Mudgee Region Rail Inc

The People Have Spoken – Survey Analysis & Report- Re-opening of the Rylstone to Gulgong Rail Line. Community, Visitor & Industry Expectations. MRR Inc

Background to the development, distribution & collection of the Mudgee Region Rail Survey 2022.

During the mid 2022 meeting with the Mayor and General Manager, Mudgee Region Rail Inc requested support from Mid-Western Region Council to progress the reopening of the Rylstone-Gulgong line for passenger, tourism & general freight.
The mayor was of the opinion our community was not in favor, due to noise and other disruptions.

MRR Inc strongly differed in that opinion.

At meeting closure, the mayor suggested, “Why don’t you do a survey?”

MRR Inc had previously made an application under Council’s Community Grants Program to progress the rail issue. The application, despite ticking all boxes for eligibility, was rejected. Despite this, MRR committee took on the challenge in their own time & with their own finances.

Some Key Points:

• The survey had 3847 responses on-line and 403 handwritten hard copy responses.
• The survey was not limited to locals, as 60% respondents were locals and 40% were visitors to the region.
• Overwhelmingly, 95% of survey participants supported the reinstatement of a passenger rail service to and from Sydney.
• Further, 94.95% of people surveyed reported that they would use a train (if available) to travel to either regularly or occasionally to and from Sydney.

Tourism

• 85.6% of those surveyed saw the reintroduction of passenger rail to the region as a way of enhancing regional tourism.
• Tour train operators responded in an industry only section.
• 80% of tour train operators surveyed responded that they plan to include Mudgee, as soon as the line is open.
• 50% of tour train operators indicated that 28 tours a year to the Mudgee Region was likely. Other operators also indicated tours were likely leading to the possibility of an estimated 35 tours a year.
• 75% of tour train operators indicated they would use local bus/taxi/ tour operators for off train passenger movement.
• It is worth noting that when the line was reopened in September 1999, there were 29 tourist train movements in the first year. This includes that on some occasions one train may have completed 2-3 shuttles to Rylstone or Gulgong.
At the time, there were only 5 rail tour operators, so the recent projection of 35 tours per year is not out of the realm of possibility.

One such train tour held on Australia Day was badged the “Australia Day Express”.
It departed Mudgee at 08:00am.
Breakfast was held at Gulgong & was catered by local service clubs 08:30-09:30am. Some extra passengers joined here.
Morning tea was held at Dunedoo & was catered by the CWA 10:30-11:30am.
Lunch was held at Binnaway & was catered by local service clubs at 01:00-2:30pm.

The train returned to Mudgee about 05:00pm, before dropping off some passengers at Gulgong. Travel times were slow, but a leisurely pace was in the plan.

The tour was sold out at $40pp inclusive & subsidised by the then Mudgee Shire Council as an Australia day contribution.

Freight

• The issue of general freight showed 88% of respondents were happy to include general (non-coal) freight on the rail line, to make the reopening economically more attractive a proposition.
• Importantly, the survey was conducted prior to the transporting of 300,000 tonnes of logs through our streets, & it is thought that this may have changed the freight consideration to include the transportation of logs, had it been included.

The bottom line is:

THERE IS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF A PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO AND FROM SYDNEY!

NEXT STOP… MAKING IT HAPPEN.

Look over here Chris Minns, we’ve been fighting for the reopening of rail for years…🖐️

They just don’t get it, do they?

New era for regional travel as Minns Labor Government rolls out $290 million coach network upgrade!

Communities across regional NSW will soon benefit from the largest upgrade to the NSW TrainLink Coach network in over a decade, with the Minns Labor Government investing $290 million over the next nine years to deliver new services, modern coaches and improved passenger amenities across the state.

Every day, on average, 1594 passenger journeys are made on the NSW TrainLink coach network. Regional passengers rely on services to get to work, access healthcare and education, visit family and friends and stay connected to their communities. Every one of these journeys should be safe and reliable, with coach services that are accessible to everyone.

The modern coaches set a new standard for regional travel, featuring enhanced accessibility and a range of improved onboard amenities, including higher-quality seating, wheelchair accessibility, improved air conditioning, onboard toilets, mobile phone charging points, Wi-Fi or mobile reception booster capability, and life-saving defibrillators.

From today, 14 coach operators will begin operating an expanded NSW TrainLink coach network, providing 638 long-distance services each week across 49 routes – up from 592 weekly services on 45 routes.

The expansion increases network coverage by almost 200,000 kilometres each year, bringing the total NSW TrainLink coach network to more than 7.15 million kilometres and connecting more than 360 destinations across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.

The investment represents one of the most significant upgrades to regional coach services in over a decade and will make public transport a more attractive and accessible option for regional communities, visitors and long-distance travellers.

The Minns Labor Government recognises that regional NSW has distinct transport needs — and that delivering for regional communities means listening, investing and following through.

The new coaches will also carry a distinctive sunset orange livery, creating a consistent and modern identity for regional public transport services across the state.

More than half of all routes will be serviced by the new vehicles from today, with the remaining routes transitioning to upgraded coaches over the coming months.

For more information about the NSW TrainLink network visit transportnsw.info/routes/nsw-trainlink

Please get on board and let council know how you get around.

🗣️ Regional voices matter 🗣️

Taverner Research is collecting feedback from people across NSW on how they travel for work, school, appointments, shopping and everyday needs, especially in regional and remote communities where experiences are often under represented.

If you live in NSW, take the 20‑minute survey and share your experiences, including any challenges getting around.
👉 NSW residents aged 18+
👉 Confidential and voluntary
👉 $10 e‑gift provided as a thank you

Take the survey | Closes 13 July 2026.
https://ow.ly/zpBq50Zf0R3

Spotted this lonely tipple in Carcoar recently. Another regional town that has sadly lost its rail services.

Communities like Carcoar remind us why restoring regional rail connections matters — keeping towns connected, supporting tourism, and preserving local heritage.

Now we need your help — suggest a label for a bottle of Mudgee region’s finest, to celebrate when the trains are reinstated to the Mudgee Region!

🚆Strong Community Support for the Return of Passenger Rail 🚆

Did You Know...

In late 2022, Mudgee Region Passenger Rail Inc. surveyed residents across Mudgee, Gulgong, Rylstone and Windeyer to gauge support for the reinstatement of passenger rail services.
The response was clear: of the 4,250 people who participated, an overwhelming 95.5% supported the return of a passenger rail connection between the Mudgee region and Sydney.

These results continue to provide powerful evidence of the strong community demand for rail services and support our ongoing advocacy with the NSW Government and Mid-Western Regional Council.

Together, we're building the case for better transport connections, stronger regional growth, and greater opportunities for our communities.

👍 If you support the return of passenger rail to the Mudgee region, leave a comment and share this post.

For the history buffs…

One of the more interesting NSWGR diagrams I’ve come across recently can probably be dated fairly accurately to the short period between November 1951 and May 1952.

The giveaway is the inclusion of the North Coast Daylight Express shown as being operated by a 4-car air-conditioned diesel train — the new DEB set. The first DEB set entered service on the North Coast route in November 1951, operating between Sydney and Grafton. However, persistent mechanical issues saw the set withdrawn in May 1952 after less than six months in service.

That alone narrows the diagram down considerably.

Another clue is the Queanbeyan to Cooma section, which is shown as operated by 2-car diesel trains rather than DEB sets. That would place the diagram before May 1955, when DEB sets began operating the Canberra-Monaro Express through to Cooma.

It’s a fascinating snapshot of NSWGR right in the middle of transitioning from steam-era passenger workings into the diesel railcar age. The DEB sets represented a major technological leap for the NSWGR — air-conditioned, lightweight, and designed specifically for long-distance daylight services.

For a brief period in 1951-52, though, the North Coast Daylight Express was one of the most modern trains in Australia, and this diagram appears to capture that exact moment in time!