Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford, farewells the V-set train.

2 July 2025

 

LAST Friday (27 June) marked the end of the line for the Sydney Trains V-sets that have worked the Sydney to Central Coast line every day since June 1970, and then to Newcastle from 1984, covering an estimated 140 million kilometres during their time in service.

 

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch was at Woy Woy Station to wave off one of the last V-set services.

 

“Today, we bid farewell to a piece of NSW’s transport history. The old V-set carriages have been a mainstay on the Central Coast and Newcastle line over the years, carrying generations of passengers to and from Sydney," Ms Tesch said.

 

“I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to the workers who originally built the V-set trains, as well as those who have lovingly maintained and updated them for so long. I know many of our fantastic train drivers, guards and transport teams have safely transported our community over the years in the V-set services.

 

“The V-set have served our community well for many years, but in saying goodbye to the V-sets we welcome the Mariyung fleet with accessibility at front of mind.

 

“I’d also like to thank our wonderful Central Coast community for their patience as we transition into a new transport era with the Mariyung fleet. Millions of passengers travel on the Central Coast and Newcastle line every year, and I am thrilled that the Mariyungs will provide a more comfortable, accessible, and safe service for all.”

 

The retirement of the 21 stainless steel, double-deck trains allows the full implementation of the 10-carriage Mariyung trains, providing a more spacious cabin, more comfortable seating, accessible toilets, charging ports and many more security and safety features.

 

The final ever V-set service to Newcastle departed Central Station at 9.20pm last Friday and arrived on the Coast shortly after midnight Saturday.

 

Based on 21 V-sets in the fleet doing a combined 140 million kilometres, is the equivalent of each train travelling:

 

• 17 times to the moon (a journey of 384,400 km

 

• 1,733 times between Sydney and Perth (a journey of 3,846 km

 

• 41,928 times from Sydney to Newcastle (a journey of 159 km

 

The V-sets were built in Granville by Commonwealth Engineering – known as Comeng - between 1970 and 1989 and were described as “the most luxurious commuter stock in the world” when they hit the tracks.

 

That claim no longer holds water and they have gradually been phased out as the new Mariyungs have entered service. From 30 June, 19 Mariyung trains will have entered service and be fully deployed on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line, with all 38 local stations able to accommodate a longer 10-car configuration.

 

The Mariyung has extra leg room, high seat backs, tray tables for laptops and charging ports for mobile devices.

 

The State Government is committed to returning rail manufacturing, recently launching industry engagement for the Future Fleet Program, which is seeking to revive domestic manufacturing, create thousands of jobs and boost the economy.

 

The Government has committed to start procuring the replacement of the ageing Tangara fleet of suburban passenger trains by 2027, with a 50 per cent local content target for designing, building, and maintaining the new fleet.

 

V-sets will continue to run on the Blue Mountains line before they are replaced by Mariyungs. The South Coast line will get Mariyungs following their introduction to the Blue Mountains.

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