| Color: | 039747 |
| Type: | Intercity rail |
| Locale: | Macarthur, Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands, New South Wales |
| Operator: | NSW TrainLink |
| Start: | , |
| Stops: | 22 |
| End: | , |
| Distance: | 215km (134miles) |
| Line Used: | Main South |
| Stock: | Endeavour railcar |
| Owners: | Sydney Trains, ARTC |
The Southern Highlands Line (SHL) is an intercity rail service operated by NSW TrainLink that services the Macarthur, Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands regions of New South Wales. First operating in 1869, the service runs from across the Main Southern railway line through to, with peak hour services extending the route to . The railway service operates alongside a bus route from to, operating on the route of the Picton – Mittagong loop railway line, and a regional coach service from to on the South Coast Line, operating on the corridor of the Unanderra–Moss Vale railway line.
One of only two routes on the NSW TrainLink intercity network to run entirely on non-electrified railway lines, the Southern Highlands Line is operated with a rolling stock solely consisting of Endeavour railcars, with most services only using two cars. The service spans of railway, making it the most extensive route on the NSW TrainLink network apart from the Blue Mountains Line's Bathurst Bullet service. Despite that, the route spans only 22 stations, making it also the route with the lowest number of stops. An additional 2 stations and of railway are traversed by Southern Highlands trains at peak hours.
The Main South line opened in stages to Picton in 1863, Moss Vale in 1867 and Goulburn in 1869.[1]
In 1919, a new section of line opened between Picton and Mittagong, with the original section becoming the Picton-Mittagong loop line.[2] Originally a single track line, it was later doubled with the exception of the Picton-Mittagong loop line.
Most services operate between Campbelltown and Moss Vale with a limited number extending to Sydney Central and Goulburn. All services are operated by NSW TrainLink using Endeavour railcars.
Rail replacement bus services operate between Picton and Bowral paralleling the Picton-Mittagong loop line and Bundanoon and Wollongong paralleling the Moss Vale-Unanderra line. A daytime bus service also operates between Moss Vale and Goulburn. Some stations are also served by NSW TrainLink XPT and Xplorer services from Sydney to Canberra, Griffith and Melbourne.
Up until the mid-1990s, most services on the line operated through to Sydney Central. Named trains that operated on the line included the Goulburn Day Train and Southern Highlands Express. In the late 1980s, air-conditioned HUB/RUB carriages were introduced. These would later be joined by Budd and Tulloch carriages and DEB railcars.[3]
In 1994, all were replaced by Endeavour railcars.[4] Most services were altered to operate only as far north as Campbelltown connecting with Sydney Trains electric services to Sydney.
As of 2014–15, the Southern Highlands Line experiences significantly worse peak hour on-time running performance than other suburban and intercity lines.[5]
| Main Suburban | Haymarket, Chippendale, Ultimo, Surry Hills | Transport hub for Sydney Trains, other Intercity trains, Regional trains, buses and light rail | |
| Main South | Glenfield | Interchange with Sydney Trains | |
| Campbelltown | Starting point of most services Interchange with Sydney Trains and Regional trains | ||
| Ambarvale, Blair Athol, Glen Alpine | Interchange with Sydney Trains | ||
| Menangle Park, Gilead | |||
| Menangle | |||
| Douglas Park, Wilton | |||
| Picton, Maldon | Interchange with Picton–Bowral loop line bus | ||
| Tahmoor, Couridjah, Buxton, Thirlmere | |||
| Bargo, Yanderra and Pheasants Nest | |||
| Yerrinbool, Colo Vale, Hill Top, Alpine | |||
| Mittagong, Braemar, Balaclava, Willow Vale, Welby, Aylmerton, Renwick | Interchange with Regional trains and Picton–Mittagong loop line bus | ||
| Bowral, Berrima, East Bowral | Interchange with Regional trains, Picton–Mittagong loop line bus and Bundanoon – Wollongong Coach | ||
| Burradoo | |||
| Moss Vale, Bong Bong, Robertson, Sutton Forest, Burrawang | Terminus of most services Interchange with Regional trains and Bundanoon - Wollongong Coach | ||
| Exeter | Also served by Bundanoon – Wollongong Coach | ||
| Bundanoon | Also served by Regional trains and Bundanoon – Wollongong Coach | ||
| Penrose | |||
| Wingello | |||
| Tallong | |||
| Marulan | |||
| Goulburn | Also served by Regional trains |