MINISTER PROMISES AN XPT, IF FEDS GIVE $75 MIL 

26 June 2006

In an interesting development, the NSW Transport Minister has said he'll return an XPT - but only if the Federal Governement contributes half the cost.

However the community is telling us they want a commuter service more than they want the XPT. A commuter service of 2-carriages making frequent services would really help the residents and tourists of this area.

The Minister has given the Federal Government until November to come up with the cash, or the projected 19-month opening date, which would be after both the NSW and Federal elections, would not be achieved. In August 2004 the Federal Government promised $30 million, an offer which is apparently still on the table.

Minister Watkins says it will cost $21.7 million to re-open the line, including the replacement of ’10 major bridges’.

TOOT has been joined by the Northern Region Organisation of Councils (NOROC) in pointing out that the $75 million the state government is committing, plus the $30 million already on the table from the Feds, is more than enough to cover the $21.7 million initial costs, and work should start right now.

TOOT also believes that Federal-State co-operation would be extremely beneficial, but NSW’s politically-motivated ultimatum may not be the best way to achieve this. We will be talking to the Federal Government to encourage them to work with NSW and find the best outcome for our region. 

 
XPT More Expensive than TOOT commuter Trains:

Our recently released TOOT NOW! Plan describes how a local passenger service of up to sixteen trains a day could be introduced for a fraction of the Government’s $150 million XPT reinstatement price-tag. Mr Watkins however has rejected our Plan and its costings, which were based on those produced in the 2004 PriceWaterhouse Coopers report.

QLD/NSW TASK FORCE TO BE FORMED

In what appears to be a positive step the NSW and Queensland Governments have announced the formation of a high-level task force to investigate extension of the Queensland rail line across the border to Kingscliff. However, Minister Watkins remains unsupportive of a full cross-border link to Murwillumbah. The extension of the Gold Coast rail line to Coolangatta is planned for completion in 2018.

TOOT awaits further developments, due end August 2006, with interest.