TRANSPORT for NSW Deputy Secretary Camilla Drover has offered little hope of a speedy return of the XPT service to Gloucester.
“I’m not willing to commit to a hard and fast date,” she said when recently appearing before a Parliamentary budget estimates hearing.
According to Transport for NSW (TfNSW), the NSW Government is replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains with 29 safe, comfortable and more accessible trains for customers travelling across NSW, and between Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.
In a statement in February this year, Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the XPT fleet had reached an impressive 40-plus years in service and that work was underway to ensure it continued to provide passengers with a safe and comfortable experience until the next generation “Regional Rail Fleet” was ready to be introduced.
“The NSW Government has committed $40.3 million over five years for the XPT Life Extension Project,” she said.
Since then, XPT services to the Mid North Coast, including Gloucester, have been reduced while the ageing XPTs are refurbished.
The new trains were originally planned to be running by January 2023, but few of the 29 trains that were ordered have arrived.
News Of The Area sought comment from Transport for NSW as to whether the fact the refurbishment will take five years, also means the new trains will not come into service for at least five years.
And will Gloucester continue to receive only a limited service during that time?
In response, TfNSW repeated the minister’s comments from earlier this year.
“A timeline for the new Regional Rail Fleet’s entry into service will be confirmed once the trains have progressed through testing, assurance and the relevant verifications on the NSW and Australian rail networks.
“There is a significant amount of work to be done before the new trains enter passenger service.
“For a 12-month period during the XPT Life Extension Project, premium coaches are replacing XPTs on the Grafton route.
“Trains are scheduled to resume on the Grafton service next year.”
By John WATTS
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