TOOT! Trains On Our Tracks

18 Nov 2011: Study on rail costs

Today the NSW Government has announced that a study will be done on the rail costs, with tenders for the study closing in January.

TOOT welcomes this development, but we'd also like to see a study of the benefits and savings too.

We'd like to see an analysis of having less congestion, particularly in places like Byron Bay.

We'd also like to see the benefits to tourism considered. We already have 1.5 million tourists looking for transport into and around our region. (The Commonwealth Games in 2018 will be a great opportunity for many visitors to have a day-trip to the area).

We'd also like to see the environmental benefits, like reduced carbon emissions, or better air quality, properly accounted for.

And we'd also like to see the savings factored in. With less cars and buses on the road, maintenance costs to councils and the RTA will be reduced.

According to the media release from the Minister for the North Coast and Ballina MP Don Page

The successful tenderer will work with Transport for NSW staff to complete the following:
-       a condition survey of the existing line
-       an evaluation of works and costs required to restore and maintain the line for use by train services
-       an assessment of the potential to introduce light rail or other commuter services on the line including likely costs and patronage
-       estimated costs for rolling stock
-       an assessment of the potential to extend rail services in northern NSW to connect with Coolangatta Airport and Queensland rail services.

TOOT asks when we will getting the other side of a truly "comprehensive study".

Read our Media Release

Update: 29 November: Here is the Tender document - more soon on this.

Budget promises $2mil

The NSW Budget has promised $2mil for a feasibility study into the Casino-Murwillumbah railline and an Regional Integrated Transport plan. We dont yet have any more details.

Read our Media Release

Very Fast Train Proposal

A new proposal for a Very Fast Train connecting Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane is now on the table. At speeds of up to 320km/hr, passengers could travel from Gold Coast to Sydney in 2hours 26 minutes.

Such a proposal links beautifully with TOOT's vision to have a frequent ligh-rail service on the existing Casino-Murwillumbah line. Further, it strengthens TOOT's proposal to build the 'missing link' of the 22km between Murwillumbah and Gold Coast.

In other news Tim Fischer, former deputy Prime Minister, appeared at the Byron Writers Festival with his new book. Interview with him about his book and the Very Fast Train proposal will be posted here.

TOOT for the Future

Long-time TOOT supporters Garth and Lydia Kindred, with the help of many, created a music video now on YouTube

Byron Shire Council takes lead on Regional Rail Taskforce.

Byron Shire Council has taken the lead on the establishment of a Regional Rail Taskforce to lobby state and federal governments for a better deal on rail for our region. The impetus for the Taskforce has come from successful resolutions put to Council by Mayor Jan Barham and Cr Basil Cameron.

At a meeting of mayors, councillors and community groups including TOOT held on 2 March, it was resolved to establish a Regional Rail Taskforce and to approach the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC) for support to auspice the taskforce.

Also in attendance at the meeting were sitting NSW MPs, Don Page, Steve Cansdell and Thomas George whose electorates cover the Casino-Murwillumbah rail line. Karin Kolbe represented TOOT. Two transport development officers from Northern Rivers Social Development Council were also present.

The taskforce will consist of Councils from across the region as well as community groups. Sitting state and federal MPs will also be encouraged to provide support.

Priorities for the Taskforce include establishment of commuter rail on the Casino-Murwillumbah line, linking the line to Coolangatta Airport, development of a Northern Rivers rail network and improvements to the North Coast line to expand capacity for moving freight onto rail.

'Nationals "commitment" to rail, not good enough' - Karin Kolbe

The Nationals have today announced their policy on the Casino-Murwillumbah rail line. There is no funding commitment as there was at the previous state election. It has been replaced by a further feasibility study. Independent candidate for the seat of Ballina, Karin Kolbe has said this is 'not good enough'. Below is a media release from Karin.

23 February 2011

'Nationals "commitment" to rail, not good enough' - Karin Kolbe

Karin Kolbe, Independent candidate for Ballina is questioning the Nationals' "commitment" to funding the Casino-Murwillumbah rail line and a link to Queensland following the failure by Don Page to provide details in media statements (ABC Radio, Prime TV News) after Karin had raised the issue.

Karin said.

'It's not good enough. The community want trains on our tracks and they expect the next government to deliver.'

'We already have the feasibility study that sets out a plan on how to proceed.'

'A Southern Cross University study has demonstrated that up to 91 per cent of residents would use a commuter rail service connected to Queensland.'

'We need action and guaranteed funding.''Coalition funding for pubic transport and rail has been detailed on their website, but not a single project outside Sydney has attracted funding. Why?'

'It would appear that the Nationals have been dominated by the Liberal party at the expense of regional New South Wales.'

'In the past, seats held by Independents such as Northern Tablelands, have been successful in getting their trains back on track.'

New music clip featuring video footage of Casino-Murwillumbah line.

TOOT Vice-President, Peter Westheimer writes...'I've been busy putting a new album of music together and guess what the name is: Tranzworld Express, based on my train travels in Europe and elsewhere. The title track of the album features a great drivers view footage shot from an engine on the Murwillumbah to Mullumbimby section of the track in the 1990's. Although the quality is fair it is an insight into the beauty of the journey. Glimpses of Murwillumbah station, Bilinudgel station, the Brunswick river, Mt. Chincogan and entry to Mullumbimby. I've surrounded it with photos mostly out of trains in other parts of the world.. The footage was made available through one of TOOT's early founders Neale Battersby himself a train driver who has driven our local line and whose dad was the last stationmaster of Bangalow station. the clip is on YOUTUBE just click on this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCB3m0-vx-c

Community Forum

About sixty people gathered at the Community Transport Forum in Byron Bay on 20 Oct 2010. Jointly organised by TOOT and the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) it was an opportunity for the community to voice its concerns about the poor transport in the region.

Read the joint media release from RTBU and TOOT.

ABC Radio National

ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing did a 45min documentary “Trains do it Better”.

The blurb: All political parties agree that trains do it better, but who will make it happen? Meanwhile, thousands of trucks are about to churn up the roads trying to get a huge wheat harvest to city ports, and two million tourists choke Byron Bay with cars. The rest of the world - even France - is joining its regional areas with high speed trains, and it works. Reporter Ian Townsend.

You can listen online, read the transcript or grab the podcast: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2010/3023627.htm

Sydney Gets Billions

Federal ALP has announced that they would give $3.2 billion to Sydney's urban transport. This comes on top of $742mil to rail in Redcliffe Bay in north Brisbane.

This is very interesting: ALP's Justine Elliot now says that our rail is a state responsibility and nothing to do with her. Sexton's Hill bypass has been funded $315 million. We're asking for less than half of that for 132km of rail.

To quote from a a newsletter Justine Elliot distributed in Aug 2006 "Locals are telling me that they are sick of their train being used as a political football." TOOT couldn't agree more.

Here is the policy from 2004 that promised us $150 mil for our rail: http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/22093/20041009-0000/www.alp.org.au/media/0804/msti200.html