The next steps TheTamworth trial timetables andto routes:Port Tamworth, Macquarie Port Macquarie (mon) and Dubbo

Tamworth - Port Macquarie - Tamworth: Monday service NSW TrainLink Trial timeframe Bendemeer Port Tamworth Kootingal Walcha Long Flat Wauchope Town (turn off) Station Macquarie The trial period for these services will run for a minimum of six months. During this period, we will be testing patronage, service delivery and frequency, ticketing and other aspects of the service. After the testing period is over, NSW TrainLink will make an A: 9.13 am A: 9.20 am A: 9.36 am A: 10.13 am A: 12.20 pm A: 12.54 pm A: 1.15 pm assessment to determine whether the services will continue. D:Tamworth 8.55 am D: 9.15 am D: 9.21to am PortD: 9.37 am MacquarieD: 10.18 am D: 12.25 pm D:( 12.58fri pm) It is essential that you support these services during the trial period to ensure they are maintained in the long term. A: 6.30 pm A: 6.09 pm A: 6.03 pm A: 5.45 pm A: 5.07 pm A: 3.06 pm A: 2.35 pm New regional coach D: 6.11 pm D: 6.04 pm D: 5.46 pm D: 5.10 pm D: 3.07pm D: 2.40 pm D: 2.15 pm NSW TrainLink will review the services at the end of the trial period to consider whether they will continue permanently. Tamworth - Port Macquarie - Tamworth: Friday arrival and Sunday departure service links are here. If you have feedback during the trial that you would like to pass on to NSW TrainLink please let us know by emailing:

[email protected] A: 2.18 pm A: 2.25 pm A: 2.41 pm A: 3.18 pm A: 5.25 pm A: 5.54 pm A: 6.20 pm D: 2.00 pm D: 2.20 pm D: 2.26 pm D: 2.42 pm D: 3.23 pm D: 5.26 pm D: 6.00 pm Tamworth to Dubbo How to book on the trial services A: 7.20 pm A: 6.59 pm A: 6.53 pm A: 6.35 pm A: 5.50 pm A: 3.51 pm A: 3.20 pm D: 7.01 pm D: 6.54 pm D: 6.36 pm D: 6.00 pm D: 3.52 pm D: 3.25 pm D: 3.00 pm

5 Sensitive – NSW Government Online: www.transportnsw.info Phone: 13 22 32 Tamworth - Dubbo - Tamworth: Monday and Friday service

Tamworth Somerton Carroll Mullaley Coonabarabran Gilgandra Dubbo

A: 9.32 am A: 9.45 am A: 10.04 am A: 10.34 am A: 11.20 am A: 12.23 pm A: 1.15 pm D: 9.00 am D: 9.33 am D: 9.46 am D: 10.07 am D: 10.35am D: 11.23 am D: 12.25 pm 6 Sensitive – NSW Government

A: 6.36 pm A: 6.03 pm A: 5.49 pm A: 5.27 pm A: 5.01 pm A: 4.13 pm A: 3.10 pm D: 6.04 pm D: 5.50 pm D: 5.30 pm D: 5.02 pm D: 4.16 pm D: 3.13 pm D: 2.20 pm

7 Sensitive – NSW Government Tamworth to Newcastle Welcome to our final newsletter, sharing with Our consultation with you TheFriday Montrial andtimetables Wed and routes: Tamworth and Newcastle you information about the NSW TrainLink Throughout December and January, the NSW TrainLink team was Tamworth - Newcastle - Tamworth: Monday and Wednesday service regional public transport trials from Monday busy collecting community feedback on the proposed coach services. 12 March 2018. This included: Werris Willow Tamworth Scone Aberdeen Muswellbrook Singleton Maitland Newcastle Creek Tree Thank you to everyone who took the time to email, phone, • Holding six community information sessions at shopping complete a survey or meet with us throughout December and centres, community centres and local markets across Tamworth, January. The feedback helped us to finalise three new services: Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Dubbo; A:A: 7.564.26 amam A: 4.458.15 am A: 5.028.32 am A: 5.198.50 am A: 5.559.25 am A: 9.39 am A: 9.52 am 7.203.50 am am 6.16 am 6.24 am 6.55 am 7.28 am 8.01 am D:D: 7.584.28 amam D: 4.478.17 am D: 5.048.33 am D: 5.208.52 am D: 6.079.27 am D: 9.40 am D: 10.09 am 10.39 am 11.12 am 11.45 am • Tamworth to Newcastle (and return) by coach and train • NSW TrainLink train station staff doing surveys of customers at Tamworth to Newcastle Tamworth, Wauchope, Kempsey, Grafton, Dubbo and Newcastle • Tamworth to Dubbo (and return) by coach stations; Friday A: 8.12 pm A: 7.53 pm A: 7.37 pm A: 7.18 pm A: 6.24 pm • Tamworth to Port Macquarie (and return) by coach. • Contacting over 300 local community groups, businesses, 8.50 pm A: 9.55 pm A: 9.37 pm A: 9.21 pm A: 9.03 pm A: 7.54 pm 6.14 pm 6.04 pm 5.33 pm 5.01 pm 4.29 pm 10.32 pm D: 8.14 pm D: 7.55 pm D: 7.38 pm D: 7.20 pm D: 6.45 pm 7.43 pm 7.34 pm 7.03 pm 6.31 pm 5.59 pm government organisations and councils in Tamworth, Newcastle, D: 9.56 pm D: 9.38 pm D: 9.22 pm D: 9.04 pm D: 8.30 pm Almost 500 people completed our community survey to help us Port Macquarie, Dubbo, Scone, Muswellbrook, Quirindi, Werris Willow work out: Tamworth Quirindi Murrurundi Scone Aberdeen Muswellbrook Singleton Maitland Newcastle Gunnedah and surrounds; Tamworth - NewcastleCreek - Tamworth: TreeFriday service • The best route for the coaches • Letter box drops to over 20,000 residents in Tamworth and Gunnedah, inviting them to the information pop-up stalls; • The most popular times and days to travel A: 7.56 am A: 8.15 am A: 8.32 am A: 8.50 am A: 9.25 am A: 9.39 am A: 9.52 am 7.20 am • Receiving almost 500 online and paper format surveys; and D: 7.58 am D: 8.17 am D: 8.33 am D: 8.52 am D: 9.27 am D: 9.40 am D: 10.09 am 10.39 am 11.12 am 11.45 am • How frequently these services would be used, and • Stakeholder interviews with; • Interest in having catering on board the trial services. Newcastle4 to TamworthSensitive – NSW Government −− Tamworth Regional Council 3 The times, days and routes of travel proposed by NSW TrainLink A: 9.55 pm A: 9.37 pm A: 9.21 pm A: 9.03 pm A: 7.54 pm 10.32 pm 7.43 pm 7.34 pm 7.03 pm 6.31 pm 5.59 pm −− The Tamworth Disability Advocacy Centre D: 9.56 pm D: 9.38 pm D: 9.22 pm D: 9.04 pm D: 8.30 pm for the services between Tamworth and Dubbo and between Monday and Wednesday Tamworth and Port Macquarie were well received by the −− Shire Council community and the timetables for the trial are generally in line Newcastle - Tamworth - Newcastle: Monday and Wednesday service with those we proposed during the consultation process. −− Murrurundi Community Forum Newcastle Maitland Singleton Muswellbrook Aberdeen Scone Murrurundi Willow Tree Quirindi Werris Tamworth There were a number of options proposed for the services between −− Scone Tourism and Visitor Centre Creek Tamworth and Newcastle and there was community interest in a −− Dubbo Show Association number of the options. As a result, NSW TrainLink will trial one option on Mondays and Wednesdays and another on Fridays. −− Dubbo Council Newcastle to TamworthA: 5.21 am A: 6.38 am A: 6.57 am A: 7.13 am A: 7.32 am 3.18 am 3.58 am 4.30 am 5.01 am 5.10 am D: 6.05 am D: 6.40 am D: 6.58 am D: 7.15 am D: 7.34 am 8.10 am Feedback from the community regarding catering options told us −− Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service Friday3 Sensitive – NSW Government you did not want to pay more for a ticket to have a catering pack −− Kintyre Living Dubbo provided on these services, but people were interested in catering being an optional extra. −− Mercy Services A: 6.33 pm A: 5.59 pm A: 5.41 pm A: 5.24 pm A: 5.05 pm 9.00 pm 8.27 pm 7.54 pm 7.23 pm 7.15 pm 4.30 pm D: 7.06 pm D: 6.00 pm D: 5.42 pm D: 5.26 pm D: 5.07 pm NSW TrainLink will consider providing optional catering in future We showcased the coach that will be used to operate the new and in the meantime cold water will be complimentary for services at three information pop-ups including the accessible Newcastle - Tamworth - Newcastle: Friday service customers on the coaches from Tamworth to Dubbo and Port features. Macquarie because of their travel time of over four hours.

A: 9.49 am A: 10.22 am A: 10.35 am A: 11.10 am A: 11.29 am A: 11.45 am A: 12.04 pm Thanks again to everyone who has been part of planning these 8.17 am 8.46 am 9.18 am 12.42 pm D: 10.10 am D: 10.23 am D: 10.37 am D: 11.12 am D: 11.30 am D: 11.47 am D: 12.06 pm coach trials.

NSW TrainLink is excited to be able to offer these services and we look forward to welcoming you aboard! 1 Sensitive – NSW Government A: 8.13 pm A: 7.39 pm A: 7.21 pm A: 7.05 pm A: 6.46 pm 10.45 pm 10.12 pm 9.39 pm 9.08 pm 9.00 pm 6.10 pm D: 8.51 pm D: 7.40 pm D: 7.22 pm D: 7.06 pm D: 6.48 pm

2 Sensitive – NSW Government