Swap the seats in Sydney’s planned re-built sports stadiums for seats on an upgraded train service for Orange.
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That’s the blunt message member for Orange Phil Donato, deputy mayor Jo McRae and the Orange Rail Action Group [ORAG] had for the state government this week.
They said part of the $2 billion the government was proposing to spend on knocking down and rebuilding two city stadiums should be spent on regional projects.
That includes straightening the path of the western railway line between Lithgow and Blayney and providing more daily trains for Orange.
Member for Orange Phil Donato said the government should be spending more money to improve regional areas.
“Instead of spending $2 billion-plus on city sports stadiums this government should instead be spending your money on upgrading essential regional rail services for Orange and the greater Central West,” he said.
He said the government had failed to adequately provide answers to rail issues he had raised.
Mr Donato said Transport Minister Andrew Constance had said there would not be any community consultation on improving rail services until after new trains were delivered in the next few years.
“That’s simply not good enough, regional rail requires attention now,” he said.
“There is a complete lack of consultation with local communities.”
He said that despite local requests the government had not done any funding studies on improving the rail line.
ORAG chairperson Neil Jones said it was pointless providing faster trains if they had to travel on rail lines that limited speeds because of their winding route.
“The critical issue is the infrastructure, the rail line alignment that is needed,” he said.
“The western line uses rail alignments built in the late 1880s with tight curve radii, poor track footings and level crossings.
“Correction of the worst of these pinch points would improve speeds of future new diesel trains, especially if tilt train technology was included.”
ORAG has called for a new tilt train to leave Orange at 6am and arrive at Central station about 9.30am-10am daily to be provided as part of an upgraded service.