EARLY SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN: 81% DISSATISFACTION WITH RAIL

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has said almost 1,000 people have responded to his rail survey released last week with 81% either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the service provided on the South Coast Rail Line.

Mr Ward revealed that 11% of respondents said they were neutral, 7% said they were satisfied, and 1% said they were very satisfied with the service on the South Coast Line.

“These results aren’t a reflection of the industrial chaos crippling the rail network,” he said.

“These results are a total condemnation on the management of local public transport by the Minns Labor Government and commuters are overwhelmingly not happy with a government that seems obsessed with fixing Sydney problems whilst ignoring regional NSW. 

“Whilst we are still reviewing the feedback received, people have raised concerns about safety, reliability and consistency - all of these things should be the most basic requirements in 2025 as part of modern and interconnected public transport network.

“This survey reflects the community feeling and frustration that the government isn’t listening and is totally failing our community, NSW Labor must do better,” Mr Ward said.

“People are fed up with this government’s cuts to investments like the Toolijooa Passing Loop which would have doubled capacity on the South Coast Line, the new intercity fleet that is sitting idle at Waterfall or yet another ‘study’ which won’t deliver a single new seat or service. 

“People have also raised their frustration around constant track work and reliability. 

“I will be sharing this feedback with the government and encouraging the Minister to come to our electorate and meet with commuters so she can act on this feedback. 

“I will continue to stand up and fight for real investments in transport infrastructure that make a real difference and I’ll continue to hold this government to account given their clear lack of action and ignorance about the failings in the system they are responsible for running,” Mr Ward concluded.