Now there are two buses to Canberra

Goulburn residents have wanted a replacement train or bus service to Canberra since Greyhound pulled out last year. They have also asked for extra train services to Moss Vale.

Finally, and within one week, two separate services to Canberra have now been announced.

A proposed coach service to Canberra, announced by the State Government last week, has a departure time only five minutes before the proposed Marulan to Canberra commercial service.

The announcement of the NSW Trainlink sponsored coach service between Goulburn, Canberra and Moss Vale, expected to run mid year, comes only four days after Adam Hale of Marulan Truck and Bus Pty Ltd (MTB) announced services between Marulan, Goulburn and Canberra.

Mr Hale’s announcement came after Greyhound Australia abruptly pulled services from the region last September.

The proposed NSW Trainlink coach service to Canberra will depart from Goulburn Railway Station at 6.55am, with the MTB service departing the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre five minutes later, at 7am.

The coaches will arrive within 15 minutes of each other in Canberra, albeit to different locations. 

The NSW Trainlink coach will then depart Queanbeyan at 1.50pm to arrive in Goulburn by 3.50pm.

The MTB service plans to drop commuters to Canberra Airport on request, and arrive back in Goulburn by 6.50pm.

Ms Goward, who recently released an online survey on preferred transport services for the region, said the data helped her advise Minister for Transport Andrew Constance.

More than 160 people responded to the online survey.

Goulburn Mulwaree mayor Bob Kirk has maintained the MTB bus service announcement was a commercial consideration and was not a council-run initiative, but said it had “not been a secret”.

“There has been coverage on this service on several occasions,” Cr Kirk said.

“Mr Hale was able to confirm approvals for the service recently,” Cr Kirk said. He was referencing articles from the Post from last year.

He confirmed there had not been any communication between the State Government, the council and the MTB operator.

“We can’t always know who’s doing what at all times,” Cr Kirk said.

“In the meantime, Mr Hale’s contact details have been passed onto Pru’s office so she can talk directly to him an resolve any issues.”

Community information sessions, run by the Transport for NSW will be held on March 9,10 and 11 in Goulburn, to discuss the proposed timetable for the two new coach services. Cr Kirk and Ms Goward encouraged residents to attend and voice their opinion on the matter.

“I have lobbied the minister’s office continuously and was recently asked what additional services Goulburn would prefer, it they were available,” Ms Goward said.  

“I believe my primary role is to lobby the government for additional services. If business has ideas or proposals for improved transport connectivity, I would love to hear from them and my door is always open. Any improvement in service would be welcome by me.”

Both services have been announced as trials.

Goulburn resident and keen train watcher Barry McDonald suspected it could be a trial to remove the current 5.30am train service.

“This sounds like there is a trial with the long term aim of removing the 5:30 train service to Central despite assurances otherwise,” Mr McDonald said.

“I have found the 5:30am train handy for catching morning plane flights out of Sydney Airport (change at Macarthur for Airport line).

“The trial sounds like it is a parallel service with the 5:30 train.  What time does it leave Goulburn?  Only saves 21 minutes to Central if all on time.  So why bother?”

Mr McDonald said Goulburn residents want trains services, not buses.

“We are not interested in bus services.  We want better passenger train services.  Really the government and Transport for NSW just don't get it,” he said. 

“I suspect the mayor has been blindsided by the announcement, since the council had just negotiated with Marulan Truck and Bus for a near similar service.  So much for regional coordination.”

Meanwhile, Southern Tablelands Rail Users Group president Greg Price welcomed the NSW Trainlink bus. 

“The bus is a good temporary effort, but what we need is additional trains to provide the same hourly service that people from Moss Vale get to Sydney,” Mr Price said. “Buses are a good temporary solution, but not something you want permanently.”