Councillor Cameron Price has called on Hastings Council to write a letter to the NSW Minister for Transport, Hon. Michael Costa, asking him to rule out any decline in rail services or closure of travel centres in the Mid North Coast.
The threat to close some CountryLink travel centres is a slap in the face to regional NSW, said Cr Price.
The Parry Report has recommended cutting CountryLink services, including travel centres. The announcement of a review of travel centres and the replacement of the Casino to Murwillumbah service with buses has lead to industrial action.
“Trains are an essential part of the transport infrastructure supporting areas like the Hastings and have less environmental impact than other means of transporting people and freight,” said Cr Price.
“The staffing of travel centres is important for safety at stations and the employment of locals.”
“Rail services should be boosted as an incentive to use this safe, cost-effective means of transport. Any move to strip back rail services is on the wrong track,” said Cr Price.