The North Coast community is invited to have a say on the proposed NSW TrainLink coach timetable changes due to come into effect in mid-2026.
NSW TrainLink is making the changes to the coach timetable and people are invited to have a say about those changes.
Its coach network services an area including Casino, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, Ballina, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, and Lismore.
The proposed changes would increase frequency on some more popular routes and new stops on some journeys.
Ballina would be better serviced with day and night services in both directions connecting with trains at Casino.
An enhanced service between Port Macquarie and Wauchope would enable passengers to travel to and from Port Macquarie to centres such as Grafton, Coffs Harbour, the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, for the first time. Connections to and from Sydney would also be improved.
A new route is proposed to operate on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday between Armidale and Port Macquarie and return, providing an Armidale to North Coast connection for the first time. At Wauchope the coach connects with rail services giving access to and from Coffs Harbour, Grafton, the Northern Rivers, Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Some routes servicing the far north coast are proposed to be simplified or merged because of lower passenger demand, however passengers will still have access to coach services to connect them to local centres and trains to and from Sydney.
Two locations are proposed to be removed from the NSW TrainLink coach network: Robina would no longer be serviced because other transport options exist for passengers, including the Gold Coast bus network, and Eltham because of low passenger demand and ongoing issues with local road conditions.
The proposed coach timetable would not impact train times or services.
The community members can find details of the proposed routes and give feedback here until Friday, February 14.
Across the NSW TrainLink network there are currently 571 coach services each week across 39 routes, with more than 420,000 passenger journeys made each year.
