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The ''Grafton Express'' is an Australian passenger train operated by
NSW TrainLink NSW TrainLink is a regional train and coach operator in Australia, providing services throughout New South Wales and into Australian Capital Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria (state), Victoria, Queensland and South Australia ...
between
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
and Grafton via the North Coast line. In February 1990, the long-standing '' Holiday Coast XPT'' was axed as part of a restructure of
CountryLink CountryLink was a passenger rail and road service brand that operated in regional areas of New South Wales, and to and from Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. Originally created as a business unit (or sub-brand) of the State Rail Authority of Ne ...
services. With the other XPT services struggling to keep up with weekend demand, in June 1990 a service to Grafton was reinstated. It ran on Fridays only to Grafton and Sundays only to Sydney but during school holidays ran daily. It was formed of locomotive hauled HUB/ RUB stock with the headcode NL35/NL36."An Obituary to the Grafton Express" ''Railway Digest'' January 1994 page 34 Initially hauled by 86 class electric locomotives south of
Broadmeadow Broadmeadow is a locality in the Hunter region of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is the geographic centre of the Newcastle city and suburban area. Its main commercial hub is located at the "Nineways".
, however from March 1992 it was hauled by diesel locomotives throughout usually a 442 class. The locomotive hauled ''Grafton Express'' last ran in November 1993. With the National Party having lost a number of North Coast seats in the 1990 Federal election in a policy reversal it was announced that Xplorer railcars would be purchased to extend the '' Northern Tablelands Express'' with an XPT to be released to operate a daily service to Grafton. Thus in November 1993 the '' Grafton XPT'' began, a service that continues today.


References

{{Named trains of New South Wales, state=collapsed Named passenger trains of New South Wales Railway services introduced in 1990 1990 establishments in Australia