The Toronto Branch Railway Line is a closed railway line in

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Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

. The line opened in 1891, and branched off the Main Northern line at Fassifern station, crossing over a single lane tunnel on Fassifern Road, and following the shore of Fennell Bay to Blackalls Park. The

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

end of the line is located close to the shore of Toronto Bay. Horse-drawn carriages were first to run along the branch line. A variety of steam engines also ran along the line during its operation, including a Coffee Pot engine, and the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rule ...

travelled to Toronto by train on 24 June 1920. Passenger services operated over the line, generally as a shuttle service between Fassifern and Toronto, but through services to Newcastle also operated. Services in 1989 were operated by 620/720 class diesel railcars, and operated as frequently as every 20 minutes.State Rail Authority of NSW, ''Public Timetable no 11: Newcastle Area'', 29 October 1989 The line was not included in the Wyong–Newcastle electrification project, completed in 1984, which probably sealed its fate. It was controversially closed in 1990 despite local opposition, with a privately operated bus service replacing the train. Following the closure, a cycleway called the ''Toronto Greenway'' was constructed along the line. Most of the cycleway was constructed alongside the railway line in case the line is ever re-opened. The replacement bus service runs from Fassifern Station to Toronto Station, and includes a stop at Blackalls Park.

List of stations

* Fassifern * Blackalls Park * Fennells Platform * Bowers Platform *

File:Fassifern railway station disused platform and walking track.JPG, Beginning of the cycleway at Fassifern railway station Image:TorontoLineAtNararaStLookingNorth.JPG , Looking north along line with cycleway in background. Near the end of Narara Street, Fassifern Image:TorontoLineAtNararaStLookingEast.JPG, Looking east across the intersection of the cycleway near the end of Narara Street, Fassifern. The overgrown railway line and Fennell Bay are in background Image:TorontoNSWRailwayStation.JPG, Toronto Station Image:FassifernStationTorontoPlatform.JPG, Toronto branch platform at Fassifern railway station

References

Closed regional railway lines in New South Wales City of Lake Macquarie Rail transport in the Hunter Region Rail trails in Australia Railway lines opened in 1891 Railway lines closed in 1990 Standard gauge railways in Australia {{NewSouthWales-rail-transport-stub