The Minns Labor Government is moving ahead with plans to restore regional rail services to the town of Wallerawang for the first time in 35 years.
Thanks to a $7 million investment from the government, early work to allow passenger trains to stop at Wallerawang Railway Station will begin next week.
The geotechnical preparations next week will pave the way in coming weeks for early enabling works to improve the station's amenity.
A contract has been awarded for these early enabling works which will involve building assessments and improvements to adjacent buildings including painting, cleaning and refurbishment of existing signage.
Then, in coming months, the community will be updated on the final stage which will be minor infrastructure construction works to bring the station up to the standard required to allow trains to stop there.
The Wallerawang station, between Lithgow and Bathurst, was closed by the Liberal and Nationals government in 1989 and is currently inaccessible to the public.
Once all the necessary work has been completed, passengers will be once again able to catch services to and from Wallerawang, which will operate similarly to Millthorpe, Stuart Town and Tarana stations which operate as unattended stations.
Details of the train services that will stop at Wallerawang and the associated timetables will be confirmed closer to the station's re-opening date which is scheduled around the end of 2026.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
"I know how keen the community of Wallerawang and rail advocates are to see Wallerawang Station re-open and I am delighted to announce that early work is starting to enable it once again to host passenger services, instead of trains just passing through.
"I'm sure this is a welcome news for the roughly 2000 people who live in Wallerawang but also those from surrounding villages and towns.
"They will have increased public transport options to access education, health and employment providing vital connections that will help sustain the economic and social wellbeing of the region.
"Returning passenger trains to Wallerawang will also help open up tourism and visitation to the region which offers beautiful scenery, national parks, recreational activities such as mountain biking and fishing spots and farm stays."
NSW Labor's Bathurst spokesperson, Stephen Lawrence said:
"Wallerawang Railway Station has a special place in NSW rail history and on the eve of its 155 year anniversary, I am excited to see work ramping up on the restoration passenger rail services.
"The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving access to regional transport option across the state and I look forward to seeing the first train stop at Wallerawang around the end of 2026."
Mayor of Lithgow City Council, Cassandra Coleman said:
"I'd like to thank the Labor government for honouring a promise made by the current state member when he was in government.
"Railway services are always going to be central to ensuring that this community is economically viable going into the future."
