Iconic 1980s Train Returns in Retro Colors After Makeover

When the XPT pulled into Kendall station this week in its classic 1980s paint job, cheers erupted from the platform as passengers and trainspotters welcomed back an old friend.

The eXpress Passenger Train has returned to service between Sydney and Grafton after a year away for major upgrades. To mark the occasion, NSW TrainLink dressed the first refurbished train in its original "candy stripe" livery from when it launched in 1982.

Among those greeting the train was 85-year-old Brian Hudson, a former station master who started his 36-year railway career at Kendall in 1957. "It's marvellous to see the XPT back," he said, recalling the days when steam trains dominated the rails.

The timing couldn't be better for travelers like Irene Choo, who boarded at Kendall bound for Sydney. "It's so exciting," she said, noting the train offers a comfortable, affordable alternative to driving during the current fuel crisis.

The Ripple Effect

More than just nostalgia, the XPT's return is helping thousands of Australians save money. In March alone, about 113,500 journeys were taken on NSW TrainLink's long-distance network, up 3.6 percent from the previous year.

NSW TrainLink chief executive Roger Weeks says the fuel crisis is driving even more people to public transport. "We have seen our numbers grow to beyond what we were carrying before COVID," he explained.

The $40.3 million refurbishment is part of a life-extension program to keep the beloved trains running while new bi-mode trains undergo testing. The new fleet will be Australia's first passenger trains capable of switching between diesel and electric power to reduce emissions.

Until then, the XPT continues its longest route: a 15-hour, 1,012-kilometer journey between Sydney and Brisbane. The retro-painted train will rotate across the network, including services to Melbourne, giving rail enthusiasts and communities across NSW a chance to see the iconic livery.

For photographer Matthew Doyle, who captured the XPT passing through Kendall, the moment stirred memories. "I remember travelling on it to school camp when I was a teenager, looking exactly like this," he said.

After four decades of service, the XPT proves that sometimes the old ways, with a fresh coat of paint, are exactly what we need.