Dubbo was announced as the preferred site for the new depot on Monday.

However, Mr Donato hit back saying the government had promised Orange would be the site in last year’s Orange byelection campaign, where he defeated the Nationals candidate Scott Barrett by less than 100 votes.

“They were making this sound like a promise in the Orange byelection, but now they’re punishing the people of Orange because a Nationals party candidate was not elected,” he said.

“I will continue to hold them to account for every single dollar promised.”

A review of statements in the lead up to the byelection revealed the only train promise made by the Coalition government was regarding the provision of a new fleet of trains for regional areas.

It did however indicate train servicing might be done at a regional location.

By Tuesday the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers member softened his criticism of the depot decision, claiming there had been a strong “inference” the depot would be located in Orange and moving it to Dubbo was a case of pork-barreling to boost Mr Grant’s re-election chances.

“It was announced in Orange two weeks before the byelection,” Mr Donato said.

“The inference was that it was going to be facilitated and housed in Orange.”

He said other locations were suggested.

“Orange was mentioned, but there was no guarantee.

“I thought Orange had a good case to put forward.

“I really lobbied hard and we had the support of the council.”

On the day last October that Transport Minister Andrew Constance visited Orange during the byelection  Nationals candidate Scott Barrett said he would be pushing hard for the depot to be built 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.” he said.

“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.”

This week Mr Grant threw fuel on the debate’s fire when he responded to a question of why Orange as overlooked by saying that’s what happened when “you don’t have someone at the decision-making table of government”.

He said Dubbo had stronger geographic claims to housing the depot.

“Dubbo’s becoming more and more obvious because of the connectivity to the whole state,” Mr Grant said.

He received backing from the state’s regional rail boss who visited Orange on Tuesday.

The Chief Operating Officer of NSW Trainlink Pete Allaway said Dubbo was a good location for the depot because it was at the the end of a line.

“From an operational perspective it’s a really good location,” he said.

Mr Allaway said he didn’t know if Orange had been considered for the depot.