MAITLAND – Council Welcomes Rail Plans

 Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold says Council is welcoming plans to investigate electrification of the Hunter Line and new stations.

The recently released Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan will also further investigate potential for a train to Cessnock.

But the plan’s come under fire for only looking ahead 20 years and not providing further promises for Maitland’s road network around Thornton and Chisholm.

Philip Penfold says he’d welcome new stations north of Maitland’s centre.

“There’s been a conversation in the past about potential train stations at Oakhampton to provide for the community at Aberglasslyn and beyond. That would be certainly welcome.

“But we need a strategy that is even more than these 20 years, at least to talk to a longer period and at least to actually make proper funding commitments,” he said.

“The New England Highway is a key element as well, as we continue to provide housing across the city from in the east at Chisholm, out to Lochinvar and in between. The New England Highway continues to feel that strain,” he said.

Credit: Maitland Council

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp Comments on Light Rail Plans

BY JACQUELYN RICHARDS

A proposal to build a new seven-storey car park in Newcastle West could threaten future light rail route preparations. 

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp was a strong advocate for preserving the corridor on Tighe Street whilst in opposition and previously hoisted criticism at the former government for their inaction on the issue.

However, following a recent court appeal related to the proposed car park, the MP's promises have been brought into question. 

Mr Crakanthorp agrees the car park plan does appear to go over one of the future light rail routes.

In response to the concern, he assures the light rail extension and preserving the corridor are still his priority which he said is why he requested a urgent briefing on the issue. 

"As soon as I was alerted to this yesterday, I requested a brief with the Minister," Mr Crakanthorp said. 

"What we need is certainty about what our light rail system will look like in the future and this is part of it." 

"I've always advocated very strongly to get light rail routes out of the interchange so we can one day look to expand the light rail."   

"We need routes out of the interchange and over to Broadmeadow or Hunter Park, that's the priority," he said. 

Mr Crakanthorp has been critical of the former government's efforts and says a number of unresolved problems are to blame for the delays. 

"The other government's done very little if nothing when they were in," he said. 

"It's clear that as a new government, we've inherited a lot of unresolved problems and this is one of them." 

The timing on when the light rail extension will come into effect is still unclear.

"We need to clarify exactly what's been spent and what needs to be done to get the job finished," Mr Crakanthorp said.  

State Labor Commits to Bring Manufacturing Back to The Hunter

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Domestic Manufacturing Centre of Excellence could be on the cards for The Hunter if Labor wins the state election.  

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns, was joined by Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, local MPs Tim Crakanthorp, Sonia Hornery, Yasmin Catley, and Jodie Harrison, and Candidate for Lake Macquarie Stephen Ryan, for the announcement at Downer EDI's Glendale factory this morning.  

$42.7 million has been pledged, to help develop three advanced manufacturing centres of excellence in NSW, including one in the Hunter. 

The party plans to bring bus, rail and ferry manufacturing back to the region, whilst giving TAFE a much-needed boost, and providing a new fleet of local jobs following the closure of power stations and other local manufacturing enterprises. 

Chris Minns said manufacturing done overseas has proven costly and ineffective long-term. 

"There is a proud tradition of train building in the Hunter; it's been happening in this region for over 100 years. I firmly believe that Australians are world-leaders when it comes to engineering and manufacturing," Mr Minns said. 

"My message to the voters of NSW is clear; we can build trains in NSW, but it does require a change of government. We're going to the people of NSW with a changed direction. We recognise this is a big undertaking, as there hasn't been a government in this state for a decade that wants to buy local and back local, and it means we do need to have an investment in vocational training."

The Labor Leader didn't confirm how new manufacturing works will be paid for, but said the Opposition was opposed to more privatisation in the sector.

Trains Slowly Resume On The Hunter Valley Line

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Repair crews have worked around the clock to restore limited rail services on the Hunter Valley line.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation says getting coal trains up running again has been the priority to ensure delivery to power stations, with the first trains resuming on Thursday night and more expected on Friday.

As part of the graduated return, grain and goods trains are expected to return over the weekend while the corporation continues monitoring track conditions.

They'll keep the community informed as work continues to restore passenger services as soon as possible. 

 

Newcastle Council to Re-Develop Rail Bridge Row

ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle Council hopes to transform a 155 metre section of the former rail corridor into affordable housing, a new public domain and cycle way along with shops and cafes.

Council has won a tender to proceed with the redevelopment after spending 2-million dollars to purchase the 4-thousand square metre parcel of land know as Rail Bridge Row.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says the acquisition will support the ongoing revitalization of the city.

Hunter and Central Coast Development corporation, Valentina Mischevka says they are excited to award the project to Newcastle Council.

"We ran an open competitive process it was open to anyone to submit a proposal and it was assesed in line with our criteria. what we were looking to see were proposal that would align closely with the revitalizing Newcastle program," she says.

"Like any development project it will need to go through a planning approval process, and  tendering and construction."

Port Waratah Rail Yard Upgrade

BY XANTHE GREGORY

The NSW Government has awarded $3.3 million in funding for upgrades to the Port of Waratah Yard.

The project is part of the $400 million Fixing Country Rail program which aims to improve efficient freight movement.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said, "The project includes building two 1,300 metre rail tracks which would allow longer grain trains of up to 48 wagons in length, to operate more efficiently."

Mr MacDonald said the upgrades will cut delivery times to allow more goods to be transported by the rail services - in turn lowering costs for producers and consumers.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation project will enable approximately two million tonnes of grain to be transited from North West NSW to the Port of Newcastle each year.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey said the estimated 210 million tonnes produced by regional NSW each year is expected to increase by 40% in the next 40 years.

"Transport from paddock to port can be 18% of the cost of grain sold by regional farmers," Mrs Pavey said.

"Fixing Country Rail supports jobs, growth and economic productivity in regional NSW by reducing the cost of getting goods to the market."

The improved efficiency of the rail hopes to benefit consumers by lowering local supermarket costs and help exporters become more competitive.

Property Council embraces fast Sydney to Newcastle train idea

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A plan to reduce train travel time between Newcastle and Sydney has been floated by the federal government.

The journey, which currently takes close to three hours, would be reduced by an hour as part of the Turnbull government's $20 million Faster Rail initiative, which allows the state government to draft a business case to secure funding.

The NSW Property Council has welcomed the plans, but wishes more concrete actions would be made to ensure it goes ahead.

Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald said the fast trains could benefit the Hunter enormously.

"The Hunter is very much a stand-alone region, it's a great city with a thriving local economy, great residential lifestyle and beaches," she said.

"Everything you could possibly want is in the Hunter.

"But it's also true that an increasing number of people are escaping Sydney because of the un-affordability of housing here.

"So if it was viable to have a very fast train link between Sydney and Newcastle," Ms Fitzgerald continued, "then I think the Hunter would only benefit from the residential influx that might bring."

Dated: a train currently servicing Newcastle to Sydney commuters. 

Railway Workers Choo-Choo Choose to Strike

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Hunter commuters travelling within Newcastle or Sydney will have to think of another way to get to work, school and everywhere else, with rail workers steaming ahead with a 24 hour strike later this month.

Members of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union will walk off the job for 24 hours on Monday, January 29th over a pay dispute, bringing trains across the state to a halt.

They're hoping to secure a 6% pay increase from the state government.

The Union had originally planned to stop working overtime hours on January 25th, however decided that wouldn't send a strong enough message.

Meetings are planned for the next 48 hours, where union and government officials will try to find a solution to the stalemate.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has called on the rail union to cancel the strike, saying it will force the cancellation of all rail services and leave commuters stranded.