Jack Arnold writes that the closure of Ben Lomond Public School is a sad event that is part of trend found in other placed where government investment is absent.
Rail Trail
Posted inLetters
Letter: Railway renewal as political spending equity
I refer to the Siri Gamage article; Merits of Regional Rail Renewal vs a Rail Trail: Failures of Decision-Making in New England (14 November 2025). I continue to be amazed by the antics of the elected Armidale Regional Council (ARC) Councillors spending up big on developing a ”bike path to nowhere to see nothing” at […]
Posted inLetters
Letter: Trains North’s current petition re rail
John Burrell from Armidale writes that the Trains North petition to reopen the railway north of Armidale is misguided – the line is derelict, bridges collapsed and sections lost to highway upgrades. He argues the region should instead focus on securing its Sydney service.
Posted inSocial
Merits of Regional Rail Renewal vs a Rail Trail: Failures of Decision-Making in New England
Train advocate Siri Gamage says we are stuck between a rock and a hard place: dependent on governments to meet our transport needs, yet repeatedly let down by their inaction.
Posted inLetters
Letter: Rail trail a chance for community unity?
Scott Harrison writes it’s important for those who oppose the rail trail and want to use the rail corridor for something else, to come to the table with a cohesive plan as to what that actually is.
Posted inLetters
Letter: Alarm Bells Over Armidale Council’s Rail Trail Decision
Siri Gamage writer the rail trail should be built along side the existing rail corridor.
Posted inPolitical
Rail trail. Episode 10. The saga continues.
Tanya Langdon asks why Armidale Regional Council and Glen Innes Severn Council are continuing to flog the dead horse of the rail trail.
Posted inSocial
Letter: Is Armidale Regional Council getting the bum steer?
Rick Banyard writes he finds this proposal to tear up our rail tracks to make very costly Rail Trails very confronting.
Posted inLetters
Letter: Critical Questions for the GM, ARC About His Rail Trail Plans
Recently Armidale Regional Council (ARC) General Manager James Roncon stated that he wants to “get the rail trail back on track.” In light of this, there are a number of important questions that need to be asked of the General Manager: Expenditure of Ratepayers’ Funds How much ratepayers’ money has been spent to date on […]
Posted inRegional
No Mayor Banham, you’re not a train expert
Rail expert Brian Fisher says the cost of reopening the train line from Armidale to Wallangarra is $54m, not the $1.5b claimed by the Glen Innes Severn Mayor.