The Hunter Valley rail network is an integral part of the world’s largest coal export supply chain. It consists of a dedicated double track ‘coal line’ between Port Waratah and Maitland, a shared double track line (with some significant stretches of third track) from Maitland to Muswellbrook in the upper Hunter Valley, and a shared single track with passing loops from that point north towards Gunnedah and west towards Ulan.