# Hunter Line

HUN Hunter Line :
Legend :
This diagram: viewtalkedit :
The Hunter Line (HUN) is an intercity rail service running from Newcastle, with two branches to Dungog and Scone in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It operates on the Newcastle, Main North and North Coast lines.

## Description of Route

Hunter Line services operate from Newcastle on the Newcastle branch line to Islington Junction, the Main North Line between Islington Junction and Scone, the North Coast Line between Maitland and Dungog. The Hunter Line shares its portion of the Main North Line and North Coast Line with NSW TrainLink North Western and North Coast regional services respectively.

## Services

Services run regularly between Newcastle and Telarah, with infrequent services to Dungog and Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone. Services are operated by Endeavour and Hunter railcars.
Until 2007, 620/720 class railcars operated the service. The line was the last in Australia to have a regular steam hauled passenger service. The final service was hauled from Newcastle to Singleton on 24 July 1971 by 3246. Diesel locomotive hauled services operated until replaced by 620/720 and 660/760 class railcars in 1984.
The line was truncated to terminate at Hamilton from 5 January 2015. It was extended to Newcastle Interchange when this opened on 15 October 2017.
Trains that service the line have two carriages, while some peak hour services have four carriages.

## Stations

Hunter Line stations :
| Name | Railway line | Serving suburbs/towns | Notes |
| Newcastle Interchange | Newcastle | Wickham, Newcastle, Hamilton East | Interchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line and Newcastle Light Rail |
| Hamilton | Newcastle | Hamilton, Islington, Tighes Hill | Interchange with Central Coast & Newcastle Line |
| Waratah | Main North | Waratah, Georgetown, Mayfield, Mayfield East | |
| Warabrook | Main North | Warabrook, Callaghan | Use for Newcastle University |
| Sandgate | Main North | Sandgate, Shortland | |
| Hexham | Main North | Hexham | |
| Tarro | Main North | Tarro | |
| Beresfield | Main North | Beresfield, Woodberry | |
| Thornton | Main North | Thornton, Chisholm | |
| Metford | Main North | Metford, Ashtonfield, Chisholm | |
| Victoria Street | Main North | East Maitland, Tenambit | |
| East Maitland | Main North | East Maitland, Pitnacree | |
| High Street | Main North | South Maitland, Maitland | |
| Maitland | Main North | Maitland, Lorn, Gillieston Heights | Terminus of certain services. Use for 164 bus to Cessnock. |
| At Maitland, the line branches. The northern branch is towards Dungog, and the northwestern branch is towards Scone. ||||
| To Dungog ||||
| Telarah | North Coast | Telarah, Rutherford | Terminus of most services |
| Mindaribba | North Coast | Mindaribba, Bolwarra Heights | |
| Paterson | North Coast | Paterson | |
| Martins Creek | North Coast | Martins Creek | |
| Hilldale | North Coast | Hilldale | |
| Wallarobba | North Coast | Wallarobba | |
| Wirragulla | North Coast | Wirragulla | |
| Dungog | North Coast | Dungog | Terminus station |
| To Scone ||||
| Lochinvar | Main North | Lochinvar | |
| Greta | Main North | Greta, North Rothbury | |
| Branxton | Main North | Branxton, East Branxton | |
| Singleton | Main North | Singleton | Terminus of certain services |
| Muswellbrook | Main North | Muswellbrook | Terminus of certain services |
| Aberdeen | Main North | Aberdeen | |
| Scone | Main North | Scone | Terminus station |

## Patronage

The following table shows the patronage of each line of the NSW TrainLink Intercity network for the year ending 30 June 2024, based on Opal tap on and tap off data.
2023–24 NSW TrainLink Intercity patronage by line :
| Blue Mountains Line | 7,152,563 |
| Central Coast & Newcastle Line | 13,189,811 |
| Hunter Line | 803,606 |
| South Coast Line | 7,132,670 |
| Southern Highlands Line | 755,919 |