The 1.30pm protest rally saw a large crowd gather at the station to learn more about what is proposed for Taree in the NSW TrainLink review of regional services. The rally allowed Rail, Train and Bus Union representative Alex Claassens to detail the proposed changes and members of the public to address the crowd, including Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor Alan Tickle, Wendy McKeough OAM and Greens candidate for the Lyne electorate, Julie Lyford. The weekend edition of the Manning River Times will provide full coverage of the protest rally.

Watching and listening to the speakers was Pat Welna of Cundletown and Joan Lawler of Wingham.

Pat is 72 years old and about four times a year she comes to Taree Railway Station to book a ticket that will take her to Penrith for a specialist appointment.

She knows the NSW government wants her to book online, to not use the staff located at Taree Railway Station but she says right now she can't book through to Penrith because the system doesn't allow it. "The girls can book me through to Penrith and their customer service is wonderful," she said.

Pat's trips from Taree for her medical appointments always require her to use the 1.30am service.

"The 1.30am service is the one I use all the time because I'm at the Penrith specialist by 8.30am and then I'm back on the train again and I get into Taree around 11.40pm. It's a big day," Pat said.

Currently staff are at the station to handle and book luggage for the 1.30am service and provide a measure of security for customers. However, the NSW government in its review of regional services is proposing to cut the hours staff are at the station and it would mean no customer service for passengers travelling after 9.30pm.

It is a change that Pat does not want and she intends to fight to make sure no changes are made to station operating hours and staffing.

"You feel safe knowing that someone is there. CCTV and customer help points are no good if you need help. In no way do those measures reassure me, really, what are they going to do if I need help?

"I just don't think it is fair. It's the only public transport service we have and the government doesn't do anything else for us in the country.

"Why try to fix it if it's not broken?

"If I didn't have this service, I wouldn't drive to Sydney, I just wouldn't go."

Joan Lawler is passionate in her conviction to fight the proposed changes and says "if they take it from here we have got nothing. It's wrong and it's going backwards and we will fight it.

"They (NSW government) took the trains from Wingham 20-odd years ago but we've still got it here and we need to fight to keep it.

"Mr Bromhead (member for Myall Lakes) doesn't care and it's not good enough for this area, it's a beautiful area and we have not got the services that we should have.

"The staff are necessary and the hours the station are open should stay the same.

"I was not surprised by the number of people who turned up today, I was hoping there would be more. This is important and we will fight it."