Clarence Environment Centre Newsletter Spring2003 COUNTRYLINK RAIL SERVICE TO BE SCRAPPED?

COUNTRYLINK RAIL SERVICE TO BE SCRAPPED?

Based on the Parry Report and inside information, It is strongly suspected that Transport Minister Costa is building up to announce the scrapping of all CountryLink rail services. All CountryLink trains will be replaced with coaches. The announcement may take place over the Xmas break. This is another Sydney-centric decision downgrading services for country people:

It is much more dangerous to travel by coach on the Pacific Highway than by rail.

It is another blow to the rail network - rail maintenance will be cut back, freight services will decline, meaning even more trucks on the Pacific Highway.

It is much more difficult to sleep on long trips, especially for the elderly, with coaches turning off the highway into towns to pick up/put down passengers - much more disruptive than stopping at a station.

What can you do? Write letters to the Premier, Minister Costa and newspapers. Phone talk-back radio. Sign petitions. For contact details and to send email please click here.

Let's hope this is only a feint, so that when the government changes its mind at the last minute, we'll all be grateful when it does something only half as bad.

-Mark