Representatives from Moree Plains Shire Council, Transport for NSW TrainLink and community members gathered at the station on Friday, November 23 to mark 25 years since the Xplorer passenger train commenced its service to Moree.

The previous Moree passenger train service was withdrawn in 1990, before the new, current service commenced on November 23, 1993.

“It’s 25 years since Moree town has had rail passenger services reinstated,” Moree Railway Station manager Keith Ostler said.

Among the attendees at the celebration was Moree elder Lloyd Benge, a retired employee of the Moree Railway service.

Mr Benge did the Welcome to Country during the short service before Moree Plains Shire councillor Jim Crawford and NSW TrainLink area manager Robert Blanch spoke.

With plenty of tourists visiting Moree throughout the year to swim in the hot artesian pools, Mr Ostler said passenger numbers remain strong for the rail service.

In addition to the Moree-Sydney and Moree-Grafton passenger rail service, Transport for NSW is currently also trialling a number of other services to connect passengers to regional areas.

A trial is underway for a coach service between Tamworth and Dubbo and Tamworth and Port Macquarie, which Moree passengers can access by catching the train to Gunnedah.

From Dubbo, passengers then have access to a range of towns throughout the central and far west including Orange, Bathurst, Bourke, Broken Hill and more.

“For a long time if you lived in Tamworth and had to get to Dubbo, you’d have to go to Sydney first,” Mr Ostler said.

Transport for NSW has also begun the On Demand public transport trial in Moree, providing a whole new level of choice and flexibility for regional transport customers.

The Moree to Sydney passenger rail service departs Moree at 8.05am Monday to Friday and arrives at Sydney (Central) at 4.39pm. On Saturday and Sunday it departs at 8.05am, arriving in Sydney at 4.45pm.

The Sydney to Moree service departs Central at 9.30am daily and arrives in Moree at 6pm.