XPT confusion leaves Mid North Coast passengers questioning train travel

CONFUSION around XPT services on the Mid North Coast has left elderly passengers questioning whether booking a train guarantees travelling by train.

Raleigh resident Beverley Miles said she and her neighbours were increasingly concerned about changes to NSW TrainLink services between the Coffs Coast and Sydney.

Ms Miles said neighbours booked XPT tickets to Sydney through the Coffs Harbour railway station and were assured by staff that the service was running as a train.

However, they were transferred to coaches during the journey and arrived in Sydney more than eleven and a half hours later.

“Neighbours booked a train to Sydney at Coffs train station and were assured they would travel by train, only to find a coach at Urunga and eleven and a half hours later arrived in Sydney.

“We are in our late eighties and want assurance we can actually catch a train.”

The concerns come amid ongoing maintenance under the XPT life extension project, which has seen trains replaced by coaches on some services.

NSW TrainLink confirmed in a public release that only two daily Sydney to Grafton coach services currently operate in each direction while trains undergo major maintenance.

In December, additional coach services were added to cope with peak holiday demand.

“Between 3 and 31 December, two extra daily services will run in each direction, boosting capacity between Sydney Central and the north coast during the peak travel period,” the release stated.

Chief Executive Roger Weeks said the additional services were designed to give passengers more options.

“Adding extra connections between Sydney and Grafton during the holiday season means people have more options to travel to see family and friends or book a trip during the holiday season,” Mr Weeks said.

“It’s part of our commitment to ensure a more reliable service for all of our regional passengers.”

While passengers say there is uncertainty about whether booked train services will operate as trains, NSW TrainLink has recently promoted updates to its onboard catering.

New items added to the on-board menu ahead of summer include rice paper rolls, granola yoghurt, flavoured pies, salad bowls, paninis and baguettes, with hot meals such as butter chicken and rice remaining on the menu.

Mr Weeks said the organisation was focused on improving the customer experience.

“We have listened to our passengers about what food options they’d prefer and we hope they love the modern, fresh additions such as healthy snacks and substantial meals while retaining old favourites like pies,” he said.

Ms Miles said passengers simply wanted the same certainty about how they would travel as what would be served onboard.

“Can Transport NSW please confirm that if one books the XPT to Sydney and return that we actually catch a train,” Ms Miles said.