Getting Molong back on the tracks

Molong cannot afford to sit back and miss out on an opportunity created by the NSW Government to restore passenger train services to country areas.

The opportunity? In 2019 the NSW Government’s Deputy Premier/Nationals Leader John Barilaro announced a commitment of $2.8 billion to upgrade and improve the current services provided by the XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour passenger trains on rural NSW tracks.

Last week members of the Orange Rail Action Group (ORAG) visited the Molong Railway Station to discuss with locals the opportunity to reopen the Molong Railway Station for passengers to embark/disembark.

A contract has been signed for the $2.8 billion project to design, build and maintain the new regional rail fleet, including replacements for the XPT service.
It includes the construction of the fleet, which will offer 10 regional intercity trains, nine short regional trains and 10 long regional trains, as well as the establishment of a rail maintenance facility.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance said the fleet would replace the current XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains. Mr Constance said he expected the fleet to be progressively introduced from 2023.

(Above) Marj Bollinger (Molong Advancement Group MAG), Cathy Farlow (MAG), Peter Bilenkij (Orange Rail Action Group ORAG), Robert Carroll (Molong resident), Kevin Beatty (Mayor of Cabonne/local farmer), Orange Rail Action Group members Geoff Bargwanna, Col Spicer. Phil Stevenson and Shane Austin.

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