Northern Rivers Trains for the Future Inc. TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks) Campaign

MEDIA RELEASE: 10 July 2007

TOOT To Meet Deputy Prime Minister

Organisers of TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks), the campaign to restore rail services to the Northern Rivers, will meet the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Mark Vaile on Thursday to discuss TOOT’s strategy to develop sustainable transport systems for the Northern Rivers.

 NRTF President and TOOT Spokesperson Karin Kolbe said today;

‘The Casino-Murwillumbah rail line is strategically placed to act as the centrepiece of a sustainable transport system for our region’.

‘Our region is growing faster than the transport links needed to serve our communities’.

‘We have the two busiest east-west main roads (Lismore-Bangalow Road and the Bruxner Highway) between the Hunter and Queensland border running through our region’.*

‘Coastal communities are being choked with traffic seriously impacting on the social and economic fabric of our towns’.

‘For example, 21,140 vehicles cross the railway line at Byron Bay every day. This is even greater than the 19,426 daily vehicles on the Pacific Highway south of Ewingsdale’.*

‘Our plan to develop rail systems to complement the road network is the only solution that can reduce traffic congestion in our communities and make travel safer’.

‘The plan is a long term vision to build efficient, safe and sustainable transport links between the Northern Rivers and Queensland by connecting the Casino-Murwillumbah line to the Queensland Rail system at Coolangatta’.

‘On behalf of the community, TOOT will be seeking federal funding to implement the strategy’.

*Source: Traffic Volume Data for Hunter and Northern Regions 2004 , New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority.

Contact: Karin Kolbe, President of NRTF, 0411 594 599, (02) 6680 8516 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it www.toot.org.au