The lobby group Infrastructure Partnerships Australia presented a report to the Government earlier this week, recommending the franchising of RailCorp assets, including CountryLink and some CityRail lines, to private investors.

“Last year, taxpayers were slugged $2.5 billion to operate the state’s rail network, with only 20 per cent of each passenger journey covered by the cost of the ticket,” IPA CEO Brendan Lyon said. “That means that every time a commuter stepped on a train, it cost taxpayers $9.45.

“With NSW facing budgetary pressures, the Government needs to consider reforms that will drive efficiency gains and lower the burden on taxpayers.”

The report targeted CountryLink as one of the first assets to be franchised under the plan, whereby the state would continue to own the rail network but would confer servicing duties, including maintenance and operation, to private investors.

It compared the regional rail service to interurban railways in North America and Europe which had been successfully franchised.

But Mr Torbay rejected those comparisons and stressed the importance of CountryLink’s public service role.

“It’s like comparing apples with rocks; whether it’s the population density figures, passenger numbers or even the georgraphical area covered, there’s nothing consistent about these comparisons with CountryLink,” he said.

“Privatisation invariably means higher fares and cuts to routes and services, since private owners operate purely for profit, not public benefit.”

The independent MP referred to 2003 protests in Armidale against the cancellation of the local rail service as an example of the community’s interest in CountryLink.