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Category: Rail Transport / Government and Politics / States and Territories

Canberra, Goulburn, Yass Junction train stations could lose staff

Wednesday, 30 Mar 2016 07:31:25

NSW Trainlink is proposing to reduce customer service staff numbers at a number of regional train stations including at Goulburn. (ABC News: Ewan Gilbert)

Yass Junction train station, north of Canberra, could become an unmanned stop under a new proposal, which New South Wales Trainlink says will modernise services.

Under the proposal 11 stations across NSW would become unmanned, including Yass Junction.

Staff would also be reduced at a number of other stations, including Canberra and Goulburn.

Up to 60 jobs in would be lost across NSW and the ACT, according to the NSW Opposition.

New South Wales Trainlink said the proposal was aimed at modernising services and making the network more sustainable.

Liberal member for Goulburn Pru Goward told 666 ABC Canberra the proposal reflected changing customer habits.

"NSW Trains has been very honest they've said this is what they think they need to do," she said.

"We've got people increasingly booking over the internet. It makes it difficult to justify staff at railway stations when people don't use that service anymore but would rather do it online."

But she said she would be seeking community views on the proposals.

"Goulburn is a town with a lot of elderly people in it," she said.

"I suspect many of them don't use the internet and we might find once we start to interrogate the local figures that the people the number of people who come in and make their booking at the station are much higher."

Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay slammed the proposal.

She said the needs of regional and rural communities had back seat yet again.

"The ineffectiveness of the National Party is going to hit hardest for the elderly and residents with a disability who rely on rail to get around," she said.

Ms McKay said it was another example of the National Party failing to defend the interests of regional and rural communities.

Stations to become unmanned:

  • Blayney
  • Broken Hill
  • Byron Bay
  • Griffith
  • Lismore
  • Macksville
  • Murwillumbah
  • Nambucca Heads
  • Parkes
  • Wellington
  • Yass Junction

Stations with staff reductions:

  • Albury
  • Armidale
  • Bathurst
  • Canberra
  • Casino
  • Coffs Harbour
  • Cootamundra
  • Dubbo
  • Goulburn
  • Grafton
  • Gunnedah
  • Junee
  • Kempsey
  • Narrabri
  • Orange
  • Tamworth
  • Taree
  • Wagga
  • Wauchope
  • Sydney Booking Office

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