“ONE small step for the present, one giant leap for the future of Bathurst.”

Rail Action Bathurst chairman John Hollis yesterday echoed the sentiment of the first moon landing when the highly-awaited timetable for the Bathurst Bullet was released by CityRail.

“That’s the way I feel about it. This a tremendous day for Bathurst,” Mr Hollis said. “We’re delighted with the time-table. It’s essentially everything we’ve been looking for.”

The return passenger rail service, to operate seven days, will have just six stops plus the option of stopping at Bell on demand only. 

In an effort to decrease travel time, it will set down only at Parramatta, Penrith and Springwood; on the return trip, it will pick up only at those stations.

During the week, the train will leave Bathurst at 5.48am and arrive at Central Station at 9.25am. It will begin the return journey from Central at 5.55pm, arriving in Bathurst at 9.38pm.

It’s a slightly later start on the weekends, leaving Bathurst at 7.28am to arrive in the heart of Sydney at 11.06am. The train will then leave Central at 5.50pm and arrive home at 9.30pm.

Mr Hollis said the timetable satisfied the requests of the local rail action group, adding that it fit in well with Bathurst Regional Council’s 2036 Strategic Plan.

“It’s going to give a very good feature for the city for the future to investors and residents,” he said. “The initial thing was to establish the service.

“The service has now been delivered; now the community needs to support it.”

The two-carriage refurbished Endeavour will cater for 190 people. It will be launched on Sunday, October 21.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said he expected the service would be used by passengers travelling to Sydney for recreational reasons, medical needs and group excursions.

“To have the timetable officially released in the lead-up to the October date is really exciting,” Mr Toole said yesterday. “After hearing Labor say for 16 years that it wasn’t going to happen, I’m pleased to be a part of a government that has delivered on its promise within 18 months.

“There has been a lot of years of hard work leading up to the announcement, made three months ago by the premier and minister. We’re absolutely thrilled to see it come to fruition.”

Mr Toole said CityRail’s Family Fun Day would now be extended to include the Bathurst Bullet. It means that for $2.50 per person, families can enjoy a day out anywhere in greater Sydney with unlimited travel on all trains, buses, ferries and light rail.

“Our city counterparts have had that service for a long time,” he said. “Whatever benefits you get on CityRail, you now get in Bathurst with this service.”

He added that the pricing was “very cost effective”. Tickets will cost $11.40 for an adult, $2.50 for a pensioner, $5.70 for children and $8.20 for a student.

Margaret Hollis from Rail Action Bathurst  made special mention of Beryl and Max Turnbull, who were “the driving force of the original campaign for the train going back almost two decades”.

View the timetable at www.cityrail.info and select Blue Mountains Line or pick up a copy at Bathurst Railway Station.