A COFFS Harbour woman whose elderly sister was hospitalised while travelling by coach between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, believes the NSW regional rail service is fragmented, unreliable and “a disgrace”.
Julianne McKeon said her 84-year-old sister and 90-year-old brother-in-law relied on public transport because driving long distances was no longer safe.
“What should have been a straightforward rail journey became a maze of coach substitutions, excessive delays, and late-night arrivals,” Mrs McKeon said.
“On the return journey, my sister fell while attempting to access an onboard toilet during an extended coach diversion and was admitted overnight to Byron Bay Hospital.
“This is not an isolated inconvenience – it is a systemic failure.
“I see it as an equity issue.
“The current service is unsafe for older passengers, people with disabilities, people who cannot afford to fly, those who are more vulnerable and anyone who cannot drive.
“In regional NSW, rail is not a luxury – it is essential infrastructure.”
She said train departure times of approximately 5am southbound from Brisbane and midnight northbound from Coffs Harbour effectively exclude elderly passengers from using rail.
“Frequent and unexplained substitutions with long-distance coaches mean passengers are denied basic amenities such as access to food, toilets, and safe boarding,” Mrs McKeon said.
“In a country that prides itself on fairness and regional access, this standard of transport is unacceptable.
“No one should risk injury simply to visit family.”
She has written to Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh and NSW Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison, seeking an urgent review of the Coffs Harbour-Brisbane service, improved timetable reliability, reduced coach substitutions, and assurances of safe, accessible travel for vulnerable passengers.
Mr Singh said he was waiting for a response from Minister Aitchison after making representations on Mrs McKeon’s behalf.
He said in an ideal world he would welcome additional services and more flexible time scheduling, “but given that we’re in the middle of that route between Sydney and Brisbane, often it’s us who are the most inconvenienced”.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said, “Over the past 12 months, approximately two percent of services between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour were fully replaced by coach transport, while 14 percent were partially replaced for sections of the journey.
“Planned disruptions and unplanned disruptions may at times cause train services to be replaced by coaches. “These include scheduled trackwork and weather impacts.”
He said the $40.3 million XPT Life Extension Project – the reason behind the switch to coaches locally on 28 April last year – was to “ensure the current fleet continues to provide passengers with a reliable and comfortable service until the next generation regional rail fleet is ready to be introduced into passenger service.
“For a 12-month period during the XPT Life Extension Project, premium coaches are replacing XPTs on the Grafton route,” the spokesperson said.
“These coaches are wheelchair accessible, maintaining our commitment to inclusive travel for all passengers. “Trains are scheduled to resume on the Grafton service in the first half of this year.
“Throughout this period, Coffs Harbour has continued to be serviced by four other daily rail options – on the Brisbane and Casino XPT services.”
By Mike HELY
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