People Considerations
The people of New England have shockingly inadequate public Transport.
Armidale does not have much long distance public transport either: 1 train a day to Sydney, and 1 train back per day.
The further north you go from Armidale the rarer any public transport becomes! No trains and only 1 NSW Trainlink Coach per day
Tenterfield residents feel abandoned by the NSW Government. They often commute by car to Stanthorpe in QLD for some specialist medical services. But if you don’t have easy access to a car that often means negotiating or begging for a lift from neighbours!
The lack of any rail freight north of Armidale is a major barrier for creating large, new businesses at Guyra, Glen Innes, Tenterfield or in the villages between them.
The A15 New England Highway is in poor condition. Patch repairs caused by heavy traffic usually get destroyed during the next major rain event or flooding.
Major New England towns and villages on the A15 are fed up with the growing number of B-Doubles and older semi-trailers rushing through their main streets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Another people point…
Place Considerations
Another place point…
Another place point…
Other Issues to Consider
In a world where the environment is a major consideration, and access for regional, rural, and remote communities continues to be a growing concern, NEN believes that re-activating the GNR line can help to overcome a number or environmental and social issues in New England.
Railways provide a safe method of transporting bulk freight, as well as providing reliable public transport for a range of communities.
Another issue to consider…
John Young
New England Network
Director Strategy
+61 407 940 943
16-may-2026