Wagga councillor Vanessa Keenan’s proposal to run a daily commuter train to Albury and back, generated significant interest from both cities last year. 

A Daily Advertiser poll of 1124 residents later revealed more than 20 per cent of those surveyed would catch the train daily and close to 30 per cent would commute once or twice every month. 

But instead of an additional carriage service on the train line, Wagga may have the option of catching a coach between the two centres. 

The trial would run alongside the XPT train – providing an alternative to the train’s odd hours of departure and return, which have proven less than ideal for commuters.

Wagga residents have been invited to discuss the proposed shuttle service at two community information sessions on Friday.

A TrainLink spokesman said it wanted to know whether the coach would be welcomed, how often commuters would want it run and what days and times would be most convenient.

The first session will be held at Wagga Marketplace – outside Suzanne Grae – from 11am until 2pm and the second will follow at the Cork and Fork Festival from 5.30pm. 

“This is just the beginning,” the spokesman said. “We want to hear what the community wants … starting with these drop-in sessions.”

Following community consultation, the spokesperson said the bus service would run as a trial operation. 

While Albury councillor Cr Henk van de Ven said he personally thought it was a step in the right direction, Wagga councillor Keenan said it was a good idea for shoppers and residents travelling for medical appointments or social visits, but it failed to address a push for greater industry development. 

“I put forward a proposal last year to improve rail connections between the two centres,” Cr Keenan said.

“We’re talking about creating an economic driver for business and industry as a result of regular rail connections.” 

Cr Keenan said she had received overwhelming support for the additional carriage service and urged those residents to now attend the drop-in sessions to show demand for adequate rail services.

“Would you catch a bus?” she said. “None of us really would.”