After an interval of 33 years, the first paying passengers have alighted a train onto Millthorpe station, and it appeared almost a third of the town was there to greet them on Friday morning.
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Member for Bathurst Paul Toole paid tribute to the 'Millthorpe on Track' group who facilitated the service's return to the village through the use of a simple and proven strategy.
"They just wouldn't shut up," he said on Friday, as the XPT train waited at the revamped station.
You can feel the excitement about the future. The future of rail, the future of Millthorpe,and the future of our shire.
- Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson
"So I thought it would just be easier to go and find a million dollars. Seriously though, they had the vision, the drive and have never given up."
Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson said that without a doubt it was one of the most exciting occasions that he'd had the privilege to be a part of.
"You can feel the excitement about the future. The future of rail, the future of Millthorpe, and the future of our shire," he said.
MAP: Where is Millthorpe train station …
Past president of the Millthorpe Village Committee John Mason said without the work of the original Millthorpe on Track group that saved the station from demolition, the station would no longer exist.
"This station is one of only four heritage-listed stations still in service in NSW, and to Beevor Roll, Virginia DeSantis and Anne Cropley we all thank you for your work to save the station," he said.
The current Millthorpe on Track group, led by Laurie Williams, were the group that Mr Toole was referring to when he spoke of their determination, and the group is now continuing their service to the community, but not by pestering politicians.
In conjunction with accommodation groups in Millthorpe they will be offering a mini-bus pick-up service at the station for visitors that are arriving by train.
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