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traintocessnock.org

Join the campaign to introduce passenger trains NEWCASTLE - Bellbird - 2028

Meet the Train To Cessnock Team

Andrew Fenwick

G'Day I am Andrew Fenwick and I would like to share a little about myself and how I end up here.

Dot points on some of my experiences and education, to keep it brief:

Left high school year 10 to be an apprentice
Electrical trade completed
Joined State Rail Authority 1983 trainee locomotive driver
Road raced motorcyles at a club level
Completed managment dip and competed for (SRA) FreightRail Ops management development
Secured temporary and then a permanent project officer role in FreightRail Projects and Engineering Division: Train control and communications projects
Accepted a redundacy in 1998 and returned home from Sydney
Studied Medical Herbalism and Medical Science (part time sparkie)
Set up a clinic and practiced for 12 years, Natural medicine and coaching
Worked at Ride It Right as a motorcyle licencing instructor
Published my first book 'Better Choices for a Better Me' and ran workshops
GFC slowed business and returned to rail industry
Currently driving coal trains in the Hunter Valley (previously trainer and assessor) and Health & Safety Rep
2023 ran for the electorate of Cessnock in the NSW election - Legalise Cannabis Party; running in 3rd spot with 11.9% of the primary vote (22% of voters with preferences added supported us)

As a follow up after the election campaign, it was important, that an issue like the acute lack of effective public transport in and out of Cessnock needed to be addressed; as a matter of urgency.

If not me, then who?

So, here I am, a protagonist for the reintroduction of long lost passenger rail services.

My wife Georgie deserves a medal for putting up with me and the projects like this one and politics.

Between us we have six adult children and five grandchildren; although we don't live in the Cessnock electorate now, there is a strong connection.

My first two properties were in the electorate and I too voted for Stan; making me part of the safe Labor seat problem as well. Two of my kids were born here, three of them now living in the Cessnock LGA; along with two fabulous grand daughters.

My Great Grand Mother lived and rests in Cessnock.

I am on this campaign until .... well until we get a result .

You can help by signing petitions, writing to politicians, attending any live events and of course talking to friends and family about doing the same.

Bill Palazzi

Andrew Fenwick

Hi, I’m Bill Palazzi.

I have lived in the Cessnock area for almost 20 years. With my wife Debbie we have raised 4 beautiful kids and have been part of the community through pre-school and school, swimming, dancing, rugby and everything else that having kids in a regional community involves.

We are members of Cessnock Congregational Church and I am part of the Rothbury Rural Fire Brigade. This is a great place to live, work and raise a family, however like everyone else who lives here we are also very aware of the lack of services – in particular transport services – available in this community.

Professionally, I have worked in the rail industry for my entire career, over 35 years now. I started as a cadet with the NSW Railways when I left school, and much of my career has been in or relating to railways in regional NSW; I think work has taken me to every town that has a station, siding or silo around NSW.

I have also worked on significant rail projects in every state of Australia, as well as overseas on projects including London CrossRail (now the Elizabeth Line in London), HSL Zuid (the high speed line in The Netherlands) and Athens Metro.

At one stage I was also leading a feasibility study for a new railway line into the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

I am a qualified electrical engineer, but I know railways, and I know how they can shape and enable communities.

In the past 10 years or so I have worked mostly in rail strategy and planning, and in business cases. I led the technical and rail planning work of the 2010 Inland Rail Alignment Study, which led to the Commonwealth Government committing to fund the project. I conducted a feasibility study for a new rail link into the Port of Brisbane.

I have led medium-term (5-15 years) network planning for the Sydney rail network in order to secure funding for the purchase of additional trains. I also led the development of a new signalling strategy for the Sydney network, and then led business cases to secure commitment and funding for the work.

I think the Train to Cessnock could be a really valuable asset for this community. I got involved as I have lived experience of why it is necessary, and I have the professional background and expertise to help make it happen.

I have friends in this community who I know struggle with transport options, getting to work, school and university, and where the Train to Cessnock would be of great benefit.

My contribution to this initiative is a way of giving back to the community.

Besides that, the project just makes sense.

The corridor is there and usable. The station sites we have identified would serve so many people. Train services would provide a competitive and viable option for many in our community.

It is so much better value than any other project I have seen in my 35 years in railways.

If it is worth government spending money to provide public transport services through all the other projects that are happening, then the Train to Cessnock is a no-brainer. Have a read of ‘The Case for the Train to Cessnock’ yourself and see what you think.