State-wide Rail Protest Rally

[Susan & Wesley]

Greetings all,   I have come across the following message, and feel it necessary to pass on.  As a Church, the Uniting Church has a strong focus on justice issues, and cutting of rail services around the state certainly fits into this catagory for elderly people, people with mental and physical disabilities, and people how simply can not afford to drive or fly.    I have had my own experience of how important rail services are.  I had ankle surgery in Armidale a few weeks ago, I could not drive and would not have had enough room to keep my leg elevated on a bus or plane, and I can't expect people to drive me hundreds of kilometres.  Susan and I got home safely and comfortably on Wednesday.   Regards   Wesley   "[QUOTE] State-wide Rail Protest Rally Thursday 29 April 2004 protesting against cuts & closures to train services & rail lines. The communities of Casino, Lismore, Ballina, Murwillumbah & Newcastle will join groups from around the state. Rally will meet at Circular Quay at 12:15, move off at 12:30 and walk to the Ministry of Transport at Macquarie Towers, 1 Farrer Place, in Elizabeth Street. At Farrer Place from about 13:00, speakers will {address} the crowd... Delegations will meet with Transport Services Minister Costa and Planning and Infrastructure Minister Craig Knowles, or their representatives if the Ministers are unavailable. Members of Save Our Rail Newcastle will protest the proposed cutting of the Sydney-Newcastle and Hunter Valley-Maitland-Newcastle intercity rail line at Broadmeadow. [UN-QUOTE] It then refers to the cutting the Murwillumbah XPT   [QUOTE] The Mur'bah XPT is only the first to go. Leaks from rail staff tell that all XPT / Xplorer services will be terminated by the end of the year. Travel any which way you can to the rally. [UN-QUOTE]"