News
11 December, 2025
Work continues on Loop Line train tracks to Colo Vale
A range of track works are underway along the entire length of the Loop Line from Picton to Colo Vale.
A range of track works are underway along the entire length of the Loop Line from Picton to Colo Vale.
Currently the line only travels the upgraded 13.6 km stretch from Picton to Buxton via Thirlmere, where the NSW Rail Museum is located, but now the line will continue to Colo Vale (another 18.7 kms down the line).
It’s all part of the NSW Government’s $21.7 million investment in refurbishing the line, which hasn’t seen trains to Colo Vale for over 40 years.
Work being conducted includes guard rails being installed over the Ligar St overbridge at Hill Top, the buffer-stop at Colo Vale has been installed, and two SPENO (rail maintenance) defects have been removed in the Picton section through the installation of rail closures and welds.
Spot re-railing and bolting between Balmoral and Big Hill Cutting (the deepest cutting in Australia at 24 metres) has also been completed.
Throughout the remainder of this year and early into the new year, the team at Transport Heritage NSW (THNSW) will continue delivering further works, including additional track repairs at various locations, vegetation clearing and ballasting & track resurfacing.
The Picton-Mittagong Loop Line opened in February 1867 as part of the original Main South line running from Sydney to Melbourne.
However, due to the ever-increasing population growth along the line and bottlenecks with both freight and passenger trains on the single track, the line was bypassed by a new double –track alignment via Tahmoor and Bargo in 1919, but services on the line continued through until the 1970s.
To stay up to date on the latest work, visit www.thnsw.com.au/loop-line.
Read More: Balmoral, Buxton, Colo Vale, Hill Top, Picton, Thirlmere, Southern Highlands, Wollondilly