Train To Cessnock - Why Now?
Introduction - Where Did This Campaign Start
As a candidate for the electoral seat of Cessnock in the 2023 I campaigned on several local issues; one of which was the reintroduction of passenger rail services on the now dormant South Maitland Railway corridor from Maitland to as far the growing population west of Cessnock.
Conversations since the start of 2023 have continually validated the need for this investment in the area by the state of NSW; an investment that would be small in comparison to many in the metropolitan Sydney. A spend that would see effective public transport for a large regional centre installed for 12% of the cost of a football stadium replacement.
Post the election, the need for this improvement to the communities along the corridor from Maitland to Bellbird has not gone away.
If anything, it becomes more needed every day, as the cost of living rises, as the need to have other transport options grows with the cost of running cars and as cleaner more sustainable solutions are sought out.
The campaign for the seat of Cessnock is done and dusted, the campaign for the Train To Cessnock has just begun; hope you join us.
Cheers Andrew Fenwick
From the NSW 2023 Election
Election campaign re rail (Short campaign video 2023 NSW general election, candidate, Andrew Fenwick LCNSWP)
The ePetition to NSW Parliament - A Way For You To Say You Want Public Transport
Thanks to everyone who signed onto the ePetition to the NSW Legislative Assembly.
* 2749 *
In a few months of promoting on FaceBook and a few posters around town!
Clayton Barr MP for Cessnock will be tabling the petition for us soon.
Please take the next step and write to the politicians asking for them to support this proposal. Go to HERE for info and tips.
As a chronically safe seat (107 years worth of Labor MPs) it will be too easy for both major polical parties to kick this can down the road forever.
Petition Wording
Protect the South Maitland Rail corridor and urgent reintroduction of passenger rail services; Maitland to Bellbird.
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, We petitioners bring to the attention of the House the urgent need to protect the South Maitland Rail corridor and the urgent need for the reintroduction of passenger rail services; Maitland to Bellbird.
The introduction of regular environmentally friendly passenger services Maitland to Bellbird will allow safer, faster, economic and environmentally sustainable public transport between the Cessnock area and Maitland; linking residents to the new Maitland Hospital, Newcastle schools, colleges, university campuses, Scone and Dungog locally and direct connection to Brisbane, Northern Tablelands and Sydney.
This corridor will become the tourist destination, connecting the state to vineyards and surrounding attractions and events, a featured journey for heritage trains and the Steamfest event.
With over 3500 new homes expected west of Cessnock this service is needed, will significantly improve life for many electors and relieve growing road traffic pressures.
The undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to acquire the Maitland to Austar Colliery rail corridor for future public transport use from the current private owner, bringing the corridor under the permanent protection of the NSW parliament. We petitioners also request that the Government:
• Undertake the minimum necessary infrastructure and safeworking system repairs/ upgrades on the Maitland to Austar Colliery corridor to commence regular passenger services from Maitland to Bellbird using existing Endeavour/Hunter rollingstock
• The local manufacture of the long-term future clean energy powered rollingstock for these services are put out to tender.
The Case for Train to Cessnock - A short video presentation
The Basic Proposal - A Preliminary Case is Available For Download
Video to be uploaded soon.
In the meantime, read the points below and download the case report.
Download 'The Case For The Train To Cessnock' pdf HERE
Here is an interview from 16 Feb 2024
Andrew and Bill chat with Warren
2CHR
The Basic Proposal - A Preliminary Case is Available For Download
The Basic Proposal - A Preliminary Case is Available For Download
As per the request in our ePetition to the NSW parliament, the corridor required to run passenger services from Maitland to Bellbird is to be acquired by the state.
To State to untertake a complete upgrade / renewal of the line, to a standard that would be suitable for regular passenger trains, heritage and tourist trains and the transfer of heavier rail equipment to any industrial facilities that may be developed along or near the rail corridor in the future.
To restore historic locations or install new station infrastructure in the locations necessary to service the main population zones and significant locations.
To utilise existing Endeavour and Hunter passenger rail cars and soon to be repurposed Endeavour / Explorer sets. Changing some timetables of Maitland departures to commence and end at Bellbird.
To improve infrastructure to meet the demands on the passenger service grow with the expected 60% increase in population by 2041 (2023 Cessnock Traffic and Transport Strategy Report)
It has been identified that in excess of 50,000 people are already living close the stations along the line; which straddles both the Maitland and Cessnock electorates.
The average growth rate of regional NSW is around 0.7% per year, recent growth in the LGA of Cessnock has been over 2.5% in recent years.
It is a simple and responsible investment by the state government to move this proposal into current policy planning and budgets.
Download 'The Case For The Train To Cessnock' pdf HERE
Why – Social Needs
· The Cessnock area experiences a higher than state average level of disadvantage.
· Many from all age groups do not have access to vehicles, don’t or can’t drive / ride.
· 2018 traffic and transport strategy showed 45% of workers headed to Maitland or Newcastle.
· 2018 traffic and transport strategy reported the lack of adequate public transport was the second highest concern in the group surveyed.
· 2021 census showed only 0.07% of people used public transport for work travel.
· Transport for NSW 2021 strategic plan predicted 33% population growth by 2041.
· Latest Cessnock Council traffic and transport strategy predicts 2041 pop of over 112,000 (58% growth compared to 2021 TfNSW report 33%), at 3% growth it will exceed 115,000 in 2041
“... while Cessnock LGA is expected to continue to be a car-dependent city, a balanced investment in public and active transport infrastructure is required to provide greater choice of travel modes."
Increasing the use of public transport is a fundamental need of the Cessnock community and to support future growth in the region in a sustainable way. If the public transport network is to achieve this, it will require considerable expansion and improvement, and best practice techniques must be adopted to improve passenger experiences.”
CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL – Cessnock LGA Traffic and Transport Strategy 2018, p31 and p80
It is essential that regular passenger trains from Maitland to Bellbird become a current transport project; not a far-off strategic possibility, in order to get in front of the growing social pressures for effective sustainable public transport.
Why – Funding Requirement is Low
There is an established current need to establish effective and attractive public transport options into the Cessnock LGA
· It will never be more cost effective to do than it is right now.
· This project has been described as ‘The best value rail project in Australia’
· The line (South Maitland and Yancoal Rail) is still classed as an active rail line, regular coal services finished in 2020.
· SMR owner has stated it is willing to talk with the State about acquisition of the line to enable this project.
· As time passes, without use and maintenance, rail corridors basically return to nature and require massive investment to bring back into service.
· Preliminary costing to renew the line to a standard to commence passenger services, based on 2020 DORC report, previous and recent comparable projects; with it adjusted for inflation, is between $100M - $200M. This includes considerable unexpected additional costs, full feasibilty study, design and construction. It is a very conservative costing and requires a full investigation as part of the State's feasibilty study.
· The availability of suitable passenger railcars for the Maitland to Bellbird due to the purchase of new railcars for the NSW regional fleet 2025 onwards, removes the cost of rollingstock purchase to initially reintroduce trains.
This will not be the case if left until 2040; adding 100s of millions to the startup costs.
If the State of NSW commits to this project we can confidently expect Federal Government assistance.
Why – Why Not Now for Cessnock?
Why – Why Not Now for Cessnock?
Why – Why Not Now for Cessnock?
It has been established that today, there are approximately 50,000 people living along this corridor close to the proposed stations on the line from Maitland to Bellbird.
This is going to significantly increase according to the 2023 Cessnock City Council Traffic and Transport Strategy and The Transport for NSW Draft Hunter Regional Transport Plan 2021 - 2041.
· The previous and current NSW governments have demonstrated a desire for ongoing spending on upgrading public transport – if of course you live in and around Sydney; especially if your electorate is a little 'undecided' at election time.
So why not for the lower Hunter city of Cessnock if it is the ‘best value rail project in Australia’?
· 107 years’ worth of Labor MPs elected out 110 years as a seat is a hint. It is time for being an ultra-safe seat and its disadvantages in infrastructure funding allocation to come to an end here.
The needs of this community and the cost savings available by acting now have to out-weigh political point scoring.
· If you combine the lowest cost for a new Metro station in Sydney with the highest population density it could serve; the cost to provide that rail service equates to $25,000 per person in station catchment.
· The South-West Rail Link in Sydney completed in 2015 ($1.8B) now services a catchment of 31,000 people; equating to $58,000 per possible passenger to provide that rail service.
· The Train To Cessnock project would equate to between $2000 and $4000 per person in that line’s catchment to provide a passenger rail service. There is no better value passenger rail project in Australia.
· The State runs self-propelled railcars to service many regional locations with smaller populations than the number of people who live in the villages along this line and in Cessnock (see table above).
So, NSW State government; why not for Cessnock and why not as soon as possible?
Why – How Soon Can Trains Run?
Why – Why Not Now for Cessnock?
Why – Why Not Now for Cessnock?
The Train To Cessnock proposal to the State is to allocate an initial budget immediately to undertake a feasibility study and acquire the corridor from the private owners. Regardless of State decision to run trains or not, the corridor is then protected for future passenger train services.
Then to add funding each year to complete the necessary works to upgrade the line and build the infrastruture required.
With the availability of rolling stock related to the renewal programme for XPT, Explorer and Endeavour elsewhere in the state, it is feasible that additional sets be relocated to the Hunter to run Bellbird services.
Timing is perfect to get trains running as soon as 2028
Download the Case Report HERE