"If you do not keep the existing rail, prepare for a long and uncomfortable aftermath as we, the residents, will pursue you and your decisions"

Image from an article on protests in Maitland;

 published in Newcastle Herald,  04.09.14

The NSW Government has a plan to 'truncate' the railway line at Wickham. This means STOP the railway line at Wickham, and passangers would have to change to a bus into the city.
Here is a copy of a letter one Newcastle resident sent in to the government in response to this proposal:

Before making any changes to the existing rail line to Newcastle CBD, planners should take into consideration the full scope of corruption allegations currently being proven here. There is no legitimate scenario in which Newcastle residents would benefit from the proposed changes. They are contrary to the wishes of the majority of residents ( including me), they are contrary to the overall planning of the city ( eg the expansion of Newcastle University campus to the inner city) and there is evidence to suggest that they are contrary to the future prosperity of Newcastle ( as distinct from some vested interests). If you do not keep the existing rail, prepare for a long and uncomfortable aftermath as we, the residents, will pursue you and your decisions.

If you would like to make contact with the government on this issue too, you could send a handwritten letter to the NSW Minister for transport and the Hunter Region, 
Gladys Berejiklian,   
Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower, 
1 Farrer Place, 
SYDNEY NSW 2000. 

As well as your local state member 

For further information or to join the campaign, go to Save Our Rail website

The pleasure of taking your bike on the train all the way to Newcastle City...

photograph by David Mist from the Powerhouse Museum Collection, Photograph collected from great Bicycle blog, Sydney Cycle Chic

..is now under threat! The NSW Government has a notion to build a Wickham Transport Interchange and 'truncate' (PR speak for 'cut off') the Railway line so you can no longer take a train into Newcastle.

I think this is a completely bad idea. So do some of my friends. Here is a copy of the letter Maryann wrote to the government:

To Whom It Concerns,

I am a user of the rail line between Newcastle station and Maitland. I want to be able to continue catching a train all the way into Newcastle beach.

I also want to be able to take my bike and children's bikes on the train to Newcastle beach. Buses won't let me do this.

The proposed interchange at Wickham is hopeless and not a solution.
What government gets rid of existing infrastructure that can only benefit a growing population ??? A short sighted government that is pandering to developers.

Please do not cut the Newcastle rail line.

Maryann Lees

If you would like to make contact with the government on this too, you should send a handwritten letter to the NSW Minister for transport and the Hunter Region, 
Gladys Berejiklian,   
Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower, 
1 Farrer Place, 
SYDNEY NSW 2000. 

As well as your local state member 

For further information or to join the campaign, go to Save Our Rail website

Bicycles at Newcastle Baths (From Sydney Cycle Chic)

The easy train ride from anywhere with your surfboard to Newcastle beach

...is under threat....

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

I'm not the only one who thinks this is silly. Here is a letter that another friend wrote to the government.

We left Newcastle (my phone wants me to write Beefcake) 10 years ago. Developers were lobbying to close the rail then, 10 years before that, and still today. Ironically, you marked out the old tracks in the honeysuckle "refurb", and the tram line (?) -- Just marked it mind, in that typically Australian false sentiment.

Keep it open damn you! Further, put the red rattler back on it. Build a perfect wave reef off the break wall. Make Hunter St one way out and King St one way in. Increase parking, paths, parks and cycleways.

Flush out your dead head business precincts and their negatively geared visions. Resist the Sydney plebs and their shit ideas. Find a real visions and back them for at least 10 years. renew newcastle proudly.

We might move back then. Good luck.

If you would like to make contact with the government on this too, you should send a handwritten letter to the NSW Minister for transport and the Hunter Region, Gladys Berejiklian:  Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, SYDNEY NSW 2000. As well as your local state member 

For further information or to join the campaign, go to Save Our Rail website

 

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

HELLO:From Singapore

I am currently visiting my Brother in Singapore. Singapore is a country, an island, and a city. It's small and has 4 million inhabitants. This city/country has had me thinking alot about architecture, urban planing, and the environment.

GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF SINGAPORE INCLUDE:
Public transport.
Today's sad news that Howard is not agreeing to ratify the Kyoto protocol. ( click the "taking action" link in TOPICS if this enrages you too) .
Of course, Cars contribure HEAPS to co2 emmissions (I know, so do airplanes, and no, I didn't sail here.. but I will if you'll take me on your yacht).
The Public Transport system here is AWESOME. People are discouraged form owning cars due government restrictions, meaning the road system of this huge city is rarely congested. There are buses and a super-fast Mass Rapid Transport (MRT-a subway/train system) which depart every 2-10 minutes, and all interconnected. You buy a plastic card which you keep forever, and charge it up with credit wherever, like adding credit to your mobile phone. The card is elecronic, and you just tap it on a machine when entering and leaving a bus or MRT station. This way you are only charged for the length of trip you make. Being useable on both systems is also awesome, and the efficiency with boarding busses and entering MRT stations is amazing.
Each bustop is a social hub, with outdoor markets, food stalls, the local MRT station, supermarkets etc, and housing towers right above. Its all very convenient ... no-one really needs a car. Hooray!