Save Our Rail NSW Inc. ← Campaign to Retain and Improve Newcastle Rail ← Page 8

Coaltion urged to stop Newcastle rail cut

Sep

12

2014

A Bellbird man has urged the Coalition state government to delay the Newcastle rail line closure until after the March election, reports the Maitland Mercury: … “This current plan to remove the heavy rail into Newcastle beggars belief,” he said. “This facility services the people of not only Newcastle but the entire Hunter Valley and ...

Letter: Don’t dismantle public transport

Sep

12

2014

Don’t dismantle public transport (via letter to the Newcastle Herald): ASIO tells us that Australia’s terror alert should be raised from medium to high, indicating an attack is likely rather than possible. But our NSW Minister for Transport is racing to destroy the core public transport system of a highly strategic Australian city before anyone ...

Rail travel problems taste of future

Sep

11

2014

People travelling from Maitland, Dungog and the upper reaches of the Hunter had to contend with scheduled track work on the Newcastle line last weekend, as reported in the Maitland Mercury: Commuters from the greater Hunter have had a taste of public transport difficulties ahead of the planned closure of Newcastle rail line. People travelling ...

Letter: Rail enhances visitors’ stay

Sep

11

2014

Rail enhances visitors’ stay (via letter to the Newcastle Herald): RECENTLY we spent time with visitors to Newcastle from Tasmania, who came for our jazz festival. … They can’t believe that the government is shutting down the train into our city. … We showed him where the new university campus, for 4000 students, and the ...

No benefit for elderly

Sep

9

2014

As reported in the Maitland Mercury, cutting Newcastle rail line will disadvantage elderly and young people who live in regional parts of the Hunter. Joan Dawson, a member of Save Our Rail, the organisation working to have the rail decision overturned, said the rail cut would affect the people who relied on public transport most. ...

Video: The Art of a Lie – Newcastle Rail Line

Sep

8

2014

Premier Mike Baird and Transport Minister Gladys Berijiklian speak about Sydney’s rail plans, against the backdrop of their plans to cut Newcastle’s line and close three CBD stations in the city. Comments are also included from the ‘Hunter Deserves Better’ rally, held 6 September, 2014.

The Hunter deserves better say supporters : photos

Sep

6

2014

AROUND 400 supporters converged on Civic Park today for the ‘Hunter Deserves Better’ Rally. Coverage at the Newcastle Herald: The rally was organised to draw attention to the various community groups concerned with what they feel is a lack of ‘sensible and transparent planning’ for the Hunter region by the NSW Government. … “The strength of ...

#SaveHunterRail: Ongoing press coverage at the Maitland Mercury

Sep

6

2014

The Maitland Mercury and has been providing extensive coverage of the shameful Newcastle Rail truncation as part of its Get On Board: help us #SaveHunterRail grass roots community campaign. A newspaper’s job is to advocate for its readers when they need it most. The Singleton Argus, The Scone Advocate, Cessnock Advertiser, Muswellbrook Chronicle and Dungog ...

Cutting Newcastle rail line at Wickham would be a backward step: former resident

Sep

5

2014

The Maitland Mercury continues its coverage of the Newcastle Rail truncation: The Hunter should take a leaf out of London’s book when it comes to public transport. That’s what a former Hunter resident living in the United Kingdom thinks. Paul Newman has been following the public debate on the plan to remove Newcastle rail line. ...

Mine subsidence maps: Why would they close Newcastle Rail line?

Sep

2

2014

Why would they close Newcastle Rail Line? To get the land and the “prize” is Newcastle Station. The rail corridor has the most development value of any land in Newcastle. It is almost the only land in the city not undermined by old coal mines. This means: Mine Subsidence Board approval would not be an ...

We Deserve Better rally – Sat 06/09/2014, 10.30am, Civic Park

Sep

2

2014

This rally has been organised by an informal group of non-politically aligned community members – “We Deserve Better” – committed to ensuring better outcomes from our state and local governments – outcomes for the benefit of the community and the region. Save Our Rail will be speaking at the rally. RAIN, HAIL, or SHINE: Saturday 06/09/2014, 10.30 am, ...

Letter: There are no trams, there will be no trams

Sep

1

2014

There are no trams, there will be no trams (via letter to Newcastle Herald): LET me state what I believe is the bleeding obvious: There are no trams, there will be no trams. There are none in the BBQ shelter drawings (aka Wickham interchange plans), there are none in the transport study, there are none ...

“Skytrain” in Sydney – why not in Newcastle?

Sep

1

2014

Newcastle’s different. In 2008 when SOR proposed a SkyTrain to cross Stewart Av at Wickham the idea was dismissed by the NSW Govt and Hunter Development Corporation. Are you aware that the new North West Rail Link “skytrain” will run above ground for 4 km between Kellyville and Rouse Hill? And that the contracted price ...

Video: 4 People on that Train – Newcastle Rail Line

Aug

26

2014

Music video based on anti-rail statements that claim low passenger numbers on the Newcastle CBD line, a claim at odds with footage of actual CBD trains.

Help us keep rail to Newcastle. Govt plans to cut on Xmas Day!

Aug

23

2014

Donate to our campaign! What’s happening? NSW Government announced it will close Newcastle Rail Line. Last train Christmas Day 2014. All Newcastle passengers to be off-loaded to buses at Hamilton or Broadmeadow for at least 2 to 3 years from Boxing Day. No replacement system has been approved nor planned, so the intention seems to ...

Editorial: Politics of saying yes and no

Aug

23

2014

The Newcastle Herald’s editorial (Sat 23/08/2014) asks some reasonable questions about the Wickham terminus carport. The final paragraphs state: It is by no means unreasonable to want to know why the heavy rail is being cut before the promised light rail is even begun. Why does the new terminus concept appear so under-cooked and why ...

Newcastle rail cut pain for uni students

Aug

22

2014

The Maitland Mercury ran this article on Fri 22 August 2014: By the time the University of Newcastle builds its proposed city-centre campus in the Civic precinct, the state government will have removed the heavy rail line between Wickham and Newcastle. Students who want to catch a train to university from outside the city, in ...

Opinion: It’s time to stand up and stop plans to cut rail line

Aug

21

2014

The Maitland Mercury has published another editorial opposing the Boxing Day truncation of the heavy rail to Newcastle. They want to hear your story so speak up. Commuters from the wider Hunter are getting the raw end of the deal with plans to cut the rail line into Newcastle CBD. Considering the level of discontent ...

Video: Rally challenges mandate to cut railway

Aug

20

2014

The Newcastle Herald provided coverage, including a video piece, of today’s rally at Newcastle Station. INSPIRED by recent revelations at the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the fight against the cutting of the heavy rail line in Newcastle returned to the streets yesterday. About 100 protesters came from across the Hunter, Sydney and even Perth, waving ...

Video: Fight continues against cutting heavy rail

Aug

20

2014

The Save Our Rail group has found some allies, in its fight against the cutting of Newcastle’s heavy train line. A Sydney-based community group visited the city today, weighing in on the debate, along with a Perth MP. Watch the video on the NBN News website.