A rally will be held at Maitland Railway Station on Thursday to protest the cutting of the Newcastle railway line.
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The Hunter’s direct rail connection into Newcastle will cease on Christmas Day.
Save Our Rail Maitland president Kim Cross says this could make the journey for Cessnock commuters up to three hours long.
“Even if a tramway is constructed in Hunter and Scott Streets the result will likely to be for Cessnock commuters that a public transport journey will take twice as long and cost twice the price as is currently the case,” she said.
Mrs. Cross slammed the NSW Government’s decision to cut the line before the Wickham terminus has been designed.
“It is not only the fact that the government wants to axe the service in the middle of the Christmas holidays that is appalling, but also the fact that it plans to do so without a mandate and before the community can make its voice heard at the ballot box,” she said.
The rally will start at 11am Thursday at Maitland Station and will move up Church Street to Turner Rest Park (next to Maitland Police Station) to hear from State election candidates and community representatives from 12pm to 1pm.
