State Government jumps aboard additional passenger train services

Published on 07 September 2023

Mayor of Singleton Cr Sue Moore has called on the community to take control of their journey - whatever the destination - and leave the car at home to take full advantage of the permanent additional passenger train services in Singleton, thanks to the NSW Government.

The permanent additional services are the result of more than a decade of campaigning by the Two More Trains for Singleton group, supported by Singleton Council, including a three-and-half-year trial. 

Two daily return train services operate between Singleton and Newcastle seven days a week. These now permanent services provide greatly improved local travel options, bringing better timetable flexibility and accessibility to a range of destinations across the Hunter, Newcastle and Sydney. Passengers now have six return options to Newcastle on weekdays and four on weekends. Singleton trains also connect with services to and from Sydney.

Cr Moore praised the NSW Government for improving public transport connectivity in Singleton. She said the announcement that the additional services were being made permanent was a credit to a lot of work by a lot of people that the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell MP and Transport for NSW have turned conversations into action.

“This is a great achievement for the community, and a campaign that Council has whole-heartedly supported, particularly as part of the Singleton Advocacy Agenda over the past five years, and we are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government for listening to us and taking our feedback on board,” she said.

“I’m extremely excited that these new passenger services will remain in operation permanently, and more importantly to see the people of Singleton and all the way down the line putting them to good use so we can leverage even more services.

“I’m thrilled with this outcome and congratulate everyone who has been involved in the countless meetings, letters and petitions over the years to achieve this result, in particular the tireless work of the Two More Trains for Singleton group.”

Cr Moore said Council would continue to lobby the state government for even greater public transport options for Singleton to improve connectivity throughout the LGA and the greater Hunter region.

“It’s critical that the level of service in Singleton is further enhanced for the future prosperity of the Singleton area and while these permanent extra services are a step in the right direction, it’s not unrealistic to expect the same service level as other locations on the Hunter line such as Maitland,” she said. 

“In the interim, I encourage everyone to take out the stress of traffic and parking — the train really is a good option for wherever you’re headed.”

Two More Trains for Singleton spokesperson Martin Fallding said action to address gaps in Singleton’s passenger train timetable were progressing, with the group meeting with representatives from the NSW Government and Council in Singleton on Monday to discuss the future of public transport for the area.

“The community is encouraged use train services to not only ensure they continue, and to support the provision of more frequent services,” he said.

“I am more than confident that if Council and Two Trains for Singleton continue to work closely together to advocate for public transport services that Singleton needs into the future, we will achieve positive outcomes.”