Bringing the Train back

Bringing the Train back

[@alistairparr5804]

I live 100 metres away from Murwillumbah station and it pisses me off that there's no longer a rail service to this town anymore. It's a major regional town and it's absolutely insane that Murwillumbah doesn't have a railway service... Not only that, the line services so many other towns as well...

[@mr606neil]

The state of our political system where it is right now Federally and Statewise is disgusting. All over the world, train tracks are being relaid and being fully supported by their travelling public. The beautiful Border region deserves it's own rail.

[@aussie963]

Politicians never question the cost of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong rail

[@mrbillhilly343]

Access to transportation is the single-most important factor in an individual's ability to escape poverty.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

Absolutely!

[@matthewwalker6590]

Thank you so much for this video. It really makes me so angry to this day and why our regional rail has reduced to almost nothing. I think one the problems was the lack of education about railways and trains in schools, I know this because I was the only student at my school that had an interest in rail with around 1000 or more other students. The Pacific Highway upgrade in recent decades was an indication of our pollies having no interest in rail as they are more interested in their cars because they would to travel in privacy. Also, no passsenger rail means it's an enormous disadvantage on the disabled because I have Asperger's Syndrome and can't drive a car for long distances because it requires a lot of concentration and I have difficulties judging distance when it comes to lane changing. Also, while I don't mind the buses, however, I remember a long time ago I was travelling in one on a journey of around 800 km and it was really uncomfortable and I even got sick on one journey. The European countries of Cyprus, Malta and Iceland lost their passenger rail as it was not economically reliable, I don't want Australia to follow in their footsteps. I want NSW to get their rural rail back as much as possible, even if the cost is against it.

[@carisi2k11]

Have you tried a bus? The motorways were built after the big accidents at Kempsey and Grafton. The locals called for better roads after this and that is what they got. The solar trains shows some possibility of a local service returning one day but the XPT or new regional train will not be servicing that line and freight is all by truck these days.

[@zxatl2003]

Trains and railways should be supported and subsidized in the same way roads and airports have public support. It would be a beautiful scenic railway and a tourist attraction. It could also haul some freight if needed.

[@robertchinnock8017]

The line should be re opened and put thru to the gold Coast since roma st station is going to be pulled down and made into a underground station..

[@davidmccarthy6390]

yes, but it must have a station at the international airport, that is vital.

[@neilforbes416]

The NSW State Government of Gladys Berejiklian deserves to be thrown out of office and into prison for the wanton vandalism they've inflicted on our state railway system, and not *JUST* Berejiklian, but previous Premiers of NSW as well, both Liberal *AND* Labor have contributed to the deterioration of the NSW State Railway network!

[@maxlaw7039]

The closing of railway lines seems to have started mid 1970's.Trains do not provide the revenue that road vehicles does and this is what Governments are after and not what the people may want

[@susanrutherford866]

Good news gladys is gone !!!

[@neilforbes416]

@@susanrutherford866 You're a teeny bit late on that one, Gladys Bere-JOKE-lian resigned late last year. Pity it was a resignation though, she should *not* have had such an easy exit. Hers should've been the ignominious exit of being *SACKED!*

[@susanrutherford866]

@@neilforbes416 totally agree with you there !!!

[@neilforbes416]

@@susanrutherford866 Thank you.

[@lukemckelvey5996]

Absolutely EXCELLENT!!! This is why I moved back to the area after growing up here!

[@f.7838]

A train going only from Murwillumbah to Sydney wouldn't get enough passengers, and a commuter train groing from Casino to Gold Coast/Brisbane would never be funded because of competing state governments. Oh the joys of living by the border

[@davidmccarthy6390]

That is why you appeal to their wallets by proposing a connection of that line to the GC airport, which is international. And add freight to that and suddenly it becomes viable and something the snakes on both sides of the border can get behind.

[@neilforbes416]

Rail Motor Pair 621(powered half) & 721(Trailer half) are part of the collection of the *Rail Motor Society* based at Paterson NSW.

[@pearlbayud5180]

I was actually only last year looking if the train line was still open to put my car on like it was before... and wow closed line for many years... I remember traveling this line as a child and it was amazing in the sleeper and I really hope the line is re opened...

[@2001cavador]

You can thank Nick grieners axing of the regional services that there is now no trains to Murwillumbah and no trains to Mudgee

[@davidmccarthy6390]

way back when you could catch a train to Dubbo that went through mudgee. I was lucky enough to ride that line before they closed it, and it's a very scenic trip. Never understood them shafting Mudgee like that, it certainly stunted the growth of that city big time.

[@Bernie5172]

Great movie Neale

[@neilforbes416]

25:20 CPH-class *Tin Hare* Rail Motors(Service years 1923 to 1985) are also a part of the *Rail Motor Society* collection at Paterson NSW. These two are CPH1 and CPH7.

[@neilforbes416]

And in the past few years, CPH 3 has been restored and added to the fleet.

[@wezza60]

Well said, Railways in Australia are disgusting compared to world standards.

[@dyllonfoley6831]

I have met hordes of international tourists who regularly visit the Tweed/Northern Rivers. They all love what this region has to offer - world-class surfing, ancient rainforests, historic villages etc. They can't understand why the train line was closed down - they have said the only thing that would make this place even better than it is already, is if they didn't have to face the gruelling bus trip and instead catch the train. As long as we have puppets of road lobbyists and fossil fuel companies in our public office, there will be no sustainable future for public transport in the Northern Rivers. Get out and vote on 23rd March for your voice to be heard!!!

[@davidmccarthy6390]

you would link it through Tweed Heads to the GC international airport and then back onto the main line at Robina. If international visitors could just jump striaght from their plane to a train to get to Byron or Ballina, that would only be a good thing for those 2 rapidly growing cities. Plus having a heavy freight route would only benefit industry, and new ventures may set up shop, helping out with employment.

[@carisi2k11]

Those foreigners obviously haven been on the old and even more grueling train trip.

[@carisi2k11]

@@davidmccarthy6390 QLD would have to change there rail gauge for that to happen.

[@davidmccarthy6390]

@@carisi2k11 No they wouldn't. You are building a new track from Murwillumbah to the GC airport, and then joining up with the existing rail line that the XPT uses to go to Brisbane. I was not saying to link it to the QLD suburban network, but to the main line from Sydney to Brisbane.

[@davidwatson3921]

Yes get it electrified and you have a major no polluting rail service for both goods and passenger services. Connect it to the gold coast to Brisbane line and there is an alternative service from northern NSW to Brisbane!!!

[@davidmccarthy6390]

and build a good sized station at the GC airport for international tourists (jhow you sell it), but make sure it provides very regular local services, can transport heavy freight, and it would flourish. and yes, electrify it to Casino. and rebuild the Ballina spur line- that is a must to make it viable.

[@stevemurnane1892]

Beth, it's good to hear you pronouncing Murwillumbah correctly. I'm sick to death of hearing it said by all and sundry, including news reporters, as being MurWOOLumbah!!!!!! It gets my goat!

[@budget.diyguy.australia]

Well it's soon becoming a Bicycle track from M'bah to Mooball isn't it.. Even M'bah train station is a Bike shop now. Get used to E bikes and Teslas folks. These train days are gone.

[@alistairparr5804]

They could build a bike track that parallels the line about 25-30 metres away from it... It can be "win win" for both parties.....

[@marciebalme588]

part of which was built by my husbands Great Uncle and Grandfather GC Willcocks and R Willcocks

[@user-qc8lj2ej6v]

You could build a community/train solar farm, business plan, with private Rail company

[@RailTownProductions]

I have heard they sadly have deemed it fully closed. And it’s such a beautiful line and I miss it.

[@jslasher1]

Who in Hell are "they"? Kindly explain your comment.

[@RailTownProductions]

NSW Goverment

[@davidmccarthy6390]

That's the thing about politics, it changes with the wind. When things get traction and are worrth votes, things happen. It need to come at it from the angle of providing rail transport to tourists from GC international airport. That is something a vote chasing pollie could get behind.

[@user-qc8lj2ej6v]

I'd recommend you form your own 'community based' private Rail company, go into business, the Grafton to Lismore, rail company, prove you can form your own company, for the people, you may get noticed by the government, if not your in business, good luck!!!

[@user-qc8lj2ej6v]

I'd recommend electric locomotives, for your private train company, their going to be far cheaper in 5-10 years

[@philiponeill8909]

We have been lied to and it is time we let the government know we want our trains back. and to continue to Gold Coast Airport.

[@robertchinnock8017]

I reckon it would be so hand if the line was re open to the gold coast and serivce to sydney and local trains for the local people

[@thomasbarca9297]

The coalition lied about bringing the line back, if Victoria can do it then NSW can do it too

[@lard_lad_AU]

It cost $2.875 billion for 12 kms of the parramatta light rail. Thinking they can restore the Murwillumbah line for $330,000 per km is totally delusional and nonsense.

[@phil-bh5bu]

Australia should have more rail lines run through Australia I'm from Armidale nsw 2350 we have a rail line from Armidale nsw 2350 to Wallangarra Queensland the rail line has been closed for 30years the people of the community want the rail line reopen.

[@richardoldguy7673]

WHEN YOU NEED AN EXCUSE TO NOT SOMTHING !! EXPENSE IS THE FAVORITE 'BOOGEYMAN' !! IT'S ONLY AS EXPENSIVE AS YOU WANT IT TO BE !! A DISGRACE !!

[@user-qc8lj2ej6v]

Be innovative, the Griner days, probably was changing from community service to private enterprise, and highway's were, innovative and big business,, So government is waiting for you, or someone to be enterprising, innovative, and take care of it all yourself!!!

[@OlwenAnderson]

Good news that we could have both - a regular rail commuter service AND the rail trail. Two wins.

[@LondonRider12]

Interesting video. What's missing for me is a sense of modelling patronage and operating costs. Referring to historic usage of a vehicle transport service doesn't seem a good indicator of current demand, especially with the motorway upgrade. Nor would a twice daily service to Sydney meet the needs of the local region. Has there been any analysis of patronage and service patterns, beyond asking people if they think the train is a good idea? I'd love the train to run, but also recognise there's a big difference between what people would like, and how they actually act. At 16:32, I'm also not sure that a standard disclaimer on a report is indication of political interference. It feels like a political cheapshot, rather than substantiating a cost difference with an alternative report.

[@bhuff123]

When it comes down to it if there’s money to be made by private business phooey to war door or in a citizen the big business has to make the big bucks and they have to take the small person and say sweet of you

[@coasterblocks3420]

Didn’t the Libs/Nats promise to reinstate the line at the last NSW and Federal elections? I’m guessing that was yet another syndical promise quickly broken upon reelection. Cross River Rail due for completion in 2024, and the Queensland government has a slew of new lines and extensions waiting for the green light including the Coolangatta Airport extension, so perhaps there’s still hope. Never stop lobbying for rail!

[@bushranger51]

Stuart, if you believe a politicians promises then you're a bigger fool than they are, sure they promise you the earth to get elected/re-elected, but once in office they forget the little people who put them there, they're all in big business's pocket anyway. The way I see it is if Northern Rivers area is to get their train back is to threaten to secede from N.S.W. and ask to join Queensland, perhaps they might do better, good luck getting Sydney to agree to that.

[@TheEarthHistorysConfusing]

5 words- Consolidated Land And Rail Australia!.. THAT'S WHY!..

[@TheServerGeek]

Sad sad state. Politicians know nothing about operating rail. Just get outta the way and let the guys that know what they're doing....do what they do best. By the time they make up their mind to do something half the line will be beyond retrieval.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

The NSW railway network has been a political football for decades... Today, the powers to be are only interested in the Sydney rail network, which, in itself, is a total mess. The original credo of the NSWGR Railways Act was to provide a passenger and/or freight service, where possible, to all corners of the state. It was not stated in the act that these lines must be profitable. In the 1970's, that credo was changed and lines not showing a profit began to close. It closely resembled the Beeching era in England. I recall that one of the hatchet men that sliced and diced the NSW rail network was the labor politician, Carl Scully. I attended a meeting where Scully laid out his plans to rationalize the rail network. The bloke was a total goose. It was obvious that the road transport companies were pushing him to kill off rail freight operations in favor of using trucks. Scully was forced to resign in 2006, but the damage he instigated to the NSW rail system was already done. Statistically, rail is a far safer, economically viable and more environmentally friendly option than road transport is. Transporting dangerous goods such as, fuel or chlorine, should hauled by rail not by trucks. I live in Cowra, which is roughly midway on the Blayney to Demondrille rail line. The line is approximately 170lkms in length. This line was built to connect the Western main line to the Southern main line. The idea was to ease the freight traffic flow through Sydney. There were two branch lines off this line.. one to Canowindra / Eugowra and the other to Grenfell. The original plan was to later add another line from Grenfell to Forbes and then onto Eugowra. Making it a loop. That plan was thwarted by WW2. After the war, construction of this additional line was never reconsidered. The Blayney to Demondrille rail line was closed to NSWGR traffic in 1999. It remained in use by the Lachlan Valley Railway, (then based at Cowra), both as a privately operated grain freight service and a tourist operation. In 2009 the line was officially closed by the rail authority, who claimed it was unsafe. One of their arguments was a lack of safety signage along the line. They also stated that the line was unstable. Ironically, the line had been inspected, re-ballasted and tamped just prior to it's closure. A week or so before the closure, a tour train was granted permission to use the line. Today, the line is starting to deteriorate. A flood in 2010 severely damaged a large section of the line South of Cowra. Access to the two branch lines has now been permanently removed. There have been a number of attempts/proposals to get the line reopened. To date, all of these were rejected. There is currently another feasibility study being done, but I am pretty sure it will be rejected as well. Cheers Here is a video I put together of the closing of one of the branch lines... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZzZYZ-weL6BsKM

[@Blackheathenly]

How is this going to reduce the trucks on the roads exactly?

[@chappo91rulz]

it would give more options for freight trains to transport the stuff that trucks would normally transport and also trains can carry more then trucks.

[@samuelanketell8190]

We've been robbed by the new government again, nice push bike track... how much did that cost? How long does it take to ride a bike to Sydney with my suit cases?

[@peterkerley4694]

Lobby the Queensland Govt to bring their gauge track (and higher speed) south to Byron Bay. It will be better for Northern Rivers and add courier/parcels freight service from Brisbane to achieve acceptable profitably.

[@timcas2664]

lol the labor Queensland government wouldn’t pay a cent for anything in NSW. We aren’t even allowed in their hospitals remember.

[@garyholt4445]

I admire your ambitions but it is now 5 years since this video was put on You Tube and much has happened. Bridges have been torn down and lines ripped up in places. I visited the Murwillumbah Railway Station a few months ago to do a Fac3ebook report for Abandoned Railways of Australia. The line is gone for good and will be turned into a rail trail. I walked around the lines of the station and took many photos and a gentleman there told me the line is going to be turned into a rail trail.

[@timcas2664]

6 years later and they’ve still done nothing. Disgraceful

[@tld8102]

thanks nationals. thanks for the corruption

[@darrenrichardson1738]

DARRENR 🏠 have OK yes

[@robertcameron2808]

Rode many times on that track beautiful trip road transport didn't want rail that's why it closed

[@chillylizerd]

Sounds like corruption killed it

[@Winter11158]

Scott Morrison needs to wake up and stop wasting money and help Australian like he is meet too

[@chuckanoo1455]

Apparently there is a possibility that the railway line from heading north from Armidale may be re-opened to Glen Innes. With talks of extending it all the way back to Wallangara on the Qld/NSW border.

[@antiussentiment]

Vote for a major party and get this. ~ shugs ~ Stop corporate/business political donations now.

[@johnspeeding2853]

come on bring our train back you basteds had no right taking our train away my father and uncle worked on that line to keep our train running

[@davidelliott5738]

So, you'd be happy to drive your car to the station, park it, ride the train, and get transport at the other end to get you to your destination? Come on. There aren't many people who would give up the convenience of their own set of wheels for a journey broken into two, three, or four bits with all the sitting around waiting for transport to arrive at each point. The line was closed because no one was using it - especially the locals! Trucks on the highways really annoy me sometimes, and are so dangerous, but no freight was going on this line in the end. Better to put the line to use to benefit the community - financially and with employment. Have a look at the video about the Tumbarumba NSW Rail Trail that was opened in 2020. Don't get me wrong, though - I have been a train enthusiast all my life, from a backyard model railway when I was a kid, to riding the driverless metro in north-west Sydney. What a hoot!

[@21stcenturyozman20]

Would all those who bleat about returning the train service be prepared to pay fares that would actually cover the costs of running it? Non-metro passenger rail in NSW *never* paid its way. It was heavily subsidised by freight rail, and when freight rail was sold off to private operators there was nothing left to support regional passenger rail. The Northern Rivers train is history. Get used to it!

[@warrendonpaul4549]

This is a freaking joke

[@MarkHenstridge]

Do you reckon your state is bad for some services by rail, well we have absolutely ZERO country rail services in South Australia. So stop whining NSW and fight like hell to keep the ones you still have!