Seventeen train stations in the Illawarra could lose their staff under the State Government’s proposed shake up of railways authority RailCorp, Labor MPs claimed today.
Wollongong MP Noreen Hay made the claims citing media reports which suggested stations with less than 2000 passengers a day might fall victim to cost cuts.
The State Government is conducting a comprehensive review of RailCorp in an effort to make it leaner and more reliable. At present RailCorp costs the state about $10 million a day.
The Government has not ruled out job cuts as part of the review which is being led by David Callahan, former head of Sydney Ferries.
Ms Hay seized upon media reports suggesting one option for RailCorp would be to axe 570 positions by not staffing stations where there were fewer than 2000 passengers a day. These findings were made in a 2008 report by consultants LEK, hired by the then Labor Government to look into the rail costs.
In the Illawarra stations affected would include Austinmer, Bulli, Otford, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Bellambi, Corrimal, Fairy Meadow, Towradgi, Woonona, Kiama, Minnamurra, Albion Park, Dapto, Coniston, Cringila and Port Kembla according to Ms Hay.
"Some of the most vulnerable people in our community should not be forced off our rail network because the Transport Minister is making it more difficult for them to use," she said in a statement.
Liberal member for Kiama Gareth Ward described the statement as ‘‘out right hypocrisy.’’
‘‘On what basis are these claims made - they are based on a report the Labor Party commissioned.’’
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