The Thirroul Transport Committee has been calling for express trains to stop at Austinmer and Bulli on an alternating basis.

The committee felt it would help address the congestion in Thirroul streets, where commuters from neighbouring suburbs were driving to that suburb, parking their cars and catching the train.

In a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward,  the committee members convinced him of the merit of the plan.

Mr Ward said he would look to have the idea considered in the next review of the rail timetable.

‘‘What I said to the meeting was that I would endeavour to press the case for an additional stop at Bulli and an additional stop at Austinmer,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘That’s certainly my view and I’m going to continue to make that case to the Transport Minister.’’

Mr Ward said he was aware of the issues northern suburbs residents had with the timetable and felt this proposal was ‘‘absolutely worthy of consideration’’.

‘‘I think the transport department has got to stop being so recalcitrant and start looking at the impacts of their decisions and also what the community is quite clearly saying,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m going to continue to beat that drum because I think it is a sensible and logical response.’’

He also felt it would address the issue of the car park use at Bulli and Austinmer, which have been under-utilised since the October 2013 timetable change made Thirroul a hub station.

‘‘There are very large car parks that are there which, given the problems we’ve had at Thirroul, it would make sense to me to utilise those government assets better,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘I think most people would agree with that.’’

Thirroul Transport Committee member Stephen Kennard was pleased Mr Ward had thrown his support behind the move.

‘‘Putting stops at Bulli and Austinmer is a large step in the right direction,’’ Mr Kennard said.

‘‘We’re very pleased about it because that will reduce the need for cars to park at Thirroul, when they could be parking at Austinmer or Bulli and getting better service.

‘‘It’s a big problem for Thirroul and our shopkeepers. If they can get the trains to stop at Bulli and Austinmer that will benefit everybody.’’