Police have charged 24 people and seized eight knives following a three-day operation targeting crime across the Sydney to Newcastle rail network.

Operation Disrupt was carried out by Police Transport Command North/Central between Thursday 30 July and Saturday 1 August at train stations in Newcastle, Hamilton, Gosford, Hornsby and Sydney.

During the operation, officers arrested and charged 24 people with a total of 27 offences.

Police also conducted four knife-scanning operations, scanning 263 people and seizing eight knives and one offensive implement. Officers also made 12 drug detections and identified six alleged breaches of bail.

Among the arrests, police allegedly found a knife, spray cans and housebreaking implements during a search of a 26-year-old man at Hornsby Railway Station about 2.10pm on Thursday.

Police allege the man was stopped after checks revealed he did not have a valid train ticket.

He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for a number of offences, including possessing a knife in a public place, possessing a prohibited drug, possessing graffiti implements with intent to contravene and possessing housebreaking implements.

He is due to appear before Hornsby Local Court on 9 September.

In a separate incident, police responded to reports of a brawl near Mann Street, Gosford, about 2.25pm on Friday.

A 45-year-old man was searched and police allegedly located a knife and a large torch.

He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit and having custody of an offensive implement in a public place. He is due to appear before Gosford Local Court on 27 August.

Later that evening, police boarded a train at Warrawee Railway Station following reports a teenager had allegedly threatened passengers.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged with two counts of stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before a children’s court on 7 September.

Operation Disrupt will continue across the public transport network.

Anyone with information that may assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through the Crime Stoppers website.