Rail Action Bathurst’s John Hollis said the service is continuing to grow with more than 25,000 people taking advantage of travelling on the train in the first year of operation, and even more using the service in its second year. 

“The daily return service has proved to be an outstanding asset for the Bathurst region,” Mr Hollis said.

The Bathurst Bullet was introduced in October 2012 as a daily return service after the community called for a better connection between Bathurst and Sydney.

Mr Hollis said daily averages for the four months from June to September this year have been 65 people per day.

He said the express train ran with four carriages during the Royal Easter Show and, with a stop at Lidcombe, this proved very successful. 

Mr Hollis said he has been receiving very good feedback on the service.

“The enthusiasm hasn’t died down at all,” he said. “On June 18, 163 people took the train out of Bathurst, while on six days out of the last four weeks we had more than 100 passengers.

“Other days recorded numbers in the high 90s.

“The train continues to attract passengers from other regions such as Cowra, Grenfell, Orange and Gilgandra, and the passengers from Lithgow just love it.”

Mr Hollis said the service is unique for the outer city network in that passengers travel all the way to the city without the need to change trains.

He added that improvements to parking at the station are planned, and it looks like the derelict cottage at the road entrance to the station will be restored.

The train runs seven days a week between Bathurst and Sydney return, stopping at six stops, as well as the option of stopping at Bell on customer demand. The two-car Endeavour train has 170 seats, toilet facilities, a dedicated area for luggage and a quiet carriage. An adult return ticket to Sydney on the Bathurst Bullet costs $11.80, pensioners $2.50, children $5.90 and students $8.60.