Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Stage 1 of the New England Rail Trail is (almost) a go after recently receiving nearly $9 million in funding.

Currently the major hold up is that an act of NSW parliament is required to close the rail corridor and transfer ownership from Transport NSW to Crown Lands.

The capital cost of $2.5M per km for reinstating rail services (compared to $234,000 per km for a rail trail), and maintenance costs of $25,000 per km per annum (compared to $1,502 per km per annum for a rail trail).

Additionally, it has been calculated the New England Rail Trail will attract 15,000 new day visits and 14,000 new overnight stays to the region annually, as well as being used by around 37,000 local residents. This will generate more than $5.8M of additional visitor expenditure each year and 26 full time jobs

So federal money goes to support this completely and utterly ridiculous Fail Trail.

If the region wants the population to grow then public transport needs to improve. Buses are hopeless if you are infirm or disabled.

The tourism industry has been wrecked by COVID and when restrictions ease there will be a dash for overseas.

Any tourism needs the Heritage trains. Steam loco 3801 visited Tamworth and brought more tourists in one day than a decade from a fail trail, and Lachlan Valley Tram brought 200 travellers to Walcha. Victoria vintage trains pull huge crowds.

Fail trails appeal to a niche elite that may bring a few cafe or motel cleaning jobs.

Trains mean engineering careers and skilled work viz; Puffing Billy rebuilding and converting locos.

familyguy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:41 am

Good stuff. I know quite a few people who will go. If it was a train, then nobody I know is interested. And this includes a few ex-engineering types who this letter-writer sees as their target.

I think there should be a rule for newspapers: if a writer refers to something in jingoistic slogans (i.e. fail trail) then your letter is not published.

g-boaf wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 2:39 pm

familyguy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:41 am

Good stuff. I know quite a few people who will go. If it was a train, then nobody I know is interested. And this includes a few ex-engineering types who this letter-writer sees as their target.

I think there should be a rule for newspapers: if a writer refers to something in jingoistic slogans (i.e. fail trail) then your letter is not published.

Problem is old trains are costly and old-train preservation groups have a habit of nasty infighting among each other. The rail-trail is a much safer option, it's likely to remain for longer.

An old steam-train is just as likely to be scrapped.

Gorilla Too wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 5:56 pm

g-boaf wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 2:39 pm

familyguy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:41 am

Good stuff. I know quite a few people who will go. If it was a train, then nobody I know is interested. And this includes a few ex-engineering types who this letter-writer sees as their target.

I think there should be a rule for newspapers: if a writer refers to something in jingoistic slogans (i.e. fail trail) then your letter is not published.

Problem is old trains are costly and old-train preservation groups have a habit of nasty infighting among each other. The rail-trail is a much safer option, it's likely to remain for longer.

An old steam-train is just as likely to be scrapped.

Nor are old steam trains (or any steam trains for that matter) environmentally friendly.

ldrcycles wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:04 pm

It's not as though it's a startling new and untested idea, all they have to do is look at the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, any way you look at it the trail is a huge success. Multiple businesses in each town along the route have started purely because of the trail, and many existing businesses are thriving from the flow of money.

familyguy wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:41 am

Good stuff. I know quite a few people who will go. If it was a train, then nobody I know is interested. And this includes a few ex-engineering types who this letter-writer sees as their target.

I think there should be a rule for newspapers: if a writer refers to something in jingoistic slogans (i.e. fail trail) then your letter is not published.

JPB wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:16 pm

I truly hope to be able to ride the rail trail when it opens. That kind of riding would be my dream holiday and my wife and one of her friends also are talking of doing something like that next year.

But I also have to say that steam trains are works of art and beautiful creations. To be in the presence of one while it is "alive" is an awesome experience and they do feel like they have life. They are an endangered species and need some remnants of their environment retained so they can stretch their legs and run.