Muriel Dell to Siri Gamage-  Train lobby groups have been fighting hard for over 8 years - (nasty groups, mostly members not from our area & get a high from seeing trains), remarkably since a realistic, alternative use was introduced (aka the New England Rail Trail). You have only come into this 2 years ago, obviously thinking to introduce a new debate…..but you’re still approaching this in the same way. � If you were truly serious about finding ways to improve public transport for the villages & towns north of Armidale (a regional city), you would be investigating more suitable timetables, utilising existing options for bus trials, in consultation with communities who you say, quote “are suffering”. But no, short term lobbying to try & block the rail trail is your mantra. As it is, the Train Link service runs Tenterfield to Armidale return daily - with few passengers. The link provided by NSW Govt aligns with the NSW Health Service, ie all public health services in NSW eventually end up in our NSW capital, Sydney.Passenger service to Brisbane? The old line doesn’t lead to Brisbane but travels inland to Toowoomba (2 hrs west of Brisbane) & then up west through the Darling Downs.4��  

David Mills - Well articulated Muriel.

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Siri Gamage to Muriel.  By the same token, why are you against improving train services beyond Armidale to the border? You and rail trail supporters want to claim the whole rail corridor,30 meters wide, for a bike track that only able bodied people can ride! Don't we have a right to ask for better public transport for the long suffering people? The coach to Armidale is not the solution. Our councils need to think long term, protect,advocate and utilise our vital public transport asset i.e. northern railway line for the next generations. Cycle track is not the answer many residents and rate payers are seeking. we have got 900 signatures for a petition to the Legislative Assembly.Do you think they want a rail trail? We are not in the business of blocking rail trail. We prefer if it is built on the side of existing rail line so that future train services can be initiated or build it in another location leading to any tourist attractions. There are examples of community groups establishing bike trails without the involvement of councils yet able to attract govt grants e.g. Tenterfield. You are asking me to do the government job to examine time tables, consult communities about pubic transport etc... Be real. It is the job of the elected MP for the area and the NSW government. I am only a volunteer spending my time and energy to advocate for better public transport for the area north of Armidale and to convince the two Councils that they can do it another way using the "multi use rail corridor" concept rather than the single use concept.