The Minns Labor Government has launched engagement to understand community views on future passenger rail services for Orange, with a forum to be held on 31 October 2024.
The forum, hosted by Transport for NSW, will hear from the Orange and Central West community about transport connections in the region.
The forum, to be held in the Greenhouse function room at Orange Ex-Services Club, will bring together around 80 key stakeholders including local government, rail groups, Aboriginal bodies and representatives from the education, business and health sectors.
The forum will be followed by a drop-in session in the afternoon that will be open to members of the community.
Details will be announced closer to the date.
Feedback will also be sought from the wider community with around 130 other stakeholders from Orange and the Central West asked to complete a survey about passenger rail services.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"We are aware there is broad community support for improved rail services to Orange. The NSW Government has listened and is now responding with the next step.
"Through this targeted consultation process, including a forum at the end of October, we want to gather specific information on community needs, expectations and potential viability of options, to help inform decision making.
"We know the existing Bathurst Bullet train service provides an important and popular daily return train connection and we are considering all the possible options for Orange and the wider Central West.
"We are committed to safe and affordable public transport that allows regional people access work, education, health appointments and connect with other transport modes and networks."
Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:
"More than 10,000 people signed Orange Rail Action Group's petition, seeking to improve passenger rail services between the Central West and Sydney.
"Minister Aitchison has taken active interest in the proposal to initiate a daily return passenger rail service between Orange and Sydney, to meet transport needs of our growing community.
"I am pleased to see further consideration of the proposal, including vital community consultation to ensure future transport plans and services meet the needs and expectations of the community.
"I encourage all stakeholders and interested residents to participate in Transport for New South Wales' consultation event at Orange Ex-Services Club on October 31."
Fast facts:
- Sydney Trains operates a twice daily Intercity service between Sydney and Bathurst on the Blue Mountains Line, which is commonly referred to as the Bathurst Bullet.
- Sydney Trains Intercity train services are part of the Opal network, where customers can turn up and go and tap on and off to travel. Since 1 July 2024 the Bathurst Intercity train service has been operated by Sydney Trains.
- NSW TrainLink operates a daily XPT train service between Sydney and Dubbo via Orange and a weekly Xplorer train service between Sydney and Broken Hill via Orange.
- There are daily NSW TrainLink coach connections to and from Orange to Bathurst that provide connections with Bathurst Intercity services. There are also several coach connections from Orange to Lithgow daily, where passengers join Intercity train services to Sydney.
- NSW TrainLink operates all regional train and coach services, including those that serve Orange. Advance booking is required on all NSW TrainLink services, including those that connect with Bathurst Intercity services.
