The Eastern Suburbs Railway line was constructed in the 1970s. It is operated by CityRail and has stations at Martin Place, Kings Cross, Edgecliff and Bondi Junction. In addition, it has dedicated platforms at Town Hall, Central and Redfern stations. All these stations are underground, but there are three above-ground sections, two on viaducts and one in a cutting.

The Eastern Suburbs line is connected to the Illawarra line at Erskineville and functions as the city end of the Illawarra line.

The Eastern Suburbs line was opened on 23 June 1979 by then New South Wales premier Neville Wran around 100 years after it was first planned and 31 years after construction began - construction had taken place at a rate of approximately 250 metres per year on average.

During the long period of planning and construction the course of the railway was altered, and some stations deleted. There is still a vestigial station at Woollahra.