NSW Labor backs plan to restore passenger rail service to Cessnock

The New South Wales Labor Party has officially supported a motion to investigate reopening the 30‑kilometre South Maitland Rail Corridor for passenger trains between Maitland and Cessnock. The line, built in 1893, ceased passenger operations in 1972 and was used for coal freight until 2020. A study by the Train to Cessnock campaign estimates that a regular service could serve more than 65,000 residents of the fast‑growing Hunter region, where 97 % of trips are currently made by car.

RTBU NSW secretary Toby Warnes hailed the endorsement as a milestone for the Hunter, saying the project would reconnect communities, support future growth and make use of existing infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of major Sydney projects. Local officials, including Cessnock mayor Dan Watton, also welcomed the proposal, which aims to improve access to jobs, education and services while creating new passenger and freight opportunities.