Dear Rail Supporters,

The NSW Government is currently preparing Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans (SRITPs) for various regions, including New England – North West. The Transport for NSW (TfNSW) team responsible for developing our region’s SRITP is calling for input from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.

A draft regional transport plan will be released later this year for public exhibition and further feedback.

It is critical that you share your concerns and ideas about public transport connections—both to the north (Queensland, e.g. Toowoomba and Brisbane) and to the south (Armidale, Tamworth, Newcastle, Sydney, and other population centres).

For example, residents in Glen Innes, Tenterfield, and surrounding areas face ongoing difficulties due to a lack of regular and reliable public transport. A single daily coach service between Tenterfield and Armidale station is insufficient, especially for people with medical issues or without access to a private vehicle. If you need services to the coast or other areas, this is your opportunity to suggest improvements to current routes and propose new services.

Our region’s current transport model is overly reliant on private cars and expensive, often unreliable, air services. Recent disruptions have highlighted the unsustainability of this model. We need better, more frequent, and faster public transport options—both rail and coach—to access essential services like health care, education, employment, and recreation.

In 2025, we shouldn't have to accept second-class transport services compared to major cities. It is the NSW Government’s responsibility to provide adequate, affordable, and reliable public transport to all residents—regional or urban.

One transformative solution is the restoration of the Armidale to Queensland railway line, allowing both passenger and freight services to resume. This could serve as a catalyst for regional growth, economic development, and social wellbeing, connecting smaller towns and villages to major population centres. With this, coach services could be better integrated to link with train stations and outlying communities.

Transport integration is essential. For example, the current coach service from Tenterfield terminates at Armidale Station, but there are no connecting services to or from the airport. Residents often wait more than 30 minutes for a taxi, and fares are expensive. A recent taxi trip from the airport to North Hill cost me between $30–$40. For longer distances like Glen Innes, costs are even higher.

We urge you to speak up and share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions with the team preparing our Regional Transport Plan. Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape a better, more connected future for our region.

Submit your feedback here:

🔗 Website: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/new-england-and-north-west

You can contribute in two ways:

Use the interactive map on the website to pin your comments.

Email your feedback directly to: engage.sritps@transport.nsw.gov.au

Your voice matters—please act now!