BATHURST residents have welcomed the announcement the city's second daily service to Sydney will commence in the spring as Orange's push for inclusion on the Bullet service continues.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole announced the second 'Bathurst Bullet' service will be fast-tracked for a spring release after funding was made available in the NSW Budget.
Bathurst Rail Action Group chairman John Hollis said that scheduled reflects the urgency of answering a growing demand for regional services to Sydney.
"The new service will provide more options for residents in the region who wish to visit Sydney," he said.
"With the addition of Tarana and Rydal as stops, the new service will be easier for communities east of Bathurst to access."
As technology continues to improve, we need to investigate every avenue possible in order to advance the Central West's rail link to Sydney.
- Bathurst Rail Action Group chairman John Hollis
The second Bullet service is scheduled to leave Bathurst at around 7.30am each weekday and return at 7pm.
Mr Hollis said the new service is a step in the right direction for the continued development of rail operations in the Central West.
"As technology continues to improve, we need to investigate every avenue possible in order to advance the Central West's rail link to Sydney," he said.
"The Bullet has grown in popularity over the last seven years, and it's tremendous to see the service continue to expand."
The announcement comes in the wake of member for Orange Phil Donato tabling a 10,000 signature-strong petition in NSW Parliament asking for the Bullet's journeys to be extended to Orange.
In his fortnightly 'Matters of State' column in Tuesday's Central Western Daily, Mr Donato wrote there was an undeniable "need for a fast train return service between Orange and Sydney".
"While the government has made a decision to double the service available to the people of Bathurst, just a short distance away (in rural terms), Orange is being neglected," he wrote.
"It is an important part of caring for our community that this service exist, as regional areas need fast and reliable access to the city.
"I have urged the government to listen to concerns of our electorate and utilise existing dormant facilities to house the train locally, so the journey that currently begins in Bathurst would be initiated from Orange."
Mr Donato said Orange's Rail Action Group had gathered the required signatures for the petition in just 11 months.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE AND DISTRICT NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...
