There’s little to no true economic benefits, and the costs would be exorbitant.
The difference in gauges at the border (as others have said) would be an almost insurmountable problem – and certainly not one that QLD would help us solve. A 3rd line is a nice idea, but who pays for that? NSW and QLD are separate states with separate transport funding and harmonisation isn’t currently a QLD priority for the lines from Wallangarra. All freight would most likely have to (like passengers do) swap trains at the border, thus backing them freight up, and due to this trucks would ultimately be used anyway/instead. Livestock transport also isn’t practically viable for most businesses via train due to the lack of holding yards, ramps, etc.
Not to mention the biggest issue – the costs of re-assessing and rebuilding all the hand-done masonry of the culverts, fallen bridges, etc. under modern labour regulations which didn’t exist when the lines were originally constructed. The cement is crumbling between the bricks that are falling out and everything would need to be rebuilt from scratch under modern wage awards.
Let alone the tree lopping! The lines (and access tracks) are covered by regrowth particularly on Bolivia Hill.
And let’s not forget environmental impact studies, endangered animals and plants we’d have to work around, etc.
Again these legal requirements didn’t exist when the lines were originally constructed.
Then on top of all that there’s the cost of locomotive engines, carriages (plus maintenance) and what about the staff to drive them? TfNSW has so much trouble staffing Sydney trains as is and they actually have an economic benefit whereas our lines would not.
The whole idea is a pipe dream, dreamt up by those who have continually refused online to provide answers for these practical issues outside of “where there’s a will there’s a way” which is an asinine answer at best.
Nobody with any understanding of what the whole endeavour would fully entail supports the idea, because of all the reasons I’ve outlined above and more.
Even if the trains came back, they’d run at a loss and not solve the freight issues. We’re better off advocating for better bus services using the existing roads, as well as funding for more intense regular roadworks to shore up the New England Highway volume capacity.
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.
Proof? Where is the references and costing to these claims?
Liz Wharton’s article reads like how not to do something rather than how to do it? While I recognise the importance of some of the points raised in terms of costs of reconstructing the rail line along with bridges and culverts etc. why is it considered that a regional rail line cannot be restored and millions of money can be poured to New England highway to transport freights? She seems to have no idea about how to estimate the costs? On the otherhand, New England railway Inc(NERi) has estimated the costs after a study of the condition of rail line by engaging professionals last year. It has plans to operate heritage trains initially to Tamworth and later to areas north of Armidale. Furthermore NSW government does not build railways on its own anymore. It uses a method called PPP(Public private partnership) even in Sydney. So this question about who pays is invalid. Liz also says that even if the rail line is restored it will run at a loss. How does she know this? Minister for regional transport has initiated a planning process to identify transport needs in New England and prepare a plan early in 2026. people are asked to send feedback. Depending on the outcome, whether the NSW govt will include restoration of northern rail line will materialise. You can access the site by Googling Strategic Regional Transport Plan -New England.
If finding less than 10 staff to run trains north of Armidale is a difficult issue for the NSW government, what kind of government is it? Do you know how many staff are there in Transport for NSW,the entity that is responsible for transport? We need more staff on the ground than in offices for operational matters. Shortages of drivers are more acute to drive buses,isnt it?
Buses have a place in transport. I do not deny it. Until the rail line is restored, buses should be deployed to run between Tenterfield/Wallangarra,Glen Innes and Armidale. or indeed to connect other towns. We also need a second train to Sydney and a shuttle between Tamworth and Armidale especially now that UNE is esablishing a campus in Tamworth.
The only way we can know for sure the feasibility of northern rail line beyond Armidale is to conduct a feasibility study and a business case. This is exactly what the minister wants after we submitted a community opetition with over 10,000 signatures to the NSW parliament late in 2023. But it costs a lot of money. Unless our councils come on board or a private company helps, a community organisation cannot afford it. Alternatively, the federal govt can help us(Barnaby, here is an idea for you for relevance).
Being one sided and pessimistic as Liz will not help to have a conversation about transport needs in New England. As more and more people are moving here from coastal areas and metropolitan areas, we need to think ahead not only about transport but also about housing, water, education and food production.
Liz Wharton I guess you failed economics 101 Liz and have no idea about how economies work or grow.
Cost of living crisis you say, housing crisis, little towns that just can’t grow and never have any real money around.
Couldn’t agree more. Reopening the rail makes absolutely no sense. The infrastructure is gone. It’s time to move on from the argument and just accept that it won’t happen.
A point that has also been missed is that the fires between Stanthorpe and wallangarra ruined the infrastructure on that side of the border so there’s nothing to connect to.
The roads are crap but the solution is not rail between Armidale and Queensland.