LABOR’S SOUTH COAST RAIL NIGHTMARE: MINISTER MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS OVER DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward is calling on the NSW Minns Labor Government and the NSW Minister for Transport to urgently explain to the local community what is happening with constant delays and service cancellations on the South Coast line.

Mr Ward has also asked the Government to explain why the South Coast line will be the last line in the State to get the new intercity fleet carriages which continue to sit idle at Waterfall station.

“This government is failing the Illawarra and South Coast when it comes to providing reliable and consistent rail services,” Mr Ward said.

“It is deeply concerning that NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said she’d end the rail delays and disruptions when in Opposition, but now in government, the Minister and her government continue to inconvenience rail users.

"Passengers have faced significant cancellations and delays, under the Liberal Government, many of them were left stranded. People just want to be able to get to work on time…

 "…That's what public transport is all about and we want to see that system work better, I'm here to talk to the people who can make that system work."

NSW Labor Transport Minister Jo Haylen, March 2023, Nine News

“All Labor have announced is a $10 million ‘study’ which won’t deliver a single new seat or additional service. But Labor says their rail resistance plan is the answer to our problems!

“Well try saying that to commuters who can’t get to work on-time, or faced significant delays, to wait for a replacement bus service because of this Labor Government’s incompetence and inability to adequately maintain our South Coast line,” Mr Ward said.

“A number of concerned, frustrated and irate local residents have contacted me regarding their own experiences with significant delays and the cancellations of services between Bomaderry and Kiama and I will continue to fight on their behalf in order to get some satisfactory answers from the Minister.

“Our local community also deserves to know why this government has left us last on the list of the new intercity trains that appear to be sitting idle at Waterfall Station,” Mr Ward concluded.