Over the years residents in New England who had been deprived of a descent public transport service between Armidale and Queensland had been pushing their local councils and the NSW government to restore the train services by deploying various means. This included writing letters, submissions, responding to community consultations and at times discussing the issue with visiting politicians from Sydney. Several years ago, Passenger Trains North of Armidale developed a petition to the NSW Legislative Assembly seeking the restoration of passenger train services and started collecting signatures from NSW residents and citizens. Last year Trains North Inc -a community organisation campaigning on the same issue -took over the task and started visiting various weekend markets and other events to collect more signatures. Shop owners and volunteers in towns along the rail line also did the same.
By last week they had gathered 10,740 valid signatures. It was an excellent community effort. Unlike other petitions with political blessings, this was purely a community-led exercise reflecting the dire need for public transport and transport justice in the New England communities north of Armidale.
On the morning of 20th October 2023, Trains North committee organised a celebratory event at the Armidale railway station where about 50 supporters attended at short notice. Some came from Glen Innes and Tenterfield. After hearing the news about this event in the radio, a couple from Tamworth who have had travel experience in the US etc. by trains also joined. Kerry Moran and several kids performed welcome to the country. Prime News covered the event with an onsite crew. In the afternoon, a delegation from Trains North handed the petition to Mr. Marshall in his Armidale office to be delivered to NSW parliament. It is expected that the NSW Legislative Assembly will have a debate on the subject in due course.
Gathering of over 10,000 signatures from concerned residents of New England and those from elsewhere in the State plus handing the petition to the local M.P is a major milestone in the campaign launched by Trains North for public transport justice in the region. Trains North is not only giving a voice to the voiceless in the New England region on this important issue but through its affiliated groups in towns like Glen Innes and Tenterfield (more towns along the rail line are to be added), it is empowering the residents who had been disempowered by local and state political authority thus far as well as the mainstream media over the decades. In this context, various myths had been constructed by vested interests discouraging residents coming forward and requesting the councils and the government as a collective for a fair hearing.
The alarming divide between the city and country in terms of public transport and opportunities for regional connectivity becomes stark when we look at this issue closely. Trains North is urging local councils in New England and the State government to join hands in conducting a feasibility of the rail line restoration for trains without further delay. Rail supporters in Northern Tablelands experiencing difficulties in travel to Queensland (in particular those who cannot access a private car) expect their local member Mr. Marshall will take this message to the NSW parliament and become an advocate for this cause as he has done for various other issues in the recent past e.g. restoration of seniors travel pass, Creation of an independent New England Health District.
Media Reports
NBN News on 21st October 2023
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2023/10/21/major-milestone-for-rail-service-restoration-in-north-west/
Prime News on 20th October 2023
https://7plus.com.au/7news-new-england?episode-id=7TAM23-210&startAt=165&autoplay=true
New England Times
https://www.netimes.com.au/2023/10/19/trains-petition-to-be-handed-over-this-morning/
Armidale Express
Armidale Express. -Online- 20th October 2023 (Subscribers only)