Trains were running again but there were still "significant disruptions" after hours-long delays on Sunday as Novocastrians followed the Newcastle Knights to Sydney.
With more than 50,000 fans expected at Accor Stadium on Sunday, most of them Knights fans, Transport for NSW confirmed there were ongoing delays on the Newcastle and Central Coast line due to a failed freight train at Warnervale.
By 1pm trains had restarted between Fassifern and Wyong but were running at a reduced speed, Transport for NSW said.
Replacement buses were running between Morisset and Hornsby where passengers could join T1 North Shore or T9 Northern line, a Transport for NSW alert said.
Die-hard Knights fan Calum Drysdale drove all the way from Moree to get the 8.57am train from Newcastle Interchange on Sunday morning only to find himself stuck at Morisset train station just after 9.30am.
After waiting for about 40 minutes, Mr Drysdale and his friend gave up and decided they were feeling a bit thirsty.
"A lot of us have got off the train and we're at the Lake Macquarie Hotel just enjoying a few beers and a bit of camaraderie," he said.
Mr Drysdale reckoned about 100 Knights fans had filled the pub after the delays.
"The staff at the hotel expecting a quiet Sunday have been excellent," he said.
He said the morning had been frustrating but he was lucky they left heaps of time and had a friend from Sydney on the way to pick them up.
"Spirits are high for the game tonight, " he said.
Sydney Trains head of rail operations Jas Tumber said diversions were in place that were allowing train services to move around the failed freight train but it was still adding at least one hour to journeys.
"We apologies for this inconvenience and thank passengers for their patience, Pacific National have mobilised their repair crews to temporarily repair the failed freight train as soon as possible," he said.
Just before 11.40am, another passenger said an announcement said there was an "unexpected problem" and the train would not be moving anytime soon.
A Transport for NSW alert showed that there was an issue with a freight train at Warnervale which could mean trains stopping on platforms or between stations for longer than normal.
Repair crews were on site and working to restore train services as soon as possible, the alert said.
A spokesperson from the NSW Transport Management Centre said trains originating at the Newcastle Interchange were delayed this morning, including the 8.57am service stuck at Morisset and a 9.48am one stuck at Dora Creek.
They said crews had begun to work on mechanical issues on the freight train and that limited replacement buses were being organised and were expected to start arriving at Morisset from about 12pm.
Transport for NSW urged anyone travelling to Sydney from stations between Newcastle Interchange and Warnervale to delay their travel if possible or consider using other transport options to Wyong.
A midday alert said trains were not running from Fassifern to Wyong because of the freight train issues but the late running 10.59am Newcastle Interchange to Sydney train would run around the affected area.
