IF YOU think Richmond line commuters got a dud deal in last week’s new train timetable, hop off the train on Thursday evening and tell your story to our district’s advocates.
Richmond’s Stuart Gale and Kurmond’s Nathan Cox have started campaign group 'Improve Richmond Line Train Services’ and are hosting a ‘Listening Station’ at Richmond Park directly across the road from Richmond station from 5.45pm-7pm on November 30.
Hawkesbury Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett and councillors Peter Reynolds and Danielle Wheeler, Macquarie MP Susan Templeman and The Gazette will be there to hear your story of how the timetable has impacted you. Mr Perrottet was invited too but could not send anyone at short notice.
Mr Gale said our line was the loser in the changes.
“The timetable now features longer journeys, more stops, and many financial and social implications for our community,” he said.
“It fails to provide any relief for Richmond line commuters who were promised duplication of the Richmond Line 26 years ago who are still relegated to a 30-minute service in a part of Sydney that is rapidly expanding and is lacking vital road and transport infrastructure.
“The Richmond line constantly suffers delays, cancellations, and ongoing reliability issues that can turn a 48 minute journey into a three to four hour journey.”
He said ultimately the group wants the long-promised duplication of the Richmond line. “But in the meantime we want to maintain direct services to and from the city, especially in peak times. It’s our turn for a bit of sunlight.”
Mr Gale asked all the Hawkesbury councillors to attend the meeting but only the mayor and councillors Reynolds, Wheeler and Calvert (who wasn’t able to attend) replied.
Macquarie MP Susan Templeman said the State Government “either doesn’t know the impacts the timetable changes are having on commuters in the west, or it simply doesn’t care”.
“Time and time again, the Hawkesbury is missing out on the investment and infrastructure it needs, and is continually being forced to make sacrifices for the benefit of those in other parts of the city, but enough is enough.
“I encourage the community to get behind this action on Thursday evening to send a strong message to the State Government that the Hawkesbury deserves better than this.”
For more go to Facebook page Improve Richmond Line Train Services or email improverichmondtrains@gmail.com.
