Hunter community demand a fast 2 hour train service to Sydney

We want a two hour intercity train service linking Newcastle and Sydney.

The State Government promised some express train services but the recently leaked draft timetable did not include any express services for Hunter commuters.

There is no reason why the timetable cannot include at least some two hour express intercity services – ideally two in the morning – (say leaving Newcastle at 6:30am and 7:30 am) and two in the late afternoon (leaving Central at say 4:30pm and 5:30pm).

The current semi-fast services take 2.5 hours each way meaning a daily trip takes 5 hours travel time for a 9am to 5pm work day which is wasteful and highly inefficient in this modern day and age. Little wonder that most people elect to drive on the F3 which just adds to the traffic congestion and is simply unsustainable in the longer term.

The new time table must include some express intercity services which will reduce the travel time to approximately 2 hours each way – 4 hours return.

In a recent editorial the Newcastle Herald stated as follows – (see copy attached):

The long promised re-introduction of express intercity services… would make rail travel competitive with the F3. An express would shave away more (unnecessary) stops to achieve better travel times between the main centres.

In this day and age it is absurd that the fastest intercity train service between NSWs two largest cities has an average travel speed of approximately 65kph.

If this average travel speed was increased to just 80kph the trip would take 2 hours.

By comparison in the UK the regular train from London to York does the 200 mile trip in 2 hours - making the average speed approximately 160kph. Not to mention the Eurostar which travels between London and Paris at even higher speeds.

Whist we understand that comparisons are difficult, it is unacceptable that the fastest Newcastle to Sydney train is so slow, when it could be so easily improved by eliminating unnecessary stops, at the very least.

Newcastle and Hunter business people and commuters demand some express rail services between Newcastle and Sydney. Unnecessary stops must be eliminated to ensure at least some 2 hour express services are included in the new timetable.