Next Friday, on December 26, work will begin to cut the line at Wickham, replacing the service with buses and opening up to developers the rail corridor to Newcastle Station.

Last weekend, about 3000 people representing more than a dozen community groups gathered at Pacific Park on the Newcastle foreshore before making their way to Civic Park to hear from speakers trying to stop the closure of the line.

Muswellbrook Shire mayor and Country Labor candidate for Upper Hunter Martin Rush addressed the rally.

“The impact of the cut will be hardest felt by the elderly, young people, people with a disability and others experiencing transport disadvantage,” he said.

“A large number of people from the Upper Hunter use the train to travel into the CBD for work, education and medical and legal appointments.”

Upper Hunter Greens’ candidate John Kaye also attended the public forum in Newcastle and said the service was important to regional commuters.

“This decision to cut the line is not in the public interest [and] it is not about transport, it is about selling public assets to private developers,” he said.

Nationals’ candidate for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said he was not invited to the rally but concedes he has some reservations.

“I would have preferred the light rail to be well and truly under construction before the rail line was cut, however, the Premier and the transport minister have made it very clear that this change is going to occur,” Mr Johnsen said.

“I think as long as there are more than enough appropriate bus services at appropriate times to meet everyone’s needs then we might find the buses actually provide more stops.”

Mr Johnsen said up to 40 people have made their concerns about the truncation of the rail line known to him over a period of time and he understands those concerns.

While he said he is yet to write to transport minister Gladys Berejiklian about the issue, he intends to do so in the coming days.