In a letter to the Mercury, 17-year-old Emma Prior said the plan to close the line between Wickham and Newcastle stations from Boxing Day could cost teenagers from the greater Hunter their social lives.

It would especially affect those without a driver’s licence or vehicle.

“I will be absolutely devastated if the Newcastle train line is cut as it is my only way to get in and out of the city,” she said. 

“I am consistently on the train because of my studies and social life. I do have my learner’s driver’s licence but driving my mum’s car into the city scares me because if I crash her car, she has nothing.”

Ms Prior, who is studying business at TAFE, says many of her teenage memories involve rail travel.

“Around the age of 15 I used to get on the train with my friends and we had packed picnic lunches or had money for lunch, body boards, towels, swimmers, and headed to Nobbys Beach,” she said.

“Then, as we called it, we’d do a beach crawl to Newcastle Beach, including stops at the baths and toddler pool, then walk through the mall back to Newcastle train station and go home. 

“We loved it and we felt free. No parents, no grown-ups. We had fun and created loads of memories.

“If they cut this train line, I feel as I’m losing out; not only me, but the younger generation and other people too.

“My gut drops and my heart hurts when I hear about the Newcastle train line being cut and I’m really passionate about keeping it.”