COSTA'S RAIL CUTS A CRUEL BLOW TO LONG SUFFERING COMMUTERS
Wednesday, 18 June 2003 10:00
The NSW Minister for Transport Services Michael Costa is in danger of becoming known as a public transport wrecker following comments favouring closure of the Newcastle rail line, attempts to abandon the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link and chronic system performance and maintenance problems the Total Environment Centre (TEC) has warned.
"In a little over two weeks Michael Costa has supported the closure on the Newcastle rail line and signalled plans to abandon the Parramatta to Chatswood rail link. Combined with a failure to address chronic system deficiencies its hardly an encouraging trend for commuters crying out for better public transport in NSW", Total Environment Centre (TEC) Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said,
In a speech to Newcastle Business Club Mr Costa expressed support for closing the Newcastle rail link. This follows earlier announcements of a review of the Parramatta to Epping component of the already behind schedule Parramatta to Chatswood rail link.
"It appears that the Minister is more interested in short term cost cutting and appeasing the commercial property sector who want to carve the Newcastle rail corridor up for development than addressing the needs of long suffering commuters and expanding public transport services", Mr Martin said.
Lack of effective public transport and chronic service deficiencies are forcing increased dependence on private vehicles and a viscous cycle of poor air quality and worsening traffic congestion throughout Newcastle, Sydney and the Illawarra.
"The public are crying out for improved services and new transport infrastructure. Instead of answering the call the government now appears intent of walking way from commitments to create new lines and scrap long established services. The result will be worsening transport chaos and poor air quality for years to come", Mr Matin said.
For further information
Contact
:
Leigh Martin - Urban Campaigner
Phone
:
61 2 9299 5599
Email
:
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WWW
:
http://www.tec.org.au/
