RAIL movements in the State's north west could be disrupted for days after an empty coal train derailed at Kankool, near Willow Tree, shortly after 5am on Sunday morning.
Nineteen wagons on the 82-wagon Pacific National train derailed, closing the single line between Ardglen and Willow Tree.
An ARTC spokesman said the driver and crew escaped without injury but said the cause was still being investigated.
Rail safety regulators and Pacific National inspectors visited the site on Sunday, with the site being handed back to Pacific National later than day.
Pacific National is is responsible for the removal of the wagons and rectification of the track.
The line is the rail transport route for coal to the Port of Newcastle from mines in the Gunnedah, Boggabri and Werris Creek areas.
Passenger rail services between Sydney, Moree and Armidale have also been affected.
Xplorer train services were replaced by coaches between Muswellbrook and Werris Creek for northbound passengers.
Those travelling to Sydney from Moree, were bussed between Werris Creek and Muswellbrook and there were coaches between Tamworth and Muswellbrook for southbound passengers from Armidale.
A NSW TrainLink spokesman said coaches would continue to replace trains between Werris Creek and Muswellbrook for the Armidale and Moree Xplorer services.
TrainLink said it would let its customers know when normal services resumed.
Pacific National said it would clear and repair the line before it was re-opened, but ARTC said they did not know when the single line would reopen
The line is expected to be fully reopened by late Friday.