When the Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) fare ($2.50) was first introduced, the area covered on the North Coast of NSW extended from Tweed Heads to as far south as Gloucester, which is just north of Dungog. The Opal card area extends as far north from Sydney as Dungog. This meant that you could travel as far north as Dungog for $2.50 on your Opal card but you would have to somehow get to Gloucester to take advantage of the $2.50 CPE tickets. There was a way around this as explained in Seniors Card Travel: Sydney to Tweed Heads for $7.50.
But recently everything changed when NSWTrainLink extended the CPE ticket area south from Gloucester to Dungog. This now allows a Seniors Cardholder to travel from Sydney (or anywhere in the Opal card area) to Dungog for $2.50, then change trains at Dungog and travel as far as Tweed Heads for just another $2.50. It may be just a very small change but it now allows a Seniors Cardholder to travel anywhere on the North Coast of NSW for just $5.00. Thank you Gladys!
Below are the timetables for three services that run Monday to Friday that’ll get you as far as Tweed Heads for just $5.00. A link is included to the timetables if you plan to travel on a weekend or public holiday. Before leaving don’t forget to to book your ticket for the section north of Dungog on the XPT with NSWTrainlink on their bookings page. Or give them a call on 13 22 32. Just make sure the fare you’re charged is just $2.50. Have your credit or debt card and Seniors card ready before you call.
| Depart Central (Opal) (M-F) | 05:15 | 10:15 | 12:15 | Sydney – Newcastle Timetable |
Arrive Newcastle
Interchange | 07:50 (X) | 12:51 (X) | 14:51 (X) | |
Depart Newcastle
Interchange (Opal) | 08:29 | 13:29 | 15:25 | Hunter Line Timetable |
| Arrive Dungog | 09:50 (X) | 14:49 (X) | 16:45 (X) | |
Depart Dungog
(NSWTrainLink XPT)
| 10:43 | 15:15 | 18:11 | North Coast Timetable |
| Arrive Tweed Heads | 21:28 | Terminates
at Grafton
22:15 | 05:48 | |
(X) Change Trains
