Stephen Kennard has been an opponent of the revised timetable, which created traffic and parking issues for Thirroul not long after its introduction in October last year.

The new timetable introduced a number of "express" services in peak hours that cut out stations around Thirroul.

Instead of catching local services to Thirroul, commuters from neighbouring suburbs have chosen to drive to Thirroul and park all day in nearby car parks or surrounding streets.

"Our parking was getting to capacity a year ago and then, when the new timetable came in, it just went berserk," Mr Kennard said.

"We have a growing traffic and parking problem in Thirroul because Thirroul is growing - there's a new estate that's come on line. So there's just more traffic needing more parking.

"We need timetabling effective so people from the northern suburbs, particularly from Woonona to Austinmer and Coledale don't drive their cars to Thirroul, they drive them to their closest station where they can get a fast train to Sydney with a decent connection."

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian had promised a review of the timetable 12 months after its introduction in October 2013.

Mrs Berejiklian has since said any changes would be tweaks rather than a wholesale revamp.

Mr Kennard said the proper tweaks - such as ensuring local services better meet up with the express services at Thirroul - would fix the problem.

"The minister says it needs to be tweaked and we agree," he said.

"There's not a lot that needs to be changed to solve Thirroul's problems and those of the northern Illawarra."

Synchronising the local and express services, Mr Kennard said, would encourage commuters to use the parking facilities at their neighbourhood station rather than driving to Thirroul.

"Woonona, Bulli and Austinmer - those car parks have all been expanded, but are all empty and people are getting in their cars and coming to park at Thirroul," Mr Kennard said. "They've put all that money into those car parks and, with a few changes, they'll be used again and Thirroul will be relieved."

The office of Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian was approached for comment but did not respond by deadline.

Heathcote MP Lee Evans said the government was looking at ‘‘out of the box’’ solutions to the train timetable problems in the northern suburbs.

This included looking into options like running shuttle buses between Helensburgh and Thirroul stations, which would pick up commuters and ferry them to these hubs.

Mr Evans first mentioned the idea in June, saying it was under consideration and, if it went ahead, contracts would be in place by December.

It is understood that the government is not planning to run the shuttle bus. 

A response was sought from the Transport Department but it  did not respond by deadline.

Mr Evans said options like shuttle buses were being considered because he accepted the revised timetable had led to problems in the northern suburbs.

‘‘I understand people’s personal issues – ‘this is the train I get on and this is how I’m affected’ – but, overall, the reports back are quite positive,’’ Mr Evans said.

‘‘I’ve got to say that the northern suburbs part, it’s not ideal. We’ve got issues there and that’s why we’re suggesting doing something out of the box and do shuttle buses.

‘‘People who live in Wollongong absolutely love it. 

‘‘They get on their trains and get to work on time. 

‘‘But the stops up through the northern suburbs, there are issues.’’

He added the government had also considered better promotion of the local services that were established to ferry people from suburban stops to these hub stations.