The Blue Mountains rail line is likely to remain closed to most passenger trains for at least another two months between Lithgow and Mount Victoria due to extensive damage to power and signalling equipment from massive bushfires.

Train passengers have been forced to catch replacement buses since December 21 after the Gospers Mountain megafire destroyed signalling and other railway infrastructure along a 25-kilometre stretch of the line in the Blue Mountains.

A burnt power pole fallen across the rails along the Blue Mountains Line, near Dargan. Credit:James Brickwood

While a small number of diesel-powered passenger trains are expected to begin operating on the line by late January, the extent of damage means it is likely to be at least two months before electric trains can run between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. The worst damage has been to signalling equipment, much of which was destroyed, and power supply.

The closure of the line between Lithgow and Mount Victoria has meant passengers who usually travel by Xplorer trains from Broken Hill, or diesel-powered XPTs from Dubbo, have had to catch buses for their entire journeys to and from Sydney.