TRANSPORT authorities were kept busy on Friday with wild weather, fires and breakdowns causing major delays on both train lines into Newcastle and multiple Port Stephens roads.
Nelson Bay Road was closed for much of the day on Friday as firefighters tackled the Salt Ash fire, leaving race fans facing a choice between abandoning their trip or a patient wait to get to the opening day of the Newcastle 500.
On the Hunter’s train lines, the first major incident – a broken down freight train on the Hunter line between Maitland and Telerah about 8am – led to buses replacing trains between the two stations.
Later in the day, the busy Central Coast and Newcastle line was thrown into chaos when a fallen tree blocked the line near Hawkesbury River.
Buses replaced trains between Hornsby and Gosford, before limited services resumed about 5pm on Friday. Normal services also resumed at a similar time on the Hunter line.
Event shuttle buses will run every ten minutes from Newcastle Interchange to Market Street Lawn on Saturday and Sunday from 6:30am until 7:30pm.
Pre-purchased race tickets include travel to and from Newcastle on trains, buses, event shuttle buses and Newcastle Ferries.
Ferries run between Stockton and Queens Wharf every 10 minutes from 5:30am to midnight Saturday, and to 10pm Sunday.
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