<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> VIEWPOINT: All of the spin in the world canât cover up the fact that one of Australiaâs largest cities will lose its direct rail link with Sydney in a few monthsâ time, as Australia once again tries to swim against the tide of global urban passenger transport policy, writes Mark Carter. </span> <div>It hardly seems conceivable that Australia’s seventh largest conurbation (Newcastle-Maitland)with a population of around 425,000 will soon see its direct heavy rail link from the CBD to the Sydney CBD removed and replaced with a dodgy bus connection to a new rail hub in the suburb of Wickham. 
