Comment piece calls on NSW Government and ALP opposition to commit to regional rail

https://theconversation.com/lets-get-moving-with-the-affordable-medium-speed-alternatives-to-the-old-dream-of-high-speed-rail-95854? 

Will the new trains be any faster than the current 90 minutes for Sydney to Wollongong

trains that was achieved by express steam trains in the past?

Train services need improving

At a Neighbourhood Forum 3 Meeting held 20th January at Thirroul, a call was made for every second fast train in morning and evening peak hours to stop at Austinmer and/or Bulli. This would be to resolve a chronic over-parking situation at Thirroul caused by the 2013 timetable. The meeting also called for more trains, including one from Central to Wollongong at about 3 pm on weekdays. 

During weekday off peak times, there is a Newcastle to Sydney train every half hour, whilst to and from Wollongong they tend to be every half hour.

Infrastructure NSW in a 2012 report gave a target time of one hour for Wollongong Sydney trains. This would require an average speed of 83 km per hour, which has been achieved for Mandurah Perth trains for over 7 years now.  Currently, Wollongong Sydney trains average only about 55 km per hour. They need speeding up.