Goulburn commuters are calling for the continuation of a bus service to Canberra, following news it will be suspended.
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Regular traveller Lawrie Sullivan said he was surprised and disappointed to hear from the NSW Trainlink driver on Monday morning that the service would be suspended from September 30.
He was one of several who campaigned strongly for the run, which leaves Goulburn at 9am Monday, Wednesday and Friday and returns at 3.45pm the same day.
"I'm very disappointed because it is such an excellent service," Mr Sullivan said.
"...It hasn't been promoted well enough and I think patronage would grow if it was publicised more. It will be so sad if it goes because it's very much needed."
Pensioners like him can use it for $2.50, which he says is at least a $23 saving on petrol.
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The service has been operating under a trial since September, 2018. It started as a daily run and in June, 2019 changed to Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Following community representations it reverted to daily runs in March, 2020 but subsequently changed again to tri-weekly.
Then came Monday's news. Mr Sullivan said he'd had no advice on whether the service would resume.
He and wife Colleen used the bus regularly to visit son Collen in Canberra Hospital. He was suffering acute pancreatitis necrosis and was a long-term patient. While he's home now, the Sullivans still utilise the bus for clinical appointments and day trips to Canberra.
Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman confirmed that Transport for NSW (TfNSW) had advised that the Canberra coach service would be temporarily suspended from September 30.
"I note the misleading information on social media that this service is being cancelled, is incorrect," she said.
"Patronage across the transport network is down significantly due to COVID-19 - and while the success or failure of a trial service is not based on patronage alone - the Goulburn to Canberra service has been averaging six customers per trip.
"In the circumstances, an accurate assessment of the performance of the trial is not possible and TfNSW have therefore made the difficult decision to suspend the service."
The MP said there many enterprises had tried to provide the service and all had failed. But it was important to gain an "accurate reflection of patronage and the temporary suspension was an opportunity to review the run and "create something more effective."
"I will continue to lobby Minister (Paul) Toole for what the community wants. Ideally I would like to see a commuter service leaving earlier from Goulburn and returning."
'We deserve better'
Meantime, chair of One Nation's Hume Regional Committee, Richard Orchard said Goulburn deserved better. He met with rail and bus staff and commuters this week after hearing the service was to be cut from September 30.
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"I use this service as part of my day job to move vehicles to and from Canberra, and it has been very handy to me and others," he said.
"The bus is great because it goes straight to the Civic interchange, and then to both John James and Canberra Hospitals. It is fantastic for people supporting family at the hospitals, or indeed receiving treatment there. It also allows quick access by Canberra buses and trams to the rest of the city.
"After upset coach staff received information via an email sent to the station staff alerted me to this, I pulled out (Goulburn MP) Wendy Tuckerman's glossy pamphlet that had been sent to us all at NSW Government expense out of my recycling bin, and I quote (Page 12): 'The Goulburn to Canberra coach service was also extended for another three months, after which time it will be reviewed.'"
Mr Orchard said 'reviewed' was politician-language for 'cancelled on September 30'. Moreover, he claimed demand for the service was calculated during coronavirus when public transport patronage had declined and people were working from home, and when hospitals had cut elective surgery.
"What makes it even worse is that I called Ms Tuckerman's office, as her constituent, looking for guidance on this issue and was told they would call me back. I'm still waiting two days later for that call. It seems she is above answering questions or being transparent," he said.
Mr Orchard said despite years of lobbying by the Southern Tablelands Rail User Group for better trains and services, there had been little change.
The daily Goulburn to Campbelltown and return NSW Trainlink bus service continues to run.
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