CityRail, 1989-2000
1989 saw the release of new timetables, the style of which reflected the new CityRail branding. Suburban timetables showed a sketch of a Tangara crossing the harbour bridge, whilst intercity tables showed a sketch of a V-set. (Except Goulburn and Newcastle, which aren't of course electrified hence had nothing). The same angular map was used on suburban tables, the intercity ones had a map of the line they served only .
In 1989-1990, somewhat confusingly the Central Coast Line table showed both suburban services to Hornsby and Cowan and interurban services (to Newcastle), excluding local services between Fassifern and Broadmeadow. The Newcastle Area timetable showed these Fassifern to Broadmeadow services as well as services to Scone and Dungog.
There are 13 tables in this series.
1. Sutherland Line
2. Bankstown Line
3. East Hills Line
4. Parramatta Line
5. Carlingford Line
6. Macarthur Line
7. Emu Plains Line
8. Blue Mountains Line (different style to the others)
9. North Shore Line
10. Central Coast
11. Newcastle Area (the first timetable after the Toronto line closure and extended services between Muswellbrook and Scone)
12. South Coast Line (for some reason in a funky pink colour, and now not called the Illawarra Line)
13. Goulburn Line
In 1991 there was a reorganisation of the format of some of the timetables, and an increase from 13 to 14 booklets. The Main North/ Central Coast/ Newcastle areas split from two into three timetables with the addition of a Hornsby via Strathfield line timetable. The Central Coast Line timetable now excluded suburban workings, and showed all services to Newcastle. The Newcastle Area timetable showed only Maitland/ Scone and Dungog services, not Sydney services also, as previously. It is now called the Maitland Line timetable.
1. Sutherland Line (includes the last Royal National Park service)
2. Bankstown Line
3. East Hills Line
4. Parramatta Line
5. Carlingford Line (includes the last Sandown Line services)
6. Macarthur Line
7. Emu Plains Line
8. Blue Mountains Line
9. North Shore Line
10. Hornsby via Strathfield Line
11. Central Coast Line
12. Maitland Line
13. South Coast Line
14. Goulburn Line
This is the final Sandown Line timetable:
This is the cover of the new Hornsby via Strathfield Line (ie the Main North Line):
This is the cover of the Central Coast Line timetable, which now only has InterUrban services in it:
This is the cover of the Maitland Line timetable, analogous to today's Hunter Line timetable:
1992 saw a major overhaul of the timetable, and a new design was introduced. The timetables were produced with full colour glossy covers, with the line name printed along the left hand border and a new circular train logo on the front. The back had a new full colour map, the design changed to one that could be considered to be a bit ambiguous in some respects to the casual observer. (See maps). Gone are the National Park and Sandown branches. The tables also had improved information inside, including a line diagram, 'service guide' and details on station facilities. There are 14 in this series, with several name changes: gone are Macarthur Line and East Hills line, in come Campbelltown via Liverpool and Campbelltown via East Hills lines. The Maitland Line has been changed to the more correct Maitland/Upper Hunter Line.
The timetable was being updated every six months, in Jan and then May 1992.
1. Sutherland Line (includes the last Royal National Park service)
2. Bankstown Line
3. Campbelltown via East Hills Line
4. Parramatta Line
5. Carlingford Line (includes the last Sandown Line services)
6. Campbelltown via Liverpool Line
7. Emu Plains Line
8. Blue Mountains Line
9. North Shore Line
10. Hornsby via Strathfield Line
11. Newcastle Central Coast Line
12. Maitland Line
13. South Coast Line
14. Goulburn Line
1992 also saw CityRail publish one page Summary peak hour timetables', smaller and presumably cheaper tables targeted at commuters with only peak hour services on them. Below is an example of the Bankstown Line version.
Another update came out in early 1993 of similar style, but it wasn't long before new design timetables came out to reflect changes in late 1993. These tables were of the colour of the line they serviced rather than mainly white, presumably to easily differentiate them from the 1992 timetable.
The 1994 timetable had white branding in the corner so as to stand out. Station facilities and other information was moved from the centre to the front.
Similarly, the 1995 update had branding across the top right, this time in red. An update in March for the Maitland/ Upper Hunter was for the new Metford station opening.
Late 1995 saw another new timetable and another design. These timetables featured pictures of various rail related activities on the covers, different for each line.The Carlingford line table is yellow. Significant improvements were made to weekend services- mainly the introduction of 15 minutely weekend frequencies on the East Hills, Inner West, Bankstown and Sutherland lines. CityRail services were probly at their best and most frequent with this timetable. Direct peak hour Bankstown to Parramatta and Blacktown services were also introduced with this timetable.
The Bankstown 'table includes the new direct services to Parramatta, and the Bankstown line now runs to Liverpool. The cover shows the new (at the time) passenger information displays at Sydenham station:
Holswothy station, on the cover of the East Hills 'table:
Improved weekend services advertised on the Western:
1996 saw a the Merrylands- Harris Park 'Y- Link' open, and a major overhaul of the timetable which was widely criticised for its failure to be able to run on time. The tables themselves were completely redesigned to a smaller pocket sized version. Inside, one had to turn the 'table onto the side to read it. A new designed map (see maps) and much needed station index was in the centre pages. These were also the first to carry paid advertising, mainly by Channel Nine (see example). Line names changed to titles reflecting where the line started and ended, eg. Waterfall/ Cronulla- Bondi Junction. The Carlingford line is placed in the Emu Plains/ Richmond booklet. In my opinion, these timetables were a retrograde design step from the lighter-weight and easier to read predecessors.
1. Waterfall/ Cronulla- Bondi Junction
2. Liverpool- City via Bankstown
3. Liverpool- City via Regents Parks
4. Cumberland Line (Campbelltown- Blacktown)
5. Macarthur- City via East Hills
6. Macarthur- City via Granville
7. Berowra- Parramatta via Chatswood
8. Emu Plains/ Richmond/ Carlingford- North Sydney
9. Berowra- North Sydney via Strathfield
10. Bomaderry (Nowra)/ Port Kembla- Bondi Junction
11. Goulburn- Central
12. Lithgow- North Sydney
13. Newcastle- Central via Strathfield/ Chatswood
14. Scone/ Dungog- Newcastle
By June 1997, the timetable had to be altered with many pre 1996 elements being brought back. An unflattering photo of a woman walking two kids along the platform was used on the suburban covers.
October 1997 saw an update for many but not all lines, with former line names being used again. However 'Illawarra line' now refers to the suburban service on that line. The first use of 'Southern Highlands Line' is seen.
August 1999 saw the last timetable revision prior to the opening of the Airport line and a new set of timetable booklets released across the network. They were essentially the same style as the 1996 tables, but with a new cover, and new map inside reflecting the new line. The map was updates, line names returned, and some lines changed colour. The Bankstown line became purple, and the Carlingford line dark blue, and the Hunter lines became purple (see maps). The Campbelltown line becomes South line, the Inner West line replaces Liverpool- City via Regents Park. Newcastle and Hunter services are in one timetable.
Illawarra Line
Bankstown Line
Inner West Line
East Hills Line
Western Line, Carlingford Line
South Line
Blue Mountains Line
North Shore Line
Northern Line
Newcastle Central Coast Line, Hunter Lines
Cumberland Line
South Coast Line
Southern Highlands Line
The 21st May 2000 saw the opening of the Airport line and new timetables to reflect this, with major changes on the East Hills line, now called Airport and East Hills line. Also the Illawarra became Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Lines.
lllawarra Line
Bankstown Line
Inner West Line
East Hills Line
Western Line, Carlingford Line
South Line
Blue Mountains Line
North Shore Line
Northern Line
Newcastle Central Coast Line, Hunter Lines
Cumberland Line
South Coast Line
Southern Highlands Line
When they were reprinted in 2002, they had a different cover, and the 'fuzzy' CityRail logo:
More Coming soon........