Before supporting the Trains North petition to the NSW Legislative Assembly about reopening the former railway north of Armidale, residents should consider the facts. The petition contains serious errors and omissions.
The track is in a derelict state. Much of it dates from the nineteenth century, with bridges and culverts collapsing and sections now covered by the New England Highway. There is no realistic prospect of trains ever returning to this route.
If people want heritage trains, these can already run on the well-maintained line between Armidale and Werris Creek, which regularly hosts such services. Freight has not reached Armidale for over twenty years, and the State Government has instead invested heavily in the Tamworth intermodal terminal.
A more worthwhile cause would be securing Armidale’s daily passenger service to Sydney. Although new regional train sets are arriving in NSW, there is no guarantee they will extend to Armidale. Retaining this vital connection should be the region’s priority.
The Federal Government’s inland rail will follow the western route via Moree, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba, more than 100 kilometres of which are already upgraded to mainline standard. It will never pass through Armidale. Queensland, meanwhile, has permanently closed the Stanthorpe–Wallangarra line after bushfires burned out bridges and culverts along the line.
It is time to focus on protecting viable rail services, not attempting to revive a line that ceased any practical use generations ago.
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