The NSW Nationals have endorsed the reinstatement of the passenger train service to Cessnock, putting more pressure on the government to act on the issue.
A motion put to the party's annual conference in Albury last week said Cessnock was one of the state's fastest-growing regional centres.
"Yet outside a bus service - or for those who wish to risk a very expensive Uber ride - there is no other form of public transport to service the needs of over 70,000 residents," the motion said.
The area's population is expected to reach 115,000 people by 2046.
"It is anticipated that a train service will be on par with driving, taking less than an hour for people to get into Newcastle," the motion said.
"A train to Cessnock will be a competitive game changer, especially for regional youth."
The powerful Rail, Tram and Bus Union will also put a motion to next month's state Labor Party conference calling on the government to commit to reintroducing passenger services on the line.
The push to bring back a passenger train service to Cessnock is likely to feature prominently in next year's state election.
Reintroducing passenger train services to the South Maitland Rail Corridor at an estimated cost of $200 million was recently described during an Engineers Australia forum as "the best value rail project in Australia".
Bill Palazzi, one of the organisers of the Train to Cessnock community campaign, told the forum that a regular Coalfield passenger service would serve more than 65,000 people and form the spine of an integrated regional transport network.
"The Cessnock local government area is highlighted as one of regional NSW's fastest-growing areas, with severe transport challenges - 97 per cent of trips made by private car, chronic congestion, and limited public transport options," Mr Palazzi said.
"With the forecast growth, and in the absence of any action, these problems will get substantially worse."
It is estimated that it would take 49 minutes to travel from Cessnock to Newcastle on the train, a figure comparable to driving off-peak.
"But it would be far quicker than driving times in peak periods, and far quicker than the limited existing public transport options," Mr Palazzi said.
The South Maitland Rail Corridor was built in 1893 and passes through rapidly growing communities, including Gillieston Heights, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain, Neath, Kearsley and Bellbird.
Passenger trains operated on the line until 1972.
The privately-owned 30-kilometre line was used by coal trains until 2020.
The Train to Cessnock campaign and other groups across the region are pushing for a feasibility study into reopening the line to passenger services.
This would include refurbishing stations, upgrading the track, installing modern signalling and level crossing protections.
Mr Palazzi has argued that five trains from the Endeavour fleet, which are due to be retired from the regional network fleet in 2028-29, should be refurbished for use on the Cessnock line.
The service would operate every hour, with half-hourly peak service.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said the Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (October 2025) outlined a long-term pipeline of rail initiatives for the region, including the development of a Hunter Rail Strategy.
"Decisions about future services and rolling stock, including the use or retirement of existing fleets, would be informed by this work and any future government decisions," he said.
Mr Palazzi told Engineers Australia that operations could be re-established without any need for land or housing acquisition and with limited community disruption from construction works.
Future opportunities include additional stations, heritage rail operations, and potential extensions toward Millfield.
"The potential benefits include those for residents (access to work, education, health and leisure options) as well as for inbound users visiting friends and relatives plus supporting tourism to vineyards, concerts and other events," he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed in May he had spoken to Cessnock MP Clayton Barr about plans to return passenger train services to the Coalfields.
"Clayton Barr's raised it with me, and I know that there could potentially be an opportunity with some changes to the ownership (to the existing coal train line)," he said.
"We will look at transport infrastructure for one of the fastest-growing communities in the country and have more to say about it as we get closer to the election campaign."
