THE Southern Tablelands Rail Users’ Group’s (STRUG) president Greg Price says it is “a total disappointment” that Goulburn misses out on any Endeavour train timetable changes in the new ‘Master Train Plan’ due to commence on October 26.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The timetable, released on Monday, demonstrates Goulburn’s affordable transport needs have “fallen on deaf ears” and Mr Price and his committee have been left wondering what it might take to get that message across given another timetable change will not happen until October 2015.
“Despite a series of high level meetings with politicians and rail administrators during which time it was pointed out that the 7:40am train leaves too late for many passengers to undertake effective business or recreation in Sydney, that train remains unaltered, as do all Endeavour services,” Mr Price said.
And while STRUG has been calling for a usefully timetabled circa 7am Endeavour to Sydney on weekends to enable families to attend a multitude of familyfriendly events that regularly attract people from the Southern Highlands and other centres surrounding Sydney, there is no convenient trains for Goulburn district families to do this, he said.
Just last month STRUG secretary Leon Oberg tabled a letter from Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian which was forwarded with little relevant comment by the Member for Goulburn Pru Goward which simply lauded the Southern Highlands line’s “55 extra services a week and faster connections to the airport line along with station improvements at Moss Vale, Mittagong, Tahmoor, Picton and Marulan.”
In a harsh reply copied in to Ms Goward and Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor, Mr Oberg said his members were “gobsmacked and disillusioned” by the Minister’s comments given all but one of the things she mentioned were for people living north of Moss Vale.
“Our body represents people living along the 79.3km line that serves seven stations between Moss Vale and Goulburn along with the many towns surrounding Goulburn that have no rail service and almost non-existent public transport,” he wrote.
Mayor Geoff Kettle was similarly unimpressed, for in a letter to STRUG dated August 22, he said “it appears to me (the Minister) does not fully understand the importance of rail services from Goulburn and also the need to ensure that it is not just Sydney that has demands for public transport.”
“It is important that this Council and your rail user group continue to push the Minister to get an understanding of life beyond Sydney.
“I look forward to working with your group in trying to achieve some outcomes that will benefit Goulburn,” Cr Kettle wrote, adding he had sent a copy of his letter to Ms Goward.
“Frankly, I am amazed we did not get something, given how close the next State election is and how much interest several other political parties vying for the Seat of Goulburn in March, have already shown,” Mr Price said.
“Those of us living in the Goulburn area clearly continue to be second class citizens when it comes to transport and it appears many in the Transport Department need a geography lesson as to where Goulburn sits on the main southern railway,” he said.