In February 1990, the long-standing Holiday Coast XPT was axed as part of a restructure of CountryLink services.

[4] Initially hauled by 86 class electric locomotives south of Broadmeadow, however from March 1992 it was hauled by diesel locomotives throughout usually a 442 class.

The locomotive hauled Grafton Express last ran in November 1993.

[4] With the National Party having lost a number of North Coast seats in the 1990 Federal election in a policy reversal it was announced that Xplorer railcars would be purchased to extend the Northern Tablelands Express with an XPT to be released to operate a daily service to Grafton.

[5] Thus in November 1993 the Grafton XPT began, a service that continues today.