JENNY AITCHISON
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

MEDIA RELEASE - SOUTHERN COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SAY ON PROPOSED COACH TIMETABLE

The southern NSW community is invited to have a say on proposed NSW TrainLink coach timetable changes that are due to come into effect in mid-2026 to better meet the needs of the travelling public. 

NSW TrainLink is the state’s long distance regional public transport operator.  

Its coach network services an area including Albury, Cooma, Canberra, Cootamundra, Echuca, Eden, Goulburn, Griffith, Mildura, Canberra/ Queanbeyan, Tumut and Wagga Wagga, connecting communities and linking them to rail services and larger centres.   

The proposed changes to NSW TrainLink’s coach services include adjusted timetables to meet passenger needs, new routes, additional services on some existing routes, new stops to improve local access and connections to rail and reduced travel times.   

A new route is proposed between Yass and Young running northbound Wednesdays and Saturdays and southbound on Thursdays and Sundays, enabling people to connect with rail services at Yass, saving two hours on a Young to Sydney journey.  

All services between Condobolin and Wagga Wagga in both directions would operate via Lake Cargelligo seven days a week, providing a more consistent service and a frequency increase to some towns.    

Jindabyne would receive increased service frequency and Bombala would be served by a new, more-direct route to Cooma and Canberra.  

Cooma passengers would have the choice of a morning service to Canberra seven days per week and an afternoon service to Canberra four days per week, both with ongoing rail connections to Sydney.     

The weekday return service between Goulburn and Canberra would operate on the weekends for the first time.   

Other proposed changes include re-routing the Mildura to Cootamundra route to instead operate to Wagga Wagga to improve local connections.  

 New timings and days of operation are proposed for the Griffith to Cootamundra route (formerly part of Mildura to Cootamundra) to provide a more seamless rail connection at Cootamundra, delivering a two-hour journey time saving for Griffith and Temora passengers travelling to and from Sydney and Canberra.    

Coach services to Gundagai, Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba will be revised to provide better connections to and from Wagga Wagga and improved rail connections at Cootamundra, providing a two-hour journey time saving for journeys to and from Sydney on selected days.     

The planned changes are based on extensive community and stakeholder feedback from a range of sources including regular customer and operator feedback, and the NSW Bus Taskforce. The proposed coach timetable would not impact train times or services. 

Following public consultation, a final service plan will be developed and coach operators will be able to apply for new NSW TrainLink contracts that are proposed to take effect from mid 2026. 

Community members can find details of the proposed routes and provide feedback at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/trainlink-coach-network-review until Friday, 14 February.

Across the NSW TrainLink network there are currently 571 coach services each week across 39 routes, with over 420,000 passenger journeys made each year.  

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: 

“The proposed NSW TrainLink coach plan will deliver improved connections to strategic centres and major cities. 

“This will lead to better transport integration with other modes such as train, bus and plane so that members of the community are better able to access vital services including health, education and employment. 

“Improved NSW TrainLink coach services also allow community members to stay connected with family and friends and enjoy entertainment and recreation in major centres, so there are numerous wellbeing benefits.

“We know that the NSW TrainLink coach network particularly helps some of the most disadvantaged in our society, including those in rural and remote areas and Aboriginal communities, who often have little or no access to other forms of affordable, accessible transport.  

“I encourage everyone to provide feedback so we can best plan for future need and make sure people can get where they need to go when they need to travel.” 

MEDIA:

Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 0408 427 540