Bid to reinstate train service fails
The NSW Labor Government yesterday voted against a Nationals motion ‘calling on the Government to reinstate train services on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line’, Member for Ballina and Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page said today.
Mr Page, the mover of the motion, said Labor’s vote against his motion proved the NSW Labor Government has no intention of restoring rail services with the $75 million they say they have on the table.
Mr Page pointed out that the Government’s own report says it would cost $21.8 million to restore the line and get rail services running again, but the NSW Government refuses to do so, despite claiming they have $75 million on the table.
“It’s incredible the Member for Tweed voted against a motion to put trains back on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line when he’s received so many petitions from his constituents requesting he do just that,” Mr Page said.
Mr Page said the responsibility for putting trains back on the track lies firmly with the State Government.
“NSW Labor took the train services away, they have to put them back,” he said.
“Even when the Federal Government offered the State Government $30 million two years ago, the NSW Government refused to accept it, showing they are not fair dinkum about putting trains back on the track.”
Mr Page raffirmed the NSW Coalition’s commitment to put commuter services on the line, including some that connect with the existing Casino to Sydney XPT services.
He also pointed out that the NSW Government claim that all 155 bridges on the line needed replacing was absolute nonsense.
“The PriceWaterhouseCoopers report states that a maximum of one third of bridges need attention, with two thirds being in good or fair condition,” Mr Page said.
