The community is being invited to an information session to discuss the proposed services, which would connect Tamworth with Newcastle, Dubbo and Port Macquarie.

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads, Maritime and Freight and Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, will launch community consultation at the first information session at the Tamworth Community Centre on Wednesday, December 13. 

Community members are invited to drop in between 11am and 2pm to hear presentations, discuss the proposed trials and provide feedback.

“Newcastle has all of the services of Sydney so locals have been asking for the opportunity to have a day return service from Tamworth,” Mr Anderson said.

“NSW TrainLink’s trial coach service would connect Tamworth with existing trains in the Upper Hunter to provide convenient connections to and from Newcastle.

“This will mean people can travel from Tamworth to Newcastle and back in one day, avoiding the need to stay overnight.”

Mr Anderson said the new service would complement the existing XPLORER train services to and from Sydney and Newcastle each day.

“For those wanting to escape to the coast, the Tamworth to Port Macquarie trial would provide direct public transport for a weekend getaway, or to connect with the XPT services up and down the coast at Wauchope,” he said.

The consultation will also seek the community’s feedback on a new coach service that would open up the Central West, with a direct coach to Dubbo and connections through to places like Lightning Ridge, Nyngan, Broken Hill, Orange and Bathurst.

“Subject to the community’s input I will be working with NSW TrainLink to get the trials up and running by Easter 2018,” Mr Anderson said.

Further information sessions will be held in January 2018 and a community survey will be launched at the first engagement session to enable people to provide feedback on the trials.