Timetable Tuesday- the last RNP trains.

Prior to withdrawal, the Royal National Park (RNP) had only a few daily train patronised by only a handful of hardy souls , presumably bushwalkers happy to make the trek down the hill to Audley and beyond.

The April 1991 timetable shows the following services:

On weekdays, there were 2 morning services. The first service left Bondi Junction (BJ) at 755am arriving at RNP at 846 am. It had a slightly odd stopping pattern, stopping at all stations except Banksia, Carlton, Allawah, Como and Jannali. It left RNP at 904am, stopping all stations to BJ (except Como, Jannali and Oatley). The second service left BJ at 835 am, arriving at RNP at 923am. This one operated express from Sydenham to Hurstville, then all stations to RNP. It turned around for a 931am departure back to BJ stopping all stations.

In the afternoon, there was one service leaving BJ at 215 pm arriving at RNP at 310pm, stopping all stations. This had a quick turnaround departing at 316pm, all to BJ.

On weekends, there were two morning services departing BJ at 755 and 855am arriving at RNP at 847am and 947 am (950am on Sundays and public holidays) respectively,. They departed RNP at 914am and 1014am.  In the afternoon there were 2 services departing BJ at 255pm and 3655 pm arriving 347pm and 447pm respectively. They departed RNP at 414pm and 551pm for arrivals at BJ at 508pm and 608pm.

21 years ago today- last train to Royal National Park

21 years ago today, on 11 June 1991, the final train to the Royal National Park operated without fanfare. Services were abruptly discontinued when a defective signal switch led to the line being inspected and an estimate of $400,000 being required to upgrade the line and track to safe standard. By 1991, the line was carrying only about 100 passengers per week, on weekends only.

After services were withdrawn, CityRail offered a free taxi service (!) between Sutherland and the Royal National Park at the times that the former trains operated.

On 19 June, trains were formally amended in the timetable to terminate at Sutherland on weekdays and Waterfall on weekends.

The line opened in 1886 and was the southern end point of the Illawarra line electrification in 1926. The line lay dormant for a few years after its closure in 1991 prior to tram services from the Sydney Tramway Museum commencing in 1993.