Minister for Transport and Minister for the Hunter Gladys Berejiklian said the closure of the heavy rail line on December 26 would allow work to begin on revitalising Newcastle – opening up the CBD, building a new state-of-the-art transport interchange at Wickham and a light rail network linking the CBD and the foreshore.

The news, however, will not be welcomed by the majority of Dungog and Lower Hunter rail commuters who will now have to transfer from their train at Hamilton to a connecting bus service to continue their journey into Newcastle.

Ms Berejiklian said the NSW government was committed to delivering this vital project for the Hunter region and was working hard to make sure interim bus arrangements were as quick and convenient as possible.

“Customers will be able catch a bus every 10 minutes in the peak from sheltered bus stops at Hamilton, Wickham, Civic and Newcastle stations and Queens Wharf, connecting with every train service at Hamilton Station,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“It is intended every customer will get a seat on a fleet of modern, fully-accessible, air-conditioned buses and that they can carry surfboards and other luggage on-board.

“We have worked hard to get the best outcome for customers and I am pleased to confirm that from 5 January, all trains will terminate at Hamilton Station and meet connecting buses – a big win for Maitland and Upper Hunter customers.

“During an interim period from 26 December to 5 January, trains will terminate at Broadmeadow while upgrades are completed at Hamilton station. After 5 January, all trains will terminate at Hamilton, with buses taking customers to and from the CBD.

“We considered various options such as having trains terminating at both Hamilton and Broadmeadow, which meant customers would potentially have had to catch a bus to transfer between train services. It was important we did the work to minimise inconvenience for customers, and I am confident we now have the best solution.”

The bus timetable will be integrated with the train timetable, and buses leaving Newcastle will leave about 25 minutes before the connecting train departs Hamilton. This will guarantee customers a smooth, hassle-free connection to their train service.

Whether using Opal or a paper ticket, travel on these buses will cost the same as if customers were catching the train. This means customers will only pay one fare that is the same as current train fares.

During major events such as New Year’s Eve and January’s Asian Cup football tournament there will be extra buses scheduled.

When the new Wickham interchange is complete in late-2016 replacement buses will connect with trains at Wickham until the light rail network is completed. 

Ms Berejiklian said constructing a new fully-accessible transport interchange at Wickham linking to the new light rail line will help re-connect the city with the foreshore and bring jobs, residents and visitors to the Newcastle city centre.

“We have planned the interim arrangements to minimise disruption and make it easy to move between trains and buses. We will also ensure there is plenty of room at Hamilton for taxis and cars to pick up and drop off customers,” she said.

“The many benefits the new light rail and transport interchange will bring to customers and to the city of Newcastle will contribute to the essential revitalisation of the city.”