Would free Wi-Fi encourage you to take the train to Sydney? Photos: Phillip Buckley Photography.
A long-time regional rail advocate has welcomed a NSW Government trial of free Wi-Fi on trains serving routes such as Griffith-Sydney, but says it will make little difference if passengers are still waiting days for a service.
Phil Buckley, who has campaigned for better rail services across regional NSW for years, made the journey to Griffith last week – an almost nine-hour trip currently available by train only twice a week.
Mr Buckley has been travelling to country areas by train since a car accident left him preferring not to drive. He has continued campaigning for better regional rail services, including the Griffith connection.
The Sydneysider was among those who pushed for the weekly Griffith-Sydney train service secured in 2018, alongside Griffith campaigner Peter Knox.
He welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement this week that it will trial free Wi-Fi on two NSW TrainLink long-distance trains from late 2026.
One Xplorer train will be fitted with technology combining Low Earth Orbit satellite internet with 4G and 5G networks. The Xplorer fleet operates on routes including Sydney-Griffith, Canberra, Broken Hill and Moree/Armidale.
“We are behind other countries when it comes to putting more creature comforts on our trains,” he said.
“Wi-Fi will give people something to do on the eight-hour journey.
“The signal kept dropping out between Junee and Griffith. Wi-Fi would probably help with that.”
Mr Buckley said better onboard technology should not distract from what he sees as the bigger problem.
“It’s great we’ll get Wi-Fi, but where are the trains?” he said.
“A big regional centre like Griffith needs a daily service to Sydney.”
The current NSW TrainLink timetable has trains leaving Griffith for Sydney at 7:31 am on Thursdays and Sundays, arriving at Central at about 4:07 pm or 4:14 pm, depending on the service.
The return trains leave Sydney at 7:05 am on Saturdays and 12:11 pm on Wednesdays, arriving in Griffith at 3:24 pm and 8:22 pm respectively.
An economy ticket costs around $55 one way.
Mr Buckley said the cost of driving between Sydney and Griffith also made the train an attractive alternative.
“If you look at the cost of petrol now, you’re spending hundreds of dollars to get from Sydney to Griffith,” he said.
“I caught the train here for a quarter price it would have cost to drive.”
Airfares between Griffith and Sydney can also be expensive, with return flights sometimes exceeding $1000.
Internet access means you won’t have to stare outside for nine hours.
Mr Buckley said increasing the number of train services was important if regional towns were to attract visitors from Sydney and elsewhere.
NSW’s population is projected to pass nine million by 2028 under the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ medium projection, with the high projection reaching 9.3 million by 2030.
“But we will still have the same number of trains,” he said.
“How will we get people to visit regional towns like Temora?”
Mr Buckley has also campaigned for the restoration of passenger services to towns including Stockinbingal and Temora.
A 2018 petition called for services to Stockinbingal, Temora, Ariah Park, Barellan and Yenda, arguing rail could boost tourism and reduce reliance on cars.
“I’ve been trying to get Stockinbingal fixed for years, but the government are not interested,” he said.
“I’m behind a statewide campaign to get more trains to regional areas, but it’s falling on deaf ears.”
The NSW Government says the Wi-Fi trial is intended to gather evidence about how the technology performs on real regional journeys before any decision on a wider rollout.
