THE second Bathurst Bullet will remain off the track as recovery work continues in the bushfire-battered Blue Mountains.
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Member for Bathurst Paul Toole says trains are only able to run in a limited window at the moment in the Blue Mountains near Lithgow, which is what is stopping the second Bullet service from returning.
Mr Toole, who is also the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, said the rail network in the Blue Mountains was badly affected by the bushfires at the end of last year, which destroyed a number of "critical safety and communications systems".
"A 25-kilometre stretch of rail corridor was damaged, including to high voltage electrical infrastructure and more than 100 timber power poles and wires," he said.
"Approximately 300 fire-damaged trees also fell near the railway."
Mr Toole said work is underway to "rebuild parts of the operating system from scratch, including relaying thousands of kilometres of communication, electrical and signal wiring".
"Work to rebuild the signalling system between Newnes Junction [between Clarence and Bell] and Lithgow is progressing well, however will require a period of commissioning to ensure safe operation," he said.
"To allow work to be completed, trains are currently only able to operate in a limited window, which restricts the number of trains capable of running, including the Bathurst Bullet 2."
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Due to the extent of the damage, Mr Toole said it will take longer to fully rebuild the infrastructure, including overhead power, to run electric trains.
But he said the NSW Government knows how "important this rail link is to the communities across the Central West and our crews are working as quickly as possible to repair the line".
The two Bathurst Bullets are daily limited stops return services to Sydney's Central Station.
The second Bathurst Bullet, which leaves Bathurst later and returns earlier, started running in September last year - almost seven years after the first Bathurst Bullet started operating.