A PUSH for sleeper cars to be part of new trains replacing NSW's XPT fleet will be taken up by the new member for Albury.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Justin Clancy was replying to a letter to The Border Mail earlier this month from Edmund Carew, a former senior adviser to Liberal Victorian government Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder.
Mr Carew wrote of his disappointment that the new NSW regional trains would lack the existing 18-berth sleeping car on existing Sydney to Melbourne XPT services.
"Let's hope new Albury Liberal MP Justin Clancy advocates for sleeping cars to be added to the train order," Mr Carew stated.
He mooted "hardworking" NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and state Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who he labelled "bumbling" over Sydney's light rail costs, "seem determined to bring an end to civilised rail travel between Albury, Culcairn or Henty and Sydney unless Justin Clancy can change their minds".
Mr Clancy said as an XPT traveller he recognised the value of comfort.
"I've used the XPT overnight and I can appreciate the need for comfort," Mr Clancy said.
"I'm happy to put those views forward and take them to those that are looking at the design and see what stage they're up to.
"Given those trains are going into production I imagine a lot of the design work is already done, but I will look and see."
When the State Government confirmed the purchase of the new fleet, via Transport for NSW in February, there was no mention of sleeper cars being part of the long haul rolling stock.
Transport for NSW said market research had been done before the tender to seek passenger feedback.
Detailed designs for the new fleet will begin this year with the first new trains running from 2023.
Mr Clancy said he generally had heard more chatter about the V/Line operation from Albury than the XPT service which has not been updated since the 1980s.
"Most of the comments have obviously related more to the Melbourne service but we know the XPT fleet is really in need of updating and it's pleasing that is going through....and we're looking forward to those new trains coming on line," he said.
