The Bathurst Bullet is an express passenger train on the Blue Mountains Line operated by Sydney Trains between Sydney and Bathurst. The service operates from Bathurst towards Sydney in the morning, and returns in the afternoon.
History At the 2011 election, the incoming Liberal/National coalition government committed to introduce a day return service from Bathurst to Sydney for those working in Sydney.Bathurst to Sydney Rail Service Hansard, Parliament of New South WalesO'Farrell announces daily rail Sydney to Bathurst Lithgow Mercury 4 June 2012
Bathurst was already served by the daily Central West XPT and weekly Outback Xplorer services, but these were morning departures from Sydney, returning in the afternoon. The last day return service to Sydney had ceased in November 1988, being replaced by road coach services connecting with train services at Lithgow."Last Passengers" Railway Digest January 1989 page 20
The Bathurst Bullet commenced operating on 21 October 2012.Changes to CityRail timetable CityRail 10 October 2012Bathurst Bullet embarks on maiden voyage Western Advocate 22 October 2012 It is operated by a diesel-powered two-carriage Endeavour railcar. Upon reaching Bathurst, it returns to Lithgow to stable overnight. During periods of high demand such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show, it is operated by two sets.Get to the show fast as a speeding Bullet Western Advocate 15 April 2014
In March 2014, a submission was made to extend the service to Orange.Orange Council leads the charge to reschedule train services from Bathurst to Sydney ABC News (Australia) 6 March 2014 The submission to extend the train service was not successful but a connecting road coach service commenced 15 June 2015 for a six-month trial instead.Giving the Bathurst Bullet a shot: six trial for Orange Passengers Central Western Daily 21 March 2015 Since October 2019, all Bullet services have a road coach connecting with Orange.
In August 2019, the NSW Government announced that a second daily return Bullet service would be implemented. The new service, known as Bathurst Bullet 2.0, commenced on 16 September 2019, with both Bathurst Bullet services now stopping at Tarana and Rydal.Second Bathurst Bullet service added Transport for NSW 12 August 2019 On Wednesdays, the Bathurst Bullet 2.0 operates to a slightly delayed schedule to accommodate the Indian Pacific.Villages pleased that both Bullets will now be stopping Western Advocate 30 August 2019
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