Orange-Bathurst bus to be permanent after increased traffic

Mr Constance, visiting Orange to announce a $50 million plan to fast-track replacement trains for the current ageing fleet of XPT trains, said extending the train would come at the cost of a longer trip.

Mr Constance announced that the bus, which had been on trial, would be made permanent following a 16 per cent increase in patronage.

“Currently the coach service provides a 30-minute quicker trip. If you were to utilise the train it means a longer journey time. That’s something that has to be factored.

“We have the coach leaving here at 4.50am, we don’t want to be any earlier than that. And part of the challenge around that is you have got to have stabling, maintenance, staff and the crew management around that. We would need to consult with the community about that.”

Mr Constance said that a new timetable early next year would see 10 minutes slashed off the bus trip time from Bathurst-Orange thanks to road improvements. It will still travel via Blayney and Millthorpe.

He also announced increased safety at Orange station with 12 high-definition cameras now working around the station plus a new customer information point.

Mr Constance confirmed the fast-tracking of XPT replacement trains.

“Over the next six months we will go to market, doing the necessary homework to advance this by a number of years.

“We want to get trains on track by the early 2020s.”

He said the State Government would be talking to the Federal Government about upgrading country rail lines and reducing the problem of freight trains breaking down and disrupting passenger services.

Mr Constance said the major spending on new trains would include looking at moving train maintenance and servicing out of Sydney and into one or several country centres.

Nationals candidate for the Orange byelection Scott Barrett said: “I’ll be pushing very hard that the maintenance of the new trains is done in Orange.

“I think Orange is ideally suited to the task and in the old Electrolux factory right next to the rail line, we’ve got the perfect location for a maintenance centre. I have already spoken to the Deputy Premier (Troy Grant who was also in Orange for the announcement) and he will be examining the option very closely.”

Mr Barrett said work would begin later this to provide better lighting, a pick-up and drop-off zone plus bike racks at the station.