Member for Orange Philip Donato has called on Minster for Regional Transport Paul Toole to respond to his requests to extend coach connection services from Orange to Bathurst train station from five to seven days a week.
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"While the Bathurst community are soon to benefit from a second daily bullet passenger train service, the Orange community don't yet have that luxury, they're still relying on a coach service to connect them with the Bathurst Bullet," Mr Donato said.
A service which only runs from Monday to Friday to connect Parkes and Orange with Bathurst.
Mr Donato said these communities comprise a population of more than 50,000 people, and their lives don't just operate Monday to Friday.
"This was raised with the Minister for Regional Transport Paul Toole when Dr Peter Bilenkij of the Orange Rail Action Group and I met him in Parliament on June 5 this year," Mr Donato said.
"The Minister said he would consider extending the coach connection service to include weekends, but months passed with no commitment, so I submitted a question on notice in Parliament earlier this month to motivate Mr Toole to deliver us a coach service to operate seven days a week."
Mr Donato said Mr Toole must remember that he is the Minister for Regional Transport and that includes Orange, Forbes, Parkes and beyond.
"It isn't just locals needing this transport service, it's also people who want to visit this fantastic region, too," he said.
"While our economy strains under a crippling drought, we are reliant on revenue generated from tourist visitation more than ever.
"I am now calling on Minister Toole to introduce a seven day a week coach service so that the communities of the Orange electorate can connect with rail services and metropolitan Sydney.
"People's lives don't stop on weekends, so neither should their transport services,' Mr Donato said.
An answer is due on the matter on September 5.
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