middle of nowhere).
They are already planning a light rail extension. They also said if it goes past a certain point, they will put in overhead wires outside of the CBD as stops won’t be close enough and batteries/capacitors will go flat.
Also the trams on the Newcastle light rail actually use super capacitors which can be charged extremely quickly so the chargers would be connected to a high voltage supply that can supply a massive amount of power which is at least 100-200 kilowatts or possibly more than that so the capacitors can be fully charged within a few seconds! :)
@@TransportVlog Yup they would need to fully charge within 8-12 seconds if they were aiming to keep dwell times as close as possible to a normal tram! :)
I live in newy and i come to this station nearly everyday, and yes, lots of sydney services use platform 3, 22 sydney services depart platform 3 every weekday including both v sets and oscars, mostly used by express services. Same with 12 sydney services on platform 2 and 5 sydney services on platform 1. And a few times everyday, hunter line services can terminate on the same platform at the same time as an oscar or a v set already on the platfomr behind the train, they only terminate behind the 4 car trains due to not enough space on the platform. After terminating they would depart not in service to hamilton stabling yard or broadmeadow stabling yard to make way for the v set or oscar departing. If they were stabled in hamilton they would come back to newcastle interchange for another service, if they went to broadmeadow they would stable there and wont run till the next day. Unless if it was an endeavour they could be heading to sydney central not in service for bathurst bullet or southern highlands services.
Good to hear from a local newy boy! Thanks for the information on platform usage. Seems like it's quite an intensive operation, especially at the peak times, with trains moving the stabling yard to free-up space.
For the maintnce section, i belive the 6 car trains would just be able to fit. The reason why i belive so is they upgraded the sidings recently so i assume making room for 6 cars should be a priority. Also the V sets are slightly longer then a normal train length, by about 2M-3M meaning the marijung trains (which are normal length [i belive]) should be able to just about squeeze through though it would be tight. Also the bus/car park interchange is quite nice and something new since i last visited newcastle. Looks really nice and they did a great job. Also also the train driver prob just trying to say hello
Thanks Richard - Yes I hope the 6 car Marijung train will fit the smaller sidings. Glad you liked the bus/car interchange. The bus station seems a little under-used at the moment, but hopefully that will change.
18:15 - The car park will eventually be topped out by two residential towers up to 90m high. 19:40 - the extra space was provided for the local buses now operated by Keolis Downer for TfNSW. Unfortunately it was decided that most of these services will bypass the bus interchange.
Thanks Greg, Yes I thought I read about some residential towers being planned. Shame that those buses are bypassing the interchange and that would explain why it seemed a little quiet.
I remember early 90s my friend were sent away to work in Muswellbrook for 3 months. At that time catching a train from Hornsby and ?directly to Muswellbrook (that part I am not sure as I never asked the details). Looks like this definitely will need a change in the interchange now.
Yes it's still possible, but there is only one train per day now. The Xplorer service to Armidale and Moree stops at both Hornsby and Muswellbrook.- Here is a link to the timetable - transportnsw.info/regional-north-west-line
You were probably there before the bus station opened. Yes there are possible proposals to extend to Broadmeadow/John Hunter Hospital and also Wallsend, Mayfield and Charlestown. - You can download the extensions business case PDF from this page - www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/newcastle-light-rail.
Would be cool to see an expansion, unfortunately it’s probably just speculation in the local paper and things won’t happen for a while despite our Airport being upgraded for International travel and should have a light rail or heavy rail connection. I wouldn’t even mind a Metro train connection to the airport or Nelson Bay
Technically it is possible for trains to pass Newcastle Interchange as long as they have some speed when they hit the buffers. And also maybe make it an eight car train. Two carriages would stop a lot quicker. Nice to get a D set there as well!
Fantastic and Detailed video !! Thank you for answering my brains question as to why the Sydney light rail drops its pantograph at Sydney Town Hall station and continues on down to Circular Quay . I watched the light rails every day but was unsure where the power supply was. When they return to Town Hall on the South run the Pantograph goes up.
in two weeks on on Wednesday 25th December it be years since the rail line closed The Newcastle Line which is classed as a branch line several of these lines have been closed and replaced by much faster transport as a result it has brought more people back in to the city since it was closed.
When was the "up" and " down" lines changed over. When Newcastle station was open, the line from Hamilton to Newcastle was identified as the "up" road and the line from Newcastle to Hamilton was the "down" road.
Possibly, I wasn't aware of what the tracks were called prior to Newcastle Station closing. However, on openrailwaymap.org, the UP line is now the one towards Sydney.
The design for the new interchange was released by Transport for NSW in July 2015. Originally to be named Wickham Transport Interchange, in December 2015 Transport for NSW lodged a proposal with the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales to have the station name changed to Newcastle Interchange.[7][8] This was confirmed in December 2016. Construction commenced in May 2016 after being delayed by a legal challenge to the line's closure.[11] The railway station was opened on 15 October 2017 by Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Light-rail services commenced in February 2019. A World War I honour roll was placed at the end of platform 1. Originally installed at Wickham Superior Public School, it was donated to the Newcastle Museum after the school had to be demolished following the 1989 Newcastle earthquake.
Hi Paul, I really love watching your videos over and over again haha, can you do a video for L3 Kingsford Line if it’s possible? Because I'm living in Kingsford and studying at UNSW right now haha.
That's wonderful to hear. You've certainly commented on quite a few so far! Yes it's on the list, but probably won't be till next year. I'm keen to cover Sydney Metro construction as much as possible this year, as that's popular and time-sensitive.
23:13 The bus to Raymond Terrace turns right onto *HUNTER STREET WEST* with the Cambridge Hotel in the background, and to its left, the former home of the Newcastle Regional Museum with Wood Street running between them connecting Hunter Street West with Parry Street. To the right of where the bus exits is the turn-off to Tudor Street, going to Hamilton, then on to Broadmeadow and New Lambton.
Before The 25th of December 2014. Trains Continue On The Old Newcastle Line Which Opened in 1857. The Old Stations Were Newcastle, Civic And Wickham. On the farwell newcastle line on christmas on the 25th of december 2014. The Last Train Was The V set.
Hi Phillip, The Hunter railcars are still relatively new - built around 2005, so they have plenty of life left in them! New bi-modal (ie diesel and electric) trains are on order from CAF to replace the XPTs, Xplorer and Endeavour trains. I've never been on the VLocity trains, but they look cool from the outside! Hopefully I'll get a chance when I'm next in Victoria. I hear that lots of upgrades are planned for the Victoria regional network over the next few years.
I'm pretty sure they do this exact thing in George st in Sydney. You get half way up and the overhead lines stop - I saw that one day and though that was weird.
Hi Martin, Sydney Light Rail works quite differently on George Street. Between Town Hall and CIrcular Quay, it picks up power through the tracks. The tracks only carry electricity when the tram is on it, so it's safe to walk on at other times. I do plan to talk about when I cover Sydney Light Rail.
I remember that the Oscar h set is on the Newcastle Line. But where are the V sets?! aren't they Withdrawn. Oscar H sets Entered Service on the 15th of December 2006. Did they Replaced V sets???!!
great news I’d love to see you do a Moss Vale and Goulburn video. I know Goulburn is a bit more difficult due to the timing of the trains so understand if you can’t do that one.
Hi Russell, yes it probably does, and Parramatta Light Rail will also run on batteries for part of the route too. You can find out more here - ruclips.net/video/0wB7scQ0QCA/видео.html
The tram depot is in a prime spot for public space and/or development. People leaving the station heading towards the CBD are confronted by what is a big shed. It is supposedly temporary and is to be relocated further west when the line is extended. The irony is that it was placed east of Stewart Avenue due to lack of space, In reality, the government bought the old "Store" site (where the new car park is located) and could have built the depot west of the tram terminus.
Yes I suppose it could have gone there, but it seems to make sense now to have the bus interchange where it now is. It will be interesting to see if it gets moved in the future!
@@TransportVlog Hi Paul, that's true although once the constraint of the Store building was removed it opened up more options to the west. Unfortunately it was one of those projects where the scope changed frequently. I don't expect to see the route extended in my lifetime. One of the downsides about having over engineered LR systems is that the cost of any extension is prohibitive made worse by a road authority refusing to give up road space for fear of creating a congestion issue in 2050.
The power is supplied by a system of capacitors rather than batteries. It was a late addition to the project which has removed what would have been clutter from overhead wires. The extra time to charge at each intermediate stations can be annoying and takes about 30 seconds each. As there are only four intermediate stations, it adds about 2 minutes to the end to end trip time.
Hi Greg, thanks for clarifying that its capacitors rather than batteries. I guess a typical dwell time would be 15 to 20 seconds anyway, so it probably doesn't make too much difference. With hindsight they would possibly have gone for the Sydney Light Rail solution between Circular Quay and Town Hall of providing power through the tracks. I'm looking forward to doing a video on that soon!
@lwf51 Yes I just looked that up on RUclips. Looks really cool seeing electric trucks with pantographs! However, I'm wondering in the longer term if battery powered Tesla type vehicles could replace overhead wires for both road and rail in the future, or at least provide some electrical power on non-electrified lines.
@@TransportVlog The trouble in Newcastle is that often zero or very few passengers getting off so the 35 second dwell time seems to take forever. From my involvement in the NLR, I understand that the capacitor technology was not suitable for Sydney Light Rail as the weight has to be carried to full length of the route despite only being used in one section of George Street. I also understand that the third rail technology is protected by a patent to one supplier which was seen as a risk long term. NLR differed from Sydney in that there was a sperate contract for the build, one for the supply of rolling stock and one for the operation. Hence the government was more in control of the technology. In Sydney, they had one contract for everything.
I know a few battery trams, but they all use a third rail ( power Is only applied to the area of the rain below the train so as to not shock people crossing the tracks, trust me I've tried)
Hi Eanna, That sounds similar to the wire free section of Sydney Light Rail between Town Hall and Circular Quay. I've tried standing on the live rail there too! With battery technology developing, I think we will see this more and more. We might even get battery trains too!
I think the Mariyung train delay is mainly to do with getting agreement from train crew. This has been on-going for a while and it's part of the reason for tomorrow's train strike - www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/25/nsra-s25.html
Hi Nick, Unfortunately, I can't get there at the moment, as its over 5K from where I live. I will go when restrictions ease! I'm looking forward to filming the new over station concourse bridge and new entrances.
Oscar H sets don't run on slower all stops service to Central Sydney Terminal, They Even run on Express Services. And Oscar H sets run via the North Shore Line During the Peak Hour From Gosford or Wyong. And V sets are not included Via the North Shore Line.
Hi Ethan, Oscar's run on all the all stops services from Newcastle to Central and also the express services at weekends. And yes, they do run via the North Shore line during the morning and evening peaks.
Enjoy The interchange because Gladdy is closing the line north of Broadmeadow as well as closing the Southern Highlands Line and the South Coast Line south of Waterfall
Hi Paul. I am really impressed with this presentation but I must say that I was very much against this project when it was proposed many years ago. I just couldn't see the reasoning behind it especially when the tram route is less than 3klm long and The overall cost couldn't be justified. This video does show how impressive the project has been and I may even change my opinion. The fact that the bus interchange is not serviced by all the routes in the area is dumbfounding to me and I hope that changes in the near future. I didn't notice a taxi rank there either but maybe that is outside the interchange area. I hope they extend the tram to the hospital but the current system of charging at each station would make the trip very slow. I must say that I am impressed with the design but it needs to be fully utilised. There are no State Transit buses in Newcastle as they were privatised some time ago.
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed this video. The bus interchange does seem quite under utilised and I also hope that will change in the future. Yes there is a taxi rank. It's on Station Street close to the kiss and ride - see this link transportnsw.info/document/4993/newcastle-interchange-station-map-wcag.pdf. I'll need to do some further research on how the bus services work in this area. It looks like the NSW government may still set the timetable and routes which is something that was very common in the UK. I travelled down from Nelson Bay to film this video (as I was on holiday there) and I was quite impressed with the Port Stephens bus services. Thanks as always for your lovely comments!
@@TransportVlog Hi again Paul. Every bus company in NSW is contracted to TFNSW to provide a service. The routes and timetables are constructed by the individual companies and presented to TFNSW for approval prior to a contract being awarded or renewed. State Transit in Sydney must also comply with these contract requirements. This is the reason State Transit is being slowly dissolved because the current system means a government department is overseeing another department which is seen as a conflict of interest and the only way to resolve this is to "privatise" State Transit. Contrary to union spin State Transit is not being sold but their contract is being withdrawn and awarded to another operator. Theoretically this means all transport employees are employed by TFNSW.
@lwf51 Yes, very similar. I was in Perth on a delegation from Sydney to examine the ticketing system which we were going to purchase from Perth. I was at Causeway bus depot where they were showing us how it worked ( or didn't work) and I advised against the purchase because I could see how it could be misused. We bought the system and called it "Metro 10" and it was a disaster. I believe that depot is no longer there. I love Perth and if I had to leave Sydney I would be there in a heartbeat.
@@TransportVlog No worries Paul. I only touched on the reason for "privatisation" and the responsibility for the construction of timetables. The rules and requirements for the successful operation of a contract and the penalties for breaching a contract are also very interesting. There are certain KPI's that must be met by the operator which are also interesting as well as the fact that Rural contracts differ somewhat from the metropolitan contracts. I could go on forever because the process fascinates me and alarms me. The privatisation of the railway is also on the agenda for the same reasons, hence the Sydney Metro and its current expansion. Food for thought Paul.
It's complicated and controversial, and if you read the comments you'll get an idea of why it happened and the pros and cons. I might do a video on what remains of the old Newcastle Line and discuss the reasons in that video.
Yes absolutely! - I actually had this planned for early July. I was going to stay in Wollongong for a couple days and do Kiama, Bomaderry and Port Kembla as part of the end of the line series and then the lockdown happened :-(.
@@tr_games5376 Probably early next year. I've got a lot of catching up to do on Sydney Metro and Parramatta Light Rail, so that will be top priority once the lockdown is over.
As someone from Strathfield in Sydney, I miss being able to catch a train right into the Newcastle CBD and go to the beach and restaurants. I'm not going make the effort of switching multiple forms of transport for a casual day out. Much easier to drive., especially as the highways have improved and are faster. Its unreal how silly they were in removing heavy-rail from the CBD. No European city would do that. Could you imagine if Sydney Central trains terminated in Newtown? or if NYC trains finished in New Jersey instead of Grand Central Station? Absurd.
Yes it seemed like a silly idea to me at the time, but the rail line only had 3 or 4 trains an hour in the off-peak (as opposed to hundreds of trains coming into Sydney Central or Grand Central Station! At least with the tram, you have a service that is every 7-8 minutes now, although its only every 15 mins at weekends, which is a little poor.
@@TransportVlog By the way, I'm also in Newcastle. Did you know that once a year there is a steam train that goes into Carrington? I think it is around October (should go on it this year!).
Originally to be named Wickham Transport Interchange, in December 2015, Transport for NSW lodged a proposal with the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales to have the station name changed to Newcastle Interchange.[7][8] This was confirmed in December 2016.
@@TransportVlog Sadly, I don't know if it makes up for the sorry state of the services of the trains in Melbourne (*) and especially the lack of good bus services (and especially connecting bus services from stations) there... Their bicycle lanes are admittedly better though. * This was at least when I lived there until 2012 - there was at least one part of Melb's network that was 5+ mins late, and most were at 40mins frequency outside rush periods. I remember Sydney's City Circle looking just as bad when I first visited in 2003, but I was pleasantly surprised when the trains arrived mostly on-time - and now have min 15 min frequency almost everywhere even on weekends - since when I started to live in Sydney in 2013.
@@HenryMidfields Yes it's great having the 15 minute off-peak frequency on the majority of Sydney Trains lines. I believe Melbourne is getting some new trains. I'm hoping to get there for a few days this year. I'm keen to do a video on the different Melbourne train types and perhaps some end of the line videos too.
We should count ourselves fortunate they've remained this long. NSW likes new things to show what they're "achieving". New York still run 1960s stock in the meanwhile. It's about good upkeep.
@@jamesfrench7299 they remind me of the ICE and EMU trains in Brisbane which are also in the process of being withdrawn. I've only been a NSW resident for a couple of years the but V-Set are so comfy! ruclips.net/video/FwOLzDMRwlw/видео.html
@@liljrae9684 They were mind blowing when newer in the 80s. They originally came with double glazed windows with gold mirror glass outer layer. They were eerily silent as they accelerated away from rest. It felt like you were traveling in a luxury car like an executive. They were outstanding. They have been allowed to slowly be downgraded, but the refurbishment programme with the purple seating and new carpeting brought back that feel and helped to mostly restore that silent running. There were no ferals traveling in them either when I rode them in the 80s. PS those ICE trains have the same sound as our V sets with the cam motors. If you close your eyes you think it's the same train. Sad they are going. Glad you got to experience the V sets. Hard to believe the first batch came out in 1977 (all withdrawn). There was a couple of early trains like the V sets in 1970 but were known as U sets. Outwardly identical to the untrained eye but with a few minor differences, but different interior fit out (not reminiscent of an airplane fuselage like the later ones) and problematic mechanicals.
@@jamesfrench7299 yep I've read up alot about fleet since I moved down here. The v set is definitely my fav! Those ICE trains up here originally used to run between Brisbane and Rockhampton, some 630km. Did the trip all the time when I was a kid so I think that's why I fell in love with the v sets down here. Id have to say the EMUs in Brisbane are still my all time favorites, they are extremely loud haha, going through a tunnel in one would almost deafen you! ruclips.net/video/5KeJrOj3CkQ/видео.html
@@liljrae9684 I watched the entire clip (in two parts). They're a screamer aren't they! They are geared lower than the V sets but pretty sure they share the same traction equipment components. Quiet carriage was a bit of a stretch lol. Such rural scenery for a suburban looking EMU to run in, especially the end just before reaching the destination. How surreal it was to my eyes. I liked the sheds with the new rolling stock that's been beset by extreme delays in getting them into service. Hope they're sorted. These have purple seating too. A lot of people dislike the purple seats that replaced the green ones in the V sets, but I personally was sick of the green seating. It was time for a change and I think it was uncharacteristically daring of normally staid NSW to try something a bit radical like that. I think they gave the interiors a needed change. The seat design is the same, so their renowned comfort wasn't lost. It could have been a lot worse. The later batches of V sets about 1984 -on actually got the best seats of all, orange with cloth inserts in the middle. They later replaced them all with green ones across the board which was a shame.
Great video. I will say however that I think the light rail project was completely pointless, as the trainline already went in the same direction before they destroyed it. The original Newcastle station already had a bus interchange, and it will never be the same again. It just sits there, a mere remnant of what it once was.
The tram stops are wrongly named in three locations: 1) Western end is Wickham, 2) the second-last eastern stop is Market Street and 3) the last stop is Pacific Park. Newcastle Beach is still 500-to-600 metres further east along Scott Street or slightly closer if you cut through Pacific Park toward Telford Street(which no longer goes all the way from Scott Street to Shortland Esplanade and is now just parking spaces). The Wharf(as I'm a republican, I'm *loathe* to call it "Queen's Wharf" lies across the former rail corridor from the tram stop to the north, and westward from the former level crossing that used to exist at that point. The tram stop is right at Market Street.
@neilforbes416 the crown street stop which is 237 hunter street is only 61 metres from crown street so ot should be on the corner of hunter and crown as crown is not a very long street
@neiforbes416 Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit characterized by a combination of tram and rapid transit features. While its rolling stock is more similar to a traditional tram, it operates at a higher capacity and speed, and often on an exclusive right-of-way.
Its a long story, but if you google it, you'll find lots of people that were passionately for and against this change! If you also read the comments in my Newcastle Light Rail (Rear of Tram) video, you'll see a good mix of views there too.
Where are the K sets. The K sets were running on the Central Coast And Newcastle Line Shuttles from Newcastle to Gosford, Wyong, Morriset, Fassifern Etc. So Why K sets were Withdrawn on the Newcastle Line. Where Newcastle K sets Replaced By H 55 the Newest Oscar into Service since December 2012. Or For Conversion.
20:00 That's *NOT* Maitland Road! It is *Hunter Street West* as the *oh-so-ugly* parking station and bus stop are on the Newcastle side of the boundary with Wickham. Maitland Road does *NOT* begin until you've driven over the bridge across the rail line at the south-western corner of Wickham.
@@Mediawatcher2023 *WRONG!!!* Maitland Road starts at the foot of the bridge after you come across it to get over the rail line. That part of the road cuts across the south-western corner of Wickham near he park. To be clearer, the bridge itself has no name, but on its eastern approach is where Hunter Street, Newcastle ends and its western approach is where Maitland Road begins, at that south-western corner of Wickham.
What do you mean end of the Newcastle line what do you mean is it no more lines comeing out not be yes I hope not a is it going to be closed or is it going to be close for few days the old line use to be train to Newcastle station but it is now light rail is d set now in servise is it going to be closed no I hope not thank you I hope not closed
No expense is ever spared in making public transport more expensive, inconvenient, slow and difficult to negotiate. The Train went right into the heart of Newcastle, no need to interchange and drag your bags onto another means of transport. The cronies of the NSW LNP got a lot of taxpayer's money thrown at making a good experience sh!t.
@peterBbreis5407 the Newcastle line was made redundant by the goverment in 2012 due to low passenger service As part of its plans to revitalise the Newcastle central business district, the Newcastle railway line was closed east of Hamilton on 25 December 2014 to allow construction of the Newcastle Light Rail line.[1][2][3] Included in the project was a transport interchange.[4
@@top40researcher31 B.S. The Newcastle line is the same line between Sydney/Maitland to Newcastle except it no longer terminates in the centre of Newcastle, They cut it short at huge expense and replaced it with a much slower but ridiculously short Light Rail that forces people to get out of the train and wait for an alternative connection. Idiot's Transport Planning at its worst.
The Train that i hate the Most is the V sets, Because, they are getting too old. And i think the Air Conditiong on a V set will Blow Up. And K sets are my most hated because they stink and Getting old, and they have Chains in the Ganways.
Hi Ethan, They are all different, and I don't dislike any of them. My least favourite are probably the Tangara's and that's mainly due to poor window visibility on many (but not all) of them.
Born and bred in Newcastle 80 years ago. I was one of many protesting the closure of the original line. Having to alight with luggage/bicycles twice now instead of going all the way to Newcastle station on the same train. Costly to no advantage and time delays.
Really enjoyed your video. I travel a lot on the train from my home near Fassifern south of Newcastle.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes this was very controversial for sure! I remember first hearing about it, and thought it was a mad idea!
I must be old, I still remember spending 26 hour working days nearly 40 years ago on a Newcastle station reverb, like most of my work for NSW Railways, it's no longer in use. At least it hasn't been pulled down.
Yes, good that the original station is still there, although it looks odd with the platforms filled in!
@@TransportVlog They actually spent a fortune on renovating the station buildings including removal of some of the less than sympathetic additions that had been thrown up over the years.
I remember when I was a kid and early teenager
We used to catch the train to Newcastle I miss those days 👍
Can't wait to watch updates on the Parramatta Light Rail and the NSW Metro stations. Hopefully lockdown isnt gonna take too long.
Yes Parramatta Light Rail is very high on the list for post lockdown videos. I also want to do another update video for Sydney Metro West and my first for the Western Airport line.
A lot of people protested all this but to me it is a much improved service with the tram only a few meters from the train,the tram is very regular and gets you closer to the beach also having the bus station right there.
Yes, it was very controversial at the time, but it has opened up the Newcastle area more.
I almost feel like I've wandered there in person. Very thoughtful camerawork to give us a comprehension of the area.
Don't particularity care for the same ole same ole modern style and that bus dungeon would not be a nice place to wait too long in.
I think the greatest beneficiaries of this whole set up is the developers -by far.
Hi James, glad you think so! I enjoy doing these tour of station type videos. Yes I'm sure the developers benefit a lot. However, it will benefit people too. by living or working in a new development and having a major interchange on their doorstep.
@@TransportVlog that's progress eh? Always an upside I guess.
Glad to hear you had a good time doing it, and I'll be honest, I love hearing an Englishman's take on our system and you present it so thoroughly!
You must have the perfect voice for rail videos. And wow, I had no idea how far Newcastle had come, it's unrecognisable!
Thanks! You're not the first person that's said that! Yes the city has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and its much more vibrant now, than I remember it when I first went to Newcastle back in 2011.
I went here to Newcastle last year on the intercity when the new train station interchange was finished & must say it has now integrated good transport together.with train to light rail.
& that It's really much improved since the last time I về been there.& i noticed the difference between the Newcastle light rail & Sydney's light rail. Because Sydney's one runs on electricity while Newcastle's one is battery powered.
Yes it's a really good interchange now.
What a outstanding video Paul!
You’ve done a great job of explaining Newcastle’s transport hub. Very useful information!
BTW, I know that Kaohsiung light rail in Taiwan use the same system as Newcastle and with CAF urbos 3 and Alstom Citadis 305 trams.
Thanks! Great to know that Kaohsiung light rail uses a similar system. I just google it on RUclips and found this video from CAF - ruclips.net/video/PYSdS1qGGv4/видео.html
i liked what they did to the original station, even though it's kinda silly that the trains terminate here and you have to tram it over to the original end where the CBD kinda starts
Yes it's quite interesting what they've done to the original station and signal box.
The Coffee Shop you mentioned at 1:29 in the video is owned by Ampol which used to be Caltex so for the people watching this, that will explain why they called it 'The Foodary' which matches up to the Convenience Store name they use at their fuel stations.
Thanks for sharing that! It was closed when I was there, otherwise I would have definitely stopped for a coffee!
I read in the News that the Interchange will celebrate its Tenth anniversary It recorded 85.4 million passenger movements in 2024 and serves over 250,000 people daily. That's alot more since the former station closed
I've been to this station and its a very nice station and town surrounding it.
There's the Cambridge Hotel around the corner where live bands used to play. Exciting times
That's good to hear! Wonderful to know that there's a pub nearby 😀
@@TransportVlog I recently went on the light rail to Newcastle Beach too.
Fun times
11:34 I'm pretty sure the driver just saying hello. The driver thinks you're a trainspotter or something.
Yes possibly! - It was seriously loud! and it made me jump slightly. I had to lower the volume of the horn in the video editing.
Yet another clear and precise video...well done Paul...Newcastle is really coming along as a city and I can’t wait to visit (from Melbourne) once things open up again..I’m still amazed that I can do a day trip from Sydney to Newcastle on my senior Opal card for only $2.80...I was particularly interested in the bus station as I have friends who live in Port Stephens so thanks to your video I know exactly where the bus leaves from(Stand A)..it was hard to tell from the video but there didn’t appear to be much signage at the bus station...I also saw Reece’s RMTransit video where he gave you a shout out..keep up the good work.. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed this video Terence. I'll look forward to the Opal travel perks when I'm a little older! I was actually staying in Ports Stephens for a few days myself when I recorded this (and other videos in this area), so I know stop A very well too! Yes Reece and I are planning to work more closely (and do some collabs) and he's already given me a few good tips (like getting on Twitter!). Yes, the signage probably could be better. I didn't pay much attention to it when I was there.
I thought seniors opal fare was $2.50. Bad news for people using the Interchange car park. I believe it is $9. per hr.
This was very interesting, Paul. Newcastle interchange is very well designed.
Thanks Peter, Yes I think they've done a pretty good job overall.
Thanks for that, I haven"t been up there since they made all these changes but with this information provided I'll look like I know what I'm doing, lol. Cheers.
Hi Steve, LOL - Yes you will!
11:35 definitely lol
Thanks for this video. Later this year I will be visiting Lemon Tree Passage so I expect to be using this facility soon. 👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️ from Mornington.
You're very welcome! Enjoy seeing this for real!
Awesome video! That driver certainly was friendly!
Yep he certainly was!
It was good too see that sort if thing in this age of uptight appearances and looking proper.
The light rail in the Sydney CBD does something similar to connect to the power. Between Circular Quay and Town Hall all the power in underneath the ground. When the trams get to Town Hall the power connection like you showed in the Newcastle light rail connects to the overhead power lines
Yes that's right Julian, and I definitely want to cover that section of Sydney Light Rail from Circular Quay to Town Hall in a separate video. I've already figured out which button the driver presses to lower and raise the pantograph at Town Hall!
Great informative video Paul!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely fascinating! I have always been wanting to see an in-depth tour and explanation of this modern and beautiful station. Very unique designs, it looks great! I do miss the old one though, it was very special and a landmark in Newcastle. But I guess Newcastle needed to be revitalised, so building this new station and the light rail line was one of the solutions. Also, I was watching RMTransit's video on the Sydney Metro expansion the other day, and I noticed he gave you a shoutout! That was very nice. And he also mentioned how he would like to do a collaboration with you if he comes over. That would be fantastic! He sure would learn a lot with your knowledge! Thanks mate.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Reece and I have been chatting about doing a collab. We've got a few ideas up our sleeves for after the lockdown and yes we'll definitely do a collab video when Australia / NSW will let him in!
woooah, the bus interchange is done! I wish it was done when I visited lemon tree passage a year ago, waiting in the sun without shelter wasn't fantastic. The other time I visited a little later the original station was behind barriers, so didn't get to check it out. Although I had used it before, it is but a distant memory for me and I barely remember what it looked like.
I see there is a Newcastle to lemon tree passage service now, that would have been nice when I went; I needed to change busses halfway at some large roundabout with no pedestrain crossings (obviously, being in the middle of nowhere).
Yes seemed like quite an ordeal to get to Lemon Tree Passage in the past. I might do a trip there myself next time I'm in the Port Stephens area.
They are already planning a light rail extension. They also said if it goes past a certain point, they will put in overhead wires outside of the CBD as stops won’t be close enough and batteries/capacitors will go flat.
Also the trams on the Newcastle light rail actually use super capacitors which can be charged extremely quickly so the chargers would be connected to a high voltage supply that can supply a massive amount of power which is at least 100-200 kilowatts or possibly more than that so the capacitors can be fully charged within a few seconds! :)
Thanks for that. I guess they would need to charge pretty quickly to minimise dwell times at each stop.
@@TransportVlog
Yup they would need to fully charge within 8-12 seconds if they were aiming to keep dwell times as close as possible to a normal tram! :)
I live in newy and i come to this station nearly everyday, and yes, lots of sydney services use platform 3, 22 sydney services depart platform 3 every weekday including both v sets and oscars, mostly used by express services. Same with 12 sydney services on platform 2 and 5 sydney services on platform 1.
And a few times everyday, hunter line services can terminate on the same platform at the same time as an oscar or a v set already on the platfomr behind the train, they only terminate behind the 4 car trains due to not enough space on the platform. After terminating they would depart not in service to hamilton stabling yard or broadmeadow stabling yard to make way for the v set or oscar departing. If they were stabled in hamilton they would come back to newcastle interchange for another service, if they went to broadmeadow they would stable there and wont run till the next day. Unless if it was an endeavour they could be heading to sydney central not in service for bathurst bullet or southern highlands services.
Good to hear from a local newy boy! Thanks for the information on platform usage. Seems like it's quite an intensive operation, especially at the peak times, with trains moving the stabling yard to free-up space.
That driver honked the horn for saying “Hello Paul”
Yes quite possibly!
@@TransportVlog LOL
@@TransportVlog You were shocked haha
For the maintnce section, i belive the 6 car trains would just be able to fit. The reason why i belive so is they upgraded the sidings recently so i assume making room for 6 cars should be a priority. Also the V sets are slightly longer then a normal train length, by about 2M-3M meaning the marijung trains (which are normal length [i belive]) should be able to just about squeeze through though it would be tight.
Also the bus/car park interchange is quite nice and something new since i last visited newcastle. Looks really nice and they did a great job.
Also also the train driver prob just trying to say hello
Thanks Richard - Yes I hope the 6 car Marijung train will fit the smaller sidings. Glad you liked the bus/car interchange. The bus station seems a little under-used at the moment, but hopefully that will change.
This is amazing! So informative! Thank you for this!
Thanks! You're very welcome.
18:15 - The car park will eventually be topped out by two residential towers up to 90m high. 19:40 - the extra space was provided for the local buses now operated by Keolis Downer for TfNSW. Unfortunately it was decided that most of these services will bypass the bus interchange.
Thanks Greg, Yes I thought I read about some residential towers being planned. Shame that those buses are bypassing the interchange and that would explain why it seemed a little quiet.
Sounds like a good move to me. Saves time.
I remember early 90s my friend were sent away to work in Muswellbrook for 3 months. At that time catching a train from Hornsby and ?directly to Muswellbrook (that part I am not sure as I never asked the details). Looks like this definitely will need a change in the interchange now.
Yes it's still possible, but there is only one train per day now. The Xplorer service to Armidale and Moree stops at both Hornsby and Muswellbrook.- Here is a link to the timetable - transportnsw.info/regional-north-west-line
The vicinity is looking more complete than when I was last there, about 2 years ago. Do you know of any plans to extend the light rail?
You were probably there before the bus station opened. Yes there are possible proposals to extend to Broadmeadow/John Hunter Hospital and also Wallsend, Mayfield and Charlestown. - You can download the extensions business case PDF from this page - www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/newcastle-light-rail.
Would be cool to see an expansion, unfortunately it’s probably just speculation in the local paper and things won’t happen for a while despite our Airport being upgraded for International travel and should have a light rail or heavy rail connection. I wouldn’t even mind a Metro train connection to the airport or Nelson Bay
Technically it is possible for trains to pass Newcastle Interchange as long as they have some speed when they hit the buffers. And also maybe make it an eight car train. Two carriages would stop a lot quicker. Nice to get a D set there as well!
I think that would be a bit messy!
The Newcastle Interchange is on the newcastle side of the rail line the former wickham station is is of course on the wickham side
Fantastic and Detailed video !! Thank you for answering my brains question as to why the Sydney light rail drops its pantograph at Sydney Town Hall station and continues on down to Circular Quay . I watched the light rails every day but was unsure where the power supply was. When they return to Town Hall on the South run the Pantograph goes up.
Hi Peter, you're very welcome. I plan to do a video on Sydney Light that will explain what happens between Town Hall and Circular Quay!
well done learnt more of the interchange
That's good to hear. Glad you enjoyed this video
Love your work! Thank you😀
You're very welcome Eddie
Thank u very well done...👍
Glad you enjoyed it Irene.
in two weeks on on Wednesday 25th December it be years since the rail line closed The Newcastle Line which is classed as a branch line several of these lines have been closed and replaced by much faster transport as a result it has brought more people back in to the city since it was closed.
Amazing video as always! :)
Thanks!
When was the "up" and " down" lines changed over. When Newcastle station was open, the line from Hamilton to Newcastle was identified as the "up" road and the line from Newcastle to Hamilton was the "down" road.
Possibly, I wasn't aware of what the tracks were called prior to Newcastle Station closing. However, on openrailwaymap.org, the UP line is now the one towards Sydney.
I enjoy the content u upload thank u for great vids
Thanks! - Glad you enjoy my videos
The design for the new interchange was released by Transport for NSW in July 2015. Originally to be named Wickham Transport Interchange, in December 2015 Transport for NSW lodged a proposal with the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales to have the station name changed to Newcastle Interchange.[7][8] This was confirmed in December 2016.
Construction commenced in May 2016 after being delayed by a legal challenge to the line's closure.[11] The railway station was opened on 15 October 2017 by Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Light-rail services commenced in February 2019.
A World War I honour roll was placed at the end of platform 1. Originally installed at Wickham Superior Public School, it was donated to the Newcastle Museum after the school had to be demolished following the 1989 Newcastle earthquake.
Thanks for that! At some point, I'll do a video on what is left of the original Newcastle Line, and I'll certainly make use of your information then!
@@TransportVlog thankyou
omg i visit this place daily
Nice! - Is the coffee or food any good at the interchange cafe?
@@TransportVlog To be honest, I couldn't tell you. But the Maccas near there is absolutely horrendous.
@@frehesh.4386 No worries, I normally avoid Maccas unless I need the loo!
I think that the driver touches the horn button to warn other trains that are arriving and departing.
good video mate
Thanks Joseph
Hi Paul, I really love watching your videos over and over again haha, can you do a video for L3 Kingsford Line if it’s possible? Because I'm living in Kingsford and studying at UNSW right now haha.
That's wonderful to hear. You've certainly commented on quite a few so far! Yes it's on the list, but probably won't be till next year. I'm keen to cover Sydney Metro construction as much as possible this year, as that's popular and time-sensitive.
@@TransportVlog Yes haha, I've commented on different videos of yours Paul.
@@TransportVlog That’s right, I agree to your opinion, Sydney Metro construction is more significant for us haha.
Did you visit the old Newcastle station that was closed in 2014?
Yes I did (there was some footage in this video). I also caught trains to and from the old Newcastle station back in 2011/2012.
@@TransportVlog ok
23:13 The bus to Raymond Terrace turns right onto *HUNTER STREET WEST* with the Cambridge Hotel in the background, and to its left, the former home of the Newcastle Regional Museum with Wood Street running between them connecting Hunter Street West with Parry Street. To the right of where the bus exits is the turn-off to Tudor Street, going to Hamilton, then on to Broadmeadow and New Lambton.
@neilforbes416 then it would turn on to lookout road
And the Port Stephens service goes via Mayfeild and Islington
Before The 25th of December 2014. Trains Continue On The Old Newcastle Line Which Opened in 1857. The Old Stations Were Newcastle, Civic And Wickham. On the farwell newcastle line on christmas on the 25th of december 2014. The Last Train Was The V set.
Hi Ethan, you might enjoy this cab ride video that was back in 2014 when the old line was still open. ruclips.net/video/viS2wIXaoAU/видео.html
Very good video!
Thanks!
3 and 4 sidings at Hamilton Sidings can definitely accommodate 8 car V sets.
That's good to know! It was hard to tell from the bridge.
Wonder if standard gauge V/Line VLocity trains would be suitable alternatives/replacements for those Xplorer and Hunter class Diesel trains.
Hi Phillip, The Hunter railcars are still relatively new - built around 2005, so they have plenty of life left in them! New bi-modal (ie diesel and electric) trains are on order from CAF to replace the XPTs, Xplorer and Endeavour trains. I've never been on the VLocity trains, but they look cool from the outside! Hopefully I'll get a chance when I'm next in Victoria. I hear that lots of upgrades are planned for the Victoria regional network over the next few years.
I'm pretty sure they do this exact thing in George st in Sydney. You get half way up and the overhead lines stop - I saw that one day and though that was weird.
Hi Martin, Sydney Light Rail works quite differently on George Street. Between Town Hall and CIrcular Quay, it picks up power through the tracks. The tracks only carry electricity when the tram is on it, so it's safe to walk on at other times. I do plan to talk about when I cover Sydney Light Rail.
@@TransportVlog Ah right. Interesting all of this is weird.
I remember that the Oscar h set is on the Newcastle Line. But where are the V sets?! aren't they Withdrawn. Oscar H sets Entered Service on the 15th of December 2006. Did they Replaced V sets???!!
Hi Ethan, V sets still run on the Newcastle line, but only on weekdays. On weekends, they are all Oscars.
Can you do more of the “End of the Line” series”?
Yes am planning to do more "End of the Line" videos on 2025. I may call them "The Terminators" in the future!
great news I’d love to see you do a Moss Vale and Goulburn video. I know Goulburn is a bit more difficult due to the timing of the trains so understand if you can’t do that one.
Well done.
Thanks!
I'm sure that the tram in Seville (Spain) runs on battery for part of its route.
Hi Russell, yes it probably does, and Parramatta Light Rail will also run on batteries for part of the route too. You can find out more here - ruclips.net/video/0wB7scQ0QCA/видео.html
The tram depot is in a prime spot for public space and/or development. People leaving the station heading towards the CBD are confronted by what is a big shed. It is supposedly temporary and is to be relocated further west when the line is extended. The irony is that it was placed east of Stewart Avenue due to lack of space, In reality, the government bought the old "Store" site (where the new car park is located) and could have built the depot west of the tram terminus.
Yes I suppose it could have gone there, but it seems to make sense now to have the bus interchange where it now is. It will be interesting to see if it gets moved in the future!
@@TransportVlog Hi Paul, that's true although once the constraint of the Store building was removed it opened up more options to the west. Unfortunately it was one of those projects where the scope changed frequently. I don't expect to see the route extended in my lifetime. One of the downsides about having over engineered LR systems is that the cost of any extension is prohibitive made worse by a road authority refusing to give up road space for fear of creating a congestion issue in 2050.
The power is supplied by a system of capacitors rather than batteries. It was a late addition to the project which has removed what would have been clutter from overhead wires. The extra time to charge at each intermediate stations can be annoying and takes about 30 seconds each. As there are only four intermediate stations, it adds about 2 minutes to the end to end trip time.
Hi Greg, thanks for clarifying that its capacitors rather than batteries. I guess a typical dwell time would be 15 to 20 seconds anyway, so it probably doesn't make too much difference. With hindsight they would possibly have gone for the Sydney Light Rail solution between Circular Quay and Town Hall of providing power through the tracks. I'm looking forward to doing a video on that soon!
@lwf51 Yes I just looked that up on RUclips. Looks really cool seeing electric trucks with pantographs! However, I'm wondering in the longer term if battery powered Tesla type vehicles could replace overhead wires for both road and rail in the future, or at least provide some electrical power on non-electrified lines.
@@TransportVlog The trouble in Newcastle is that often zero or very few passengers getting off so the 35 second dwell time seems to take forever. From my involvement in the NLR, I understand that the capacitor technology was not suitable for Sydney Light Rail as the weight has to be carried to full length of the route despite only being used in one section of George Street. I also understand that the third rail technology is protected by a patent to one supplier which was seen as a risk long term. NLR differed from Sydney in that there was a sperate contract for the build, one for the supply of rolling stock and one for the operation. Hence the government was more in control of the technology. In Sydney, they had one contract for everything.
@@gregessex1851 Thanks for explaining this.
I know a few battery trams, but they all use a third rail ( power Is only applied to the area of the rain below the train so as to not shock people crossing the tracks, trust me I've tried)
Hi Eanna, That sounds similar to the wire free section of Sydney Light Rail between Town Hall and Circular Quay. I've tried standing on the live rail there too! With battery technology developing, I think we will see this more and more. We might even get battery trains too!
I love the videos I have family from Newcastle I can't wait for the lockdown to end, also is there any news about the mariyung train be in service
I think the Mariyung train delay is mainly to do with getting agreement from train crew. This has been on-going for a while and it's part of the reason for tomorrow's train strike - www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/09/25/nsra-s25.html
@@TransportVlog thanks for the for the information really helped
Is Stop C used by private buses like BRIDJ on demand?
Yes I think it is.
@@TransportVlog yeah probably
The D-Sets is still testing right now🤣, do you know what’s the reason for that Paul?
No I don't. I'm aware that there are occasional test trains running.
great vid paul
Thanks!
I see you haven’t done any videos of Sydney Metro, and I have heard Sydenham station has be Completed
Hi Nick, Unfortunately, I can't get there at the moment, as its over 5K from where I live. I will go when restrictions ease! I'm looking forward to filming the new over station concourse bridge and new entrances.
Oscar H sets don't run on slower all stops service to Central Sydney Terminal, They Even run on Express Services. And Oscar H sets run via the North Shore Line During the Peak Hour From Gosford or Wyong. And V sets are not included Via the North Shore Line.
Hi Ethan, Oscar's run on all the all stops services from Newcastle to Central and also the express services at weekends. And yes, they do run via the North Shore line during the morning and evening peaks.
Enjoy The interchange because Gladdy is closing the line north of Broadmeadow as well as closing the Southern Highlands Line and the South Coast Line south of Waterfall
Part of the NWO doctrine. Controlling movement of citizens
This comment didnt age well lol
can you do this but for the south coast lines? to bombaderry
Yes, already filmed Kiama and Bomaderry, but have quite a backlog of videos to edit at the moment, but hopefully I can do this in 2025.
@TransportVlog woah awesome thanks mate.
The train driver has to toot the horn when it leaves the station❤
Hi Paul. I am really impressed with this presentation but I must say that I was very much against this project when it was proposed many years ago. I just couldn't see the reasoning behind it especially when the tram route is less than 3klm long and The overall cost couldn't be justified. This video does show how impressive the project has been and I may even change my opinion. The fact that the bus interchange is not serviced by all the routes in the area is dumbfounding to me and I hope that changes in the near future. I didn't notice a taxi rank there either but maybe that is outside the interchange area. I hope they extend the tram to the hospital but the current system of charging at each station would make the trip very slow. I must say that I am impressed with the design but it needs to be fully utilised. There are no State Transit buses in Newcastle as they were privatised some time ago.
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed this video. The bus interchange does seem quite under utilised and I also hope that will change in the future. Yes there is a taxi rank. It's on Station Street close to the kiss and ride - see this link transportnsw.info/document/4993/newcastle-interchange-station-map-wcag.pdf. I'll need to do some further research on how the bus services work in this area. It looks like the NSW government may still set the timetable and routes which is something that was very common in the UK. I travelled down from Nelson Bay to film this video (as I was on holiday there) and I was quite impressed with the Port Stephens bus services. Thanks as always for your lovely comments!
@@TransportVlog Hi again Paul. Every bus company in NSW is contracted to TFNSW to provide a service. The routes and timetables are constructed by the individual companies and presented to TFNSW for approval prior to a contract being awarded or renewed. State Transit in Sydney must also comply with these contract requirements. This is the reason State Transit is being slowly dissolved because the current system means a government department is overseeing another department which is seen as a conflict of interest and the only way to resolve this is to "privatise" State Transit. Contrary to union spin State Transit is not being sold but their contract is being withdrawn and awarded to another operator. Theoretically this means all transport employees are employed by TFNSW.
@lwf51 Yes, very similar. I was in Perth on a delegation from Sydney to examine the ticketing system which we were going to purchase from Perth. I was at Causeway bus depot where they were showing us how it worked ( or didn't work) and I advised against the purchase because I could see how it could be misused. We bought the system and called it "Metro 10" and it was a disaster. I believe that depot is no longer there. I love Perth and if I had to leave Sydney I would be there in a heartbeat.
@@aussiejohn5835 Thanks John for explaining this. I'm now a little more wiser about what is going on here!
@@TransportVlog No worries Paul. I only touched on the reason for "privatisation" and the responsibility for the construction of timetables. The rules and requirements for the successful operation of a contract and the penalties for breaching a contract are also very interesting. There are certain KPI's that must be met by the operator which are also interesting as well as the fact that Rural contracts differ somewhat from the metropolitan contracts. I could go on forever because the process fascinates me and alarms me. The privatisation of the railway is also on the agenda for the same reasons, hence the Sydney Metro and its current expansion. Food for thought Paul.
I don’t know why they got rid of the train line at Newcastle and replaced it for trams ? Do you know 😊
It's complicated and controversial, and if you read the comments you'll get an idea of why it happened and the pros and cons. I might do a video on what remains of the old Newcastle Line and discuss the reasons in that video.
@@TransportVlog ok
Can u do South Coast line next at Kiama
Yes absolutely! - I actually had this planned for early July. I was going to stay in Wollongong for a couple days and do Kiama, Bomaderry and Port Kembla as part of the end of the line series and then the lockdown happened :-(.
@@TransportVlog so when will be next time u do it
@@tr_games5376 Probably early next year. I've got a lot of catching up to do on Sydney Metro and Parramatta Light Rail, so that will be top priority once the lockdown is over.
@@TransportVlog Did u hear that D set are now quiting
As someone from Strathfield in Sydney, I miss being able to catch a train right into the Newcastle CBD and go to the beach and restaurants. I'm not going make the effort of switching multiple forms of transport for a casual day out. Much easier to drive., especially as the highways have improved and are faster.
Its unreal how silly they were in removing heavy-rail from the CBD. No European city would do that. Could you imagine if Sydney Central trains terminated in Newtown? or if NYC trains finished in New Jersey instead of Grand Central Station? Absurd.
Yes it seemed like a silly idea to me at the time, but the rail line only had 3 or 4 trains an hour in the off-peak (as opposed to hundreds of trains coming into Sydney Central or Grand Central Station! At least with the tram, you have a service that is every 7-8 minutes now, although its only every 15 mins at weekends, which is a little poor.
D sets won’t come into service until after enterprise agreement negotiations are finalised; which, by the looks of it, won’t be anytime soon.
Yes, it seems that way at the moment!
11:35 Why on earth would a train driver do that!?
Fun fact: I saw a new mariyung D set at Lithgow on my way to Coonabarabran
Cool! - That means they must have completed the tunnel widening!
@@TransportVlog probably
another exallant video you should do secarets of sydeny trains
There are so many secrets, I wouldn't know where to start! - Perhaps secrets of each lime (T1, T2 etc). I'll give this some thought!
@@TransportVlog there are some realy good secreats on the sydany trains
The driver was probably tooting to say hi. If we do this while driving a car, I think we can lose 1 demerit point!
Yes possibly! - It seemed like a friendly toot!
@@TransportVlog By the way, I'm also in Newcastle. Did you know that once a year there is a steam train that goes into Carrington? I think it is around October (should go on it this year!).
@@lundsweden No I didn't know that. I'll keep a look out for that!
Originally to be named Wickham Transport Interchange, in December 2015, Transport for NSW lodged a proposal with the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales to have the station name changed to Newcastle Interchange.[7][8] This was confirmed in December 2016.
Yes, Newcastle Interchange is a good name, especially for tourists and people less familiar with the Newcastle area.
@@TransportVlog Newcastle Interchange is a better name rather wickham
the trams are ok but its strange to see when it comes to each stop it charges its battery
Yes it is a little strange, but it seems to work. I don't remember the dwell times at the stops being any longer than on other light rail lines.
NSW is living in year 2200 whilst VIC is still in the 1900s. Everything in this video is better than VIC equivalent hahaha
Melbourne still has an extensive tram system, which Sydney regrets removing now!
@@TransportVlog Sadly, I don't know if it makes up for the sorry state of the services of the trains in Melbourne (*) and especially the lack of good bus services (and especially connecting bus services from stations) there... Their bicycle lanes are admittedly better though.
* This was at least when I lived there until 2012 - there was at least one part of Melb's network that was 5+ mins late, and most were at 40mins frequency outside rush periods. I remember Sydney's City Circle looking just as bad when I first visited in 2003, but I was pleasantly surprised when the trains arrived mostly on-time - and now have min 15 min frequency almost everywhere even on weekends - since when I started to live in Sydney in 2013.
@@HenryMidfields Yes it's great having the 15 minute off-peak frequency on the majority of Sydney Trains lines. I believe Melbourne is getting some new trains. I'm hoping to get there for a few days this year. I'm keen to do a video on the different Melbourne train types and perhaps some end of the line videos too.
wow didnt know the new trains were running on the CCN line! will be a shame to see the V set go :(
We should count ourselves fortunate they've remained this long. NSW likes new things to show what they're "achieving".
New York still run 1960s stock in the meanwhile. It's about good upkeep.
@@jamesfrench7299 they remind me of the ICE and EMU trains in Brisbane which are also in the process of being withdrawn. I've only been a NSW resident for a couple of years the but V-Set are so comfy!
ruclips.net/video/FwOLzDMRwlw/видео.html
@@liljrae9684 They were mind blowing when newer in the 80s. They originally came with double glazed windows with gold mirror glass outer layer. They were eerily silent as they accelerated away from rest. It felt like you were traveling in a luxury car like an executive. They were outstanding.
They have been allowed to slowly be downgraded, but the refurbishment programme with the purple seating and new carpeting brought back that feel and helped to mostly restore that silent running.
There were no ferals traveling in them either when I rode them in the 80s.
PS those ICE trains have the same sound as our V sets with the cam motors. If you close your eyes you think it's the same train. Sad they are going.
Glad you got to experience the V sets. Hard to believe the first batch came out in 1977 (all withdrawn). There was a couple of early trains like the V sets in 1970 but were known as U sets. Outwardly identical to the untrained eye but with a few minor differences, but different interior fit out (not reminiscent of an airplane fuselage like the later ones) and problematic mechanicals.
@@jamesfrench7299 yep I've read up alot about fleet since I moved down here. The v set is definitely my fav! Those ICE trains up here originally used to run between Brisbane and Rockhampton, some 630km. Did the trip all the time when I was a kid so I think that's why I fell in love with the v sets down here. Id have to say the EMUs in Brisbane are still my all time favorites, they are extremely loud haha, going through a tunnel in one would almost deafen you!
ruclips.net/video/5KeJrOj3CkQ/видео.html
@@liljrae9684 I watched the entire clip (in two parts).
They're a screamer aren't they!
They are geared lower than the V sets but pretty sure they share the same traction equipment components.
Quiet carriage was a bit of a stretch lol.
Such rural scenery for a suburban looking EMU to run in, especially the end just before reaching the destination. How surreal it was to my eyes.
I liked the sheds with the new rolling stock that's been beset by extreme delays in getting them into service.
Hope they're sorted.
These have purple seating too.
A lot of people dislike the purple seats that replaced the green ones in the V sets, but I personally was sick of the green seating. It was time for a change and I think it was uncharacteristically daring of normally staid NSW to try something a bit radical like that. I think they gave the interiors a needed change. The seat design is the same, so their renowned comfort wasn't lost. It could have been a lot worse.
The later batches of V sets about 1984 -on actually got the best seats of all, orange with cloth inserts in the middle. They later replaced them all with green ones across the board which was a shame.
2 years later it's the end of 2023 and these trains are still on testing and no passengers have travelled on them.
Yes I know! These trains have been on test since I started Transport Vlog in late 2020!
@@TransportVlogthese trains were meant to be in service Replacing the v sets and the OSCar H set to replace the K set
Great video. I will say however that I think the light rail project was completely pointless, as the trainline already went in the same direction before they destroyed it.
The original Newcastle station already had a bus interchange, and it will never be the same again. It just sits there, a mere remnant of what it once was.
Thanks! - It was a very controversial scheme, and if you look through the comments, you'll see plenty of debate on the pros and cons of this project.
The tram stops are wrongly named in three locations: 1) Western end is Wickham, 2) the second-last eastern stop is Market Street and 3) the last stop is Pacific Park. Newcastle Beach is still 500-to-600 metres further east along Scott Street or slightly closer if you cut through Pacific Park toward Telford Street(which no longer goes all the way from Scott Street to Shortland Esplanade and is now just parking spaces). The Wharf(as I'm a republican, I'm *loathe* to call it "Queen's Wharf" lies across the former rail corridor from the tram stop to the north, and westward from the former level crossing that used to exist at that point. The tram stop is right at Market Street.
@neilforbes416 the crown street stop which is 237 hunter street is only 61 metres from crown street so ot should be on the corner of hunter and crown as crown is not a very long street
@neiforbes416 Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit characterized by a combination of tram and rapid transit features. While its rolling stock is more similar to a traditional tram, it operates at a higher capacity and speed, and often on an exclusive right-of-way.
@neilforbes416 if the stop is at Newcastle Beach it be on the Shortland Esplanade.
what is wrong with the name Queens whalf
@@Mediawatcher2023 The word "Queens"! Just call the place *The Wharf* and have done with it!
Why on earth they got rid of the OLD main Newcastle station and stopped the line where it is now. It's not even Newcastle >:(
Its a long story, but if you google it, you'll find lots of people that were passionately for and against this change! If you also read the comments in my Newcastle Light Rail (Rear of Tram) video, you'll see a good mix of views there too.
8:34 yeah that didn’t happen
LOL! - perhaps it will be "towards the end of 2022" instead - or maybe 2023, or even 2024!
D Sets Also Be 8 Car Trains
Yes I guess they can if you put two 4 car sets together.
Where are the K sets. The K sets were running on the Central Coast And Newcastle Line Shuttles from Newcastle to Gosford, Wyong, Morriset, Fassifern Etc. So Why K sets were Withdrawn on the Newcastle Line. Where Newcastle K sets Replaced By H 55 the Newest Oscar into Service since December 2012. Or For Conversion.
@ethans-dk4bk the K sets are now retired replaced by the oscar fleet
Hi Ethan, as @top40researcher31 says, they were withdrawn a few years ago. Not sure why.
@@TransportVlog K sets are still running its the S sets that have retired
20:00 That's *NOT* Maitland Road! It is *Hunter Street West* as the *oh-so-ugly* parking station and bus stop are on the Newcastle side of the boundary with Wickham. Maitland Road does *NOT* begin until you've driven over the bridge across the rail line at the south-western corner of Wickham.
@neilforbes416 thats correct
@neilforbes416 Maitland Road starts where the former picture theatre was on the corner where Baumont Street is.
@@Mediawatcher2023 *WRONG!!!* Maitland Road starts at the foot of the bridge after you come across it to get over the rail line. That part of the road cuts across the south-western corner of Wickham near he park. To be clearer, the bridge itself has no name, but on its eastern approach is where Hunter Street, Newcastle ends and its western approach is where Maitland Road begins, at that south-western corner of Wickham.
@@neilforbes416 yes i just checked with google maps
What do you mean end of the Newcastle line what do you mean is it no more lines comeing out not be yes I hope not a is it going to be closed or is it going to be close for few days the old line use to be train to Newcastle station but it is now light rail is d set now in servise is it going to be closed no I hope not thank you I hope not closed
It's the light rail now that's all. No more tracks.
Please pronounce this city as NEWCARSLE, the correct pronunciation.
21:15 Maitland Road is *NOT* behind you! What *IS* behind you is *HUNTER STREET WEST!*
@Neilforbes416 it would change into maitland road over the bridg
@@top40researcher31 The bridge itself is neutral. Hunter Street ends before the bridge and Maitland Road begins after the bridge is crossed.
@@neilforbes416 yes the bridge divides it
@neilforbes416 and the Cambridge Hotel right behind him.
@@neilforbes416 the bridge would act as a transition from Hunter Street to Mailtand Road
Not a proper interchange ; most buses do not use it and No Ferry connection.3 platforms is definitely not enough for this city;
The old station was better for that, as it had 4 platforms and was more centrally located.
Central station in Sydney is definitely a proper interchange, even though it doesn’t have ferry services and not all bus routes go there.
No expense is ever spared in making public transport more expensive, inconvenient, slow and difficult to negotiate.
The Train went right into the heart of Newcastle, no need to interchange and drag your bags onto another means of transport. The cronies of the NSW LNP got a lot of taxpayer's money thrown at making a good experience sh!t.
@peterBbreis5407 the Newcastle line was made redundant by the goverment in 2012 due to low passenger service As part of its plans to revitalise the Newcastle central business district, the Newcastle railway line was closed east of Hamilton on 25 December 2014 to allow construction of the Newcastle Light Rail line.[1][2][3] Included in the project was a transport interchange.[4
@@top40researcher31 B.S. The Newcastle line is the same line between Sydney/Maitland to Newcastle except it no longer terminates in the centre of Newcastle, They cut it short at huge expense and replaced it with a much slower but ridiculously short Light Rail that forces people to get out of the train and wait for an alternative connection. Idiot's Transport Planning at its worst.
What a waste trains used to go all the way into Newcastle. A backward step indeed.
The Train that i hate the Most is the V sets, Because, they are getting too old. And i think the Air Conditiong on a V set will Blow Up. And K sets are my most hated because they stink and Getting old, and they have Chains in the Ganways.
Hi Ethan, They are all different, and I don't dislike any of them. My least favourite are probably the Tangara's and that's mainly due to poor window visibility on many (but not all) of them.
There is no Newcassle. The new light rail has destroyed the Newcastle CBD. The bus intercahange is unusable.
All for the developers. Result of corruption.
@@jamesfrench7299 The developers have made millions and Newcastle CBD is unusable.
@@Joe-jd4pn parasites that's all they are.