Millthorpe welcomes XPT stops

David Dixon

Millthorpe locals have enthusiastically-embraced the revived train service for the picturesque village with the XPT now stopping most days to drop-off and pick-up passengers for the first time in 33 years.

It was feared that, after the initial excitement of the March re-opening of the Railway Station following completion of a new $1 million mini-platform, patronage from residents might drop-off. However, this hasn’t proven the case.

A recent work-day saw a flurry of activity at the Station with a number of passengers embarking and disembarking from the 12-noon train including locals John Wilson and Eleanor Fairbairn-Wilson who arrived from Central Station in Sydney.

“The guard told us that it’s stopping every day for passengers, it’s been very good,” John said.

The couple utilised the new service to visit family members in Sydney without the hassle of taking their own vehicle.

“We don’t go down to Sydney a lot, but we will use the service whenever we can; this means we don’t have to get friends to take us to Blayney to catch the train,” Eleanor added.

 The local service was revived in mid-March with more than 500 locals, guests, dignitaries, and rail enthusiasts celebrating the fact that once again allows passenger trains would operate from the idyllic 133-year-old station.