JO HAYLEN
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT

JENNY AITCHISON
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

MEDIA RELEASE: SILVER CITY STILETTO BOUND FOR BROKEN HILL

Vision available to download here

A colourfully decked out train called the Silver City Stiletto is today weaving its way through western NSW taking passengers to Broken Hill for the Broken Heel Festival.

The train is once again running in 2023, provided by Transport for NSW, as an additional one-off service to western NSW to support the regional tourism event.

The Silver City Stiletto offers festival goers an option to get to the festival, which is inspired by the movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Broken Hill’s Palace Hotel.

Around 80 festival goers have filled up two carriages of an XPLORER train which has been specially branded for one day only as the ‘Silver City Stiletto’.

Broken Heel Festival organisers have provided onboard entertainment including performances from drag queens Bebe Gunn and Foxxe Faux along with First Nations drag trio the Deadly Deities.

As part of a Rainbow through the Regions initiative, LGBTQIA+ staff and allies from Transport for NSW and other NSW government agencies are celebrating the train at points along the route including Blackheath, Katoomba, Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and Parkes.

They’ve been sharing messages of inclusivity and diversity, and promoting the state’s transport network as a safe place for all.

While on a tour of the Central West and ahead of her attendance at a meeting of the Alliance of Western Councils, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison stopped by Parkes station today to welcome the Silver City Stiletto.

The train was farewelled by Minister Haylen at Central Station at 5:51am and is due in at Broken Hill at 8:24pm.

The train passes through some of the most remote operational railway stations in NSW including Euabalong West, Ivanhoe, Darnick and Menindee.

The Broken Heel Festival 2023 is on between 7 and 11 September with around 2000 people expected to visit Broken Hill for the event.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“It was great to be in Parkes today to welcome the Silver City Stiletto on its way to Broken Hill for the colourful Broken Heel Festival.
“While the Priscilla movie featured a bus adorned with a stiletto that drove to Broken Hill and beyond, our version is a glamped up train, called the Silver City Stiletto.

“There is something magical about train travel through western NSW and the outback– with iconic views of the red dirt open plains, an abundance of wildlife – I’m told lots of baby emus at present, as well as spring wildflowers.

“As with all the services provided by NSW TrainLink every day of the year, I’m pleased to see passengers today enjoying the journey and, as always, everyone is welcomed and looked after by fabulous on-board customer service teams.

“This train, and the Rainbow through the Regions initiative where we have seen the train welcomed and supported by LGBTQIA+ people throughout regional NSW, is yet another example that our state’s transport network is always a safe place for all.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Jo Haylen:

“Central Station was awash with colour as we farewelled the Silver City Stiletto early this morning.

“I’m so pleased Transport for NSW has been able to provide additional services so festivalgoers can sit back and watch the scenery roll by as they travel toward the Broken Heel.

Quotes attributable to Chief Executive of NSW TrainLink Dale Merrick:

“It is a long journey to Broken Hill from Sydney – over 1,000 kilometres and more than 14 hours, but today on the Silver City Stiletto, or on any of our regular Outback XPLORER trains, it is great that travellers can sit back and let NSW TrainLink do the driving.

“The Stiletto train will not only benefit festival goers. Because this train needs to return to Central tomorrow, it opens up capacity for anyone from Western NSW to catch it back and head to Sydney for a long weekend break.

“NSW TrainLink has been taking customers to festivals across NSW for decades, helping boost regional tourism, with many services every day of the year.

“The great news for customers is that our trains and coaches connect to more than 365 destinations across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT.

“As always, NSW TrainLink is proud to provide a service that is affordable, comfortable and accessible and is a safe place for all. Everyone is welcome and I know our teams are dedicated to customer service for everyone, including the diverse communities we serve through regional NSW.”

MEDIA: Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 0408 427 540