Maitland state MP Jenny Aitchison has slammed the government’s decision to offer Sydney train commuters half-price peak hour travel, stating regional customers have been left out in the cold… again.

Following last Monday’s sudden rail shutdown, and subsequent abridged timetables – which also impacted the Hunter Valley – during the week, it was revealed the NSW Government would offer special deals as compensation for the chaos caused by the stoppages.

However, it appears the reduced ticket prices and free weekend trips for one month will only benefit Sydneysiders at this stage.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway admitted on Friday 25 February he was awaiting briefings from Transport for NSW to ensure the fare discount package would be rolled out to regional commuters.

This has angered Ms Aitchison, who claimed regional communities were “always an afterthought”.

“People have had to pay upwards of $240 for transport they could have got for a few dollars on the trains if they’d have been running,” the Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads said.

“Some missed critical medical appointments, work or education, and others were stuck in traffic for five hours while the road network struggled to cope with the congestion caused by the lockdown.”

In response to a direct question about whether he had asked for the Sydney Trains package to be rolled out to regional commuters on the Intercity Services, Mr Farraway replied: “…that is all covered in the briefings we have had from Transport for NSW”.

But, he failed to indicate when or how regional customers would be notified, or what role he played in ensuring they were covered.

“If the Minister had truly advocated for the payment, he would have told them about it when the government’s announcement to Sydney commuters was made,” Ms Aitchison said.

“Mr Farraway has been merely a passenger on this trainwreck caused by his government.

“He’s been sitting around waiting for briefings from Transport for NSW instead of advocating for regional commuters.

“Local people are outraged to know that Sydney commuters have been promised compensation.

“It didn’t occur to the Minister on ‘Monday morning 6am when [he] watched the news’ to organise rail replacement buses for the intercity trains.

“And, now, he has played no role in advocating for the discount package for regional commuters.

“He couldn’t even give any detail of a [regional] fare discount package or how it would work.

“You would think with the intercity fleet going into Lithgow in his home electorate of Bathurst, Mr Farraway would show more than a passing interest in this matter.

“Instead, he is snoozing way, way down the back of the carriage, because someone forgot to wake him up to tell him the trains had not left the stations.”

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