The Southern Tablelands Rail Users Group (STRUG) are seeking a meeting with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr to improve train services between Canberra and Sydney. 

STRUG president Greg Price said they were heartened by Mr Barr’s recent journey to Sydney on the Canberra Explorer. 

“There was a story in the Canberra Times about Andrew Barr travelling to Canberra to visit NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance. The train was fittingly one hour late,” Mr Price said. 

“Apparently the purpose of his journey was to try and work out how to improve rail services between Sydney and Canberra. 

“We were encouraged by that because we have been trying to get a meeting with him for some time.

“We have also sent an email to Mr Constance asking him to order sufficient numbers of trains in the new contract to be able to extend the hourly service currently enjoyed by commuters to Moss Vale - to extend those services to Goulburn.

“Currently we only have two return services a day if you use Sydney Trains.”

Another issue STRUG flagged was that Opal fares would be rising from July 1 as the State Government ends its ticket price freeze. 

Public transport users in NSW will face a 2.4 per cent increase in Opal fares from July, which the state government stresses is in line with inflation and needed to offset a decline in revenue.

The government will keep the cost of all-day travel for seniors' Gold Opal cards capped at $2.50.

The next meeting of STRUG is on June 5 at the Goulburn Workers Club at 7.30pm