Last V-Set farewells mark the end of a Sydney rail era

The familiar hum of a V-set train will echo through Central Station for the final time this morning, as the last of the fleet arrives after more than five decades in service. For generations of commuters and travellers, these stainless-steel workhorses have been a constant presence on Sydney’s intercity lines. Their final run feels quietly historic rather than ceremonial, a moment many passengers have grown up expecting would eventually come.

The farewell service departs Lithgow at 5.47am, arriving at Central at 8.32am. When it rolls into platform two, it closes the book on a fleet that has been in operation since 1970 and has collectively travelled the equivalent of 298 trips to the moon. The final train has been repainted in the classic Blue Goose livery of royal blue and grey, a nod to its early years, with the distinctive bush plum interiors still intact for one last journey.

 

V-sets first ran between Sydney and Gosford before extending to Newcastle and the Blue Mountains. Their double-deck design was seen at the time as a practical leap forward for longer intercity routes, offering capacity and durability that shaped daily travel patterns for decades. For many, they became part of the rhythm of work, study and family life, rather than a novelty.

Their retirement clears the way for the full rollout of the Mariyung fleet on the Blue Mountains Line. Mariyung trains were introduced on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line in December 2024 and began operating on the Blue Mountains Line from October last year. The remaining services now switch over completely, with the South Coast Line targeted next, expected in the first half of this year.

The newer fleet brings changes that regular passengers have already noticed. Extra leg room, higher-backed seats, tray tables, charging ports and accessible toilets are standard, along with dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, bikes and prams. Sydney Trains data also points to a drop in security and vandalism incidents on lines where Mariyungs have replaced V-sets, attributed to updated design and safety features.

The path to this transition has not been smooth. A NSW Auditor-General report found the previous Liberal-National government spent $1.7 billion more than its 2014 estimate on the project and failed to introduce the trains while in office, despite earlier commitments. The Minns Labor Government now frames the rollout as part of a $458 million effort to lift rail reliability across the network, though commuters remain watchful about whether expectations match day-to-day experience.

Transport Minister John Graham described the V-sets as trains that carried “visiting tourists, weary commuters and train lovers alike” over more than two generations. He said the farewell also marks a clear shift towards improved comfort and accessibility on the Blue Mountains Line. Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison reflected on how the trains were once considered luxurious and have since become an icon of intercity travel, even earning the nickname “steel rattlers” over time.

Local MPs echoed that mix of nostalgia and pragmatism. Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle joined the final journey, praising the drivers, guards and crews who kept the trains running for more than 50 years. Others, including representatives for Parramatta, Blacktown and Penrith, spoke about personal memories tied to the fleet while welcoming the arrival of newer trains designed around current commuter needs.

At least four carriages from the final Blue Goose set will be retained for heritage purposes. The future of the remaining 81 retired carriages is still under consideration, following a recent public Expression of Interest that drew responses from heritage groups and private collectors.

As the last V-set glides into Central, the mood is likely to be reflective rather than mournful. The trains have done what they were built to do, reliably and for a very long time. Their replacement signals a shift in expectations around comfort, access and safety, while leaving space for a shared memory that will linger long after the tracks fall quiet.