NSW releases draft plan with 60+ transport projects to cut fatality rates and boost rail, including potential Orange rail extension and shuttle service options.

A draft transport plan released on November 6, 2025, for NSW’s Central West outlines over 60 initiatives to tackle a road fatality rate three times the state average and improve flood-prone roads and rail links. It includes exploring a stabling yard in Orange to enable overnight train parking, supporting more frequent rail services between major regional centers and Sydney as part of the new Regional Rail Fleet rollout. While NSW Minister Jenny Aitchison confirmed a $2 million commitment to assess extending rail to Orange, local advocates like John Hollis support renovating older trains for shuttle services instead of extending the Bathurst Bullet, proposing up to five daily trips via Lithgow while preserving direct service.