Pete Allaway, acting CEO of Trains NSW, broke his journey in Coota and spoke enthusiastically about his vision for more and better trains for country NSW, in particular looking forward to brand new locos and carriages for the XPT, the Explorers and the Endeavours expected to start running in 2023.

The new service leaves Coota at 10.43am on Thursdays, arriving in Sydney at 4.15pm, which for many people will prove a more convenient time than the XPT getting in around 8pm.

It's the same two-carriage train that beetles through Coota on Saturdays and comes back again Sundays - now it makes the journey twice a week, additionally leaving Sydney Wednesdays and coming back Thursdays.

This gives Griffith people the opportunity to make a trip to Sydney and come back only three days later, instead of having to wait a whole week for the next train.

Mr Allaway, who was with London Trains for 20 years before joining Trainlink seven years ago, is keen to see more "hub and spoke" use of the NSW train network with feeder buses bringing passengers to stations from surrounding towns and villages.

This seemed to be borne out by passengers who spoke with The Herald yesterday, most of whom came from other towns - and most of whom were also surprised to learn this was the first service at this time.

Anna Ponce, a cheerful Philippina who has been on a work visa as a nurse in Grenfell, has a six-month Discovery Pass which she uses regularly to get around by train.

She didn't feel like driving to Sydney, and was happy when she searched on her mobile to find a train leaving Coota mid-morning, so much better than the midnight XPT she has caught previously.

Jamie Bourke, of Young, was heading to Goulburn and was dropped off at the station by his mum and dad, Errol and Janet, who lived in Coota for many years where Errol worked in the railways.