THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT CHANGE IN RURAL NEW SOUTH WALES

Abstract

Policies of deregulation, privatisation and, especially, rationalisation are being increasingly adopted as mechanisms for a competitive and more market oriented approach to transport supply, particularly in rural areas. Nowhere is this more evident than in the state of New South Wales (NSW) where there has occurred deregulation of the long distance bus industry, deregulation of the freight transport industry, rationalisation of rural public transport services and, through national efforts, deregulation of the grain storage, handling and transport system. Over the past several years, rationalisation of rural public transport services in NSW has accelerated in response to deregulation of the long distance bus industry in 1988 and attempts by State Rail (SR) to reduce debt and inefficiency following the landmark Booz-Allen and Hamilton report in 1989. The process has generally involved rail station closures, withdrawal of rail passenger services, and substitution of rail passenger services in rural areas for road coach services to form the 'Countrylink' network. Decisions on rationalisation of rural public transport services in NSW have generally been motivated by supply side considerations. The wider ramifications of rationalisation decisions, particularly for rural communities, has not been part of the policy debate. The aim of this paper is to examine the impacts of rationalisation decisions which have resulted from the substitution of road coach for rail passenger services. Specifically, the focus is to assess the spatial travel behaviour and related economic consequences of service substitution on residents and businesses in case study communities along the former Barraba to Tamworth rail branch line, which now forms a part of the Inverell to Tamworth Countrylink route in northern NSW.