Train passengers on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line will get a boost in capacity with an extra 692 seats being added to Mariyung services during peak weekday periods.
Four 8-car Mariyungs will get an extra 2 cars to become 10-car trains during the morning and afternoon peaks, providing an uplift for tens of thousands of passengers who travel on the state’s busiest intercity line every day.
A further two eight-car Mariyung sets will be extended 10-car sets later this year, officially completing the staged introduction of the new trains.
Since the Mariyung trains were introduced in December 2024, over 19 million trips have been taken on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line. The morning and afternoon peaks see around 30,000 passengers board each weekday.
Overall patronage on the line has consistently grown since the launch of the Mariyungs, from 780,000 ticketed trips in December 2024 to more than 1.12 million in June 2026.
The Minns Labor Government has successfully delivered the Mariyungs into the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, Blue Mountains Line and South Coast Line, providing a world-class standard of intercity travel.
The procurement and delivery by the former Liberal-National government was late and over-budget, with major modifications needed including widening tunnels and extending platforms.
A total of 19 Mariyungs are now in operation on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, servicing every station along the alignment. They now represent majority of services on the line as more Mariyungs become available and the Oscars are gradually transitioned to suburban running.
The Mariyung fleet provides modern heating and air conditioning, spacious two-by-two seating with extra legroom, arm rests and tray tables, charging ports for mobile devices and dedicated spaces for luggage, prams and bicycles.
The trains also provide the highest level of accessibility across the Sydney Trains fleet, with dedicated wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, priority seating, CCTV and enhanced customer information systems.
This builds on the Minns Labor Government’s record investment of $2.1 billion in rail maintenance and reliability as part of the 2026/2027 NSW Budget.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
“Our communities deserve modern, world-class public transport that is safe, comfortable and reliable.
“I’m pleased we’ve been able to boost capacity on the busiest intercity line in NSW, so the people of the Hunter can experience top tier travel to jobs, essential services, and loved ones.
“These modern trains have vastly improved the travelling experience for hundreds of thousands of commuters. It’s great to see more Mariyungs on the tracks serving the public.
“Each extra carraige we can add creates more comfort, capacity and peace of mind for commuters as they head to the station each morning.”
Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:
"We're seeing more people choose rail to travel between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, so increasing capacity on our busiest intercity corridor is the right investment at the right time.
"By extending more Mariyung trains to 10-car services during the busiest parts of the day, we're making it easier for thousands of passengers to find a seat and enjoy a more comfortable journey."
Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:
“Millions of trips are taken on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line Mariyungs every year. It’s fantastic that more cars in this state-of-the-art fleet can hit the tracks to serve our communities.”
Member for Gosford and Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion Liesl Tesch said:
“This is a great outcome for all passengers. The Mariyungs are spacious and comfortable, with improved accessibility and safety features including dedicated wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets. It’s fantastic to have more of the state’s most accessible train cars in service.”
Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison said:
“The new Mariyung trains have brought improved comfort and ease for commuters in our community, so adding more cars during peak services is a great addition.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:
“Commuters across the Central Coast deserve a public transport system that is modern, comfortable and accessible, and today’s Mariyung uplift is making sure our communities have exactly that.”
Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said:
“The Minns Labor Government is delivering for our communities. We know the Mariyung services are extremely popular, particularly during peak times, so adding more of that spacious seating everybody loves is a welcome uplift.”
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said:
“The Mariyung trains are much-loved by Novocastrians, offering one of the best ways to reliably, safely and comfortably travel between Newcastle and Sydney – so it’s great to be adding more space on board.”
