The opportunity to sign the Orange Rail Action Group’s petition to improve rail services in the region is being offered to Millthorpe and Blayney residents.
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The first objective of ORAG’s push is to see an extension to the so-called Bathurst Bullet’s route to include stops at Orange at either end of the direct daily trips to Sydney.
They are also pushing for an additional XPT service each day which, by running in reverse to the current one, would see Central West travellers in Sydney in the morning.
Because such moves would also be advantageous for Blayney and Millthorpe residents – with the latter group set to enjoy a refurbished station when it opens in March – ORAG chairman Peter Bilenkij said that the lobby group was now reaching out to those communities to garner support.
People from Cowra, Canowindra, Grenfell and all those outlying places could catch an early train from Blayney rather than Bathurst or Lithgow.
- Orange Rail Action Group committee member Neil Jones
According to Dr Bilenkij, an early-morning express passenger train to Sydney’s Central station would be a boon for residents in both Millthorpe and Blayney.
“This could be achieved by having the Bathurst Bullet commence its early-morning journey in Orange, and pick up passengers at Millthorpe and Blayney,” he said.
Dr Bilenkij said the additional XPT service would also be a step in the right direction, and not only for Orange, Millthorpe and Blayney train travellers.
“We don’t want to cancel the current one, but when the government comes good with its plans to open a new rail maintenance yard in Dubbo, a new early-morning XPT-style service departing from Dubbo should be seriously considered,” he said.
ORAG committee member Neil Jones said Blayney had great potential as a transport hub for outlying centres.
“People from Cowra, Canowindra, Grenfell and all those outlying places could catch an early train from Blayney rather than Bathurst or Lithgow,” he said.
The petition can be signed at the Blayney Visitors’ Centre, Millthorpe Corner Shop, Millthorpe Post Office, member for Orange Philip Donato’s Orange office, and the Central Western Daily’s office at 190 Lords Place.
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