news, local-news, redfern, sydney university, blue mountains, trains, commuters

UPDATE: Peak hours train services on the Blue Mountains Line will stop at Redfern station from Monday, June 18. “NSW TrainLink understands that it is more convenient for some Blue Mountains services to make a stop at Redfern,” said a spokesperson for NSW TrainLink. “The changes we made to the timetable in November 2017 were designed to benefit the majority of those using Blue Mountains services, but we’ve listened to feedback from our customers such as university students and staff who appreciate the convenience of trains stopping at Redfern. “From Monday, June 18 people travelling to or from the Blue Mountains will be able to travel on one of a number of key services that stop at Redfern in both the morning and afternoon peaks.” EARLIER: Blue Mountains train commuters will see Redfern reinstated as a peak hour stop by the end of June – three months after the government announced it would return the services following a commuter backlash. NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed the timeline in Parliament on June 7 when asked about the delay by Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle. “Three months have passed since the minister promised to reinstate Redfern, but services are still not stopping there. When will the minister listen to commuters and provide a stop at Redfern?” Ms Doyle asked in question time. Mr Constance replied: “The specific answer to the question of the member for Blue Mountains is: two weeks.” Redfern was removed as a stop on the Blue Mountains line when the new train timetable was announced last November, but university students and healthcare workers were angered by the changes. The government announced in March it had listened to commuter feedback and would return Redfern as a stop on three morning and three afternoon peaks services. At the time, Transport for NSW said the changes would be “implemented as soon as possible following briefing of operational staff”. While welcoming the reinstatement, Ms Doyle criticised the delay in implementing their return. She said the minister had to be “dragged kicking and screaming to make this change”. “The government should have properly consulted with passengers in the first place rather than slashing vital services and waiting for the backlash.” In his answer in Parliament, Mr Constance said: “I am glad to have been able to ask this question because those opposite seem to miss the point on a couple of things about the timetable. When we introduced the timetable, one of the things that I indicated was that we would allow the community to respond to the timetable and would make some minor changes if we had to, to try to improve the network.” Redfern will be added as a stop to the following services: . RELATED CONTENT:

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/gDsCKgEkcTgTg7ZZhL6wDp/1ad1bd4a-a751-4af9-a55a-6650c899a84d.jpg/r11_138_4425_2632_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg