The beautiful train trip from anywhere to Newcastle City...

...is under threat....

As the NSW government considers a plan to "truncate" (PR-speak for "cut off") the railway line at Wickham.

Image from roys photography blog

As this is presently a project under consideration,  you can make your own submission, expressing your views or evidence, by emailing a response to this document.

Include your name and address in your submission and the subject should include "Wickham Transport Interchange"
My friends have been sharing the submissions they have been making to Transport NSW about this proposal.

Here is What Mara said:

Please Please ... sir

 I beg with all my heart ... not to close the train travel between Newcastle and wickham ..

Everything outlined in your future proposal supports the continuation of a train between wickham and Newcastle

I am a 56 year old grandmother with 2 grandchildren plus i am a bike rider ,,, rather than a car driver .

I have  used public transport of all types  over the years in various cities, country towns and suburbs .

The only one .... i repeat the only one that serves the needs of both the very young and elderly is the trains ..

Cancelling trains and replacing them with light rail ..

Straight away ...

I am  not able to take my bike on board a light rail or Bus !

This will indeed take away my independence or   increase my costs of travel exponentially ..

Try travelling with a double pram with two young children ...

Its difficult enough without being impossible to travel  with a pram outside of off peak hours .

Trains allow me to do this ..

Easy to get on , children can stay safely in the pram and i am not sooo stressed .

This is not possible and not supported by drivers or even the public if there is mild congestion of bus travellers or light rail travellers .

Trains allow people to enter the carriage , wide aisles  with supports available till seating is found and then after a whistle .... the train leaves the station ..

Buses consider their responsibility to the passenger finished after the door closes .

Movements are jerky as they enter the traffic  and time is not allowed for passengers to make their way down a narrow aisle to find seating ,, plus access is denied other people when a pram is parked in the aisle ..

Bus drivers are genuinely compassionate but must be committed to their schedule . Time . Budget .

Trams ... Staright away bikes are not allowed /

Prams are not encouraged .but while your at it grandmother , if you choose to board a tram with your grandchild without a pram ... keep them well behaved and pay your fare now befor sitting  !!!

Trains take this frustration away and instead develops a sense of being nurtured and  valued by society .. our  city ... our community .

I always see happy families travelling by train ,, enjoying the scenery and interacting with their younger accompianents

Is a city or region just to provide services  to the working sector ??

Trains are part of tourism  too .

As i mentioned and pleaded befor ..

your  Vision statement  wholly supports train travel into Newcastle   ...

As quoted here

 Vision

“Newcastle will continue to grow and

evolve to strengthen its position as the

Hunter region’s capital. The city centre’s

location and setting between the river

and ocean make Newcastle a compact,

people-friendly city with unique

attributes.

Newcastle city centre will be a vibrant

regional hub and attractive destination

for businesses, residents and visitors,

providing accessible and suitable

employment opportunities, a choice

of retail and other services, and local,

national and international investment

opportunities.”

Newcastle Urban Renewal

Strategy, 2012

This is not a vision excluding  people with prams . people with bikes , people with small lap dogs ,

 people with disabilities , or people who need to travel  seated in a wheelchair .

I beg you ....

Please please don’t cut the train  system  between wickham and Newcastle ..

Lets be the most people friendly city with unique attributes ...

Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion