[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA ALERT: 'Greens MP to visit Maitland and Newcastle to reject Hunter rail line truncation' (Greens NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Mehreen Faruqi]

From: Mehreen Faruqi
Sent: Friday, 7 February 2014 9:35 AM
To: Mehreen Faruqi
Subject: MEDIA ALERT: 'Greens MP to visit Maitland and Newcastle to reject Hunter rail line truncation' (Greens NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

Media Alert
07.02.2014

Greens MP to visit Maitland and Newcastle to reject Hunter rail line truncation

Greens NSW Transport spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC will today visit the Hunter to meet with locals and raise concerns over the planned removal of the heavy rail line in Newcastle.

Dr Faruqi said: "Many people using the train line coming into Newcastle will be adversely affected by the truncation.

"I've spoken to many people, from Maitland and other areas, who rely on a direct line into the heart of Newcastle to go to work, for doctor's appointments, for recreation and for day-to-day errands. It makes no logistical sense to terminate the trains at Wickham only to have to transfer to a separate light rail service.

"The government promised a Hunter transport plan by Christmas last year, but we're still waiting. We need a regional transport master plan that fully explains the government's decision to remove the existing heavy rail line, other than the potential for lucrative property development.

"Over 736,000 journeys were taken on the Hunter line in 2012-13, many of which departed or arrived at Civic and Newcastle stations. Revealingly, over 11,000 people signed a petition to keep the heavy rail line, which was tabled in the NSW Parliament late last year.

"Light rail can be considered as an addition to the existing public transport options once Newcastle has a transport master plan. But we need to retain the heavy rail and improve the Newcastle region's bus network to begin with.

"I look forward to standing with the local community to stop the removal of the heavy rail line, she included.

Locations:
Maitland: Outside Maitland Railway Station, 3:15pm
Wickham: Outside Wickham Railway Station, 4:30pm.

Media contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247


Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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