Positive study sparks further rail trail investigation

A rail trail on the disused New England rail corridor has the scenery and historic features to be a major attraction for visiting and local users and could be expected to pay for itself within a few years, according to a feasibility study considered by Council yesterday.

Based on the findings of the New England Rail Trail plan, yesterday’s Council meeting resolved to endorse the development of a rail trail, subject to securing funding. That included gaining assistance for a more detailed business study with a cost-benefit analysis and investigation into operating costs.

“The consultant’s feasibility report gives us confidence a rail trail on the New England corridor could be financially viable and a significant drawcard for this region, as well as a recreation and health asset for our residents,” Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said.

“Its favourable findings give us a solid platform to pursue government funding and to take our investigations to the next step.

“That will include a detailed business case study and consultation with the community, now we have a much clearer picture of the proposed project, its estimated costs and potential benefits for the region.”

The New England Rail Trail plan presented options for a full 103km trail from Armidale to Glen Innes and a shorter trail between Ben Lomond and Black Mountain. It says both options could conservatively be expected the pay off their projected costs – construction and maintenance – in around six years, based on the corridor’s scenic beauty and historic features and the user numbers experienced by existing comparable rail trails.

The report estimated the full Armidale to Glen Innes trail would cost $24 million, including around $13 million for the section within the Armidale Region, and based on conservative projections could generate $4.5 million each year in tourism and local patronage.

A Ben Lomond to Black Mountain trail was estimated to cost $6.5 million and inject about $1.2 million into the local economy annually.

“While further steps must be taken before Council could fully commit to establishing the rail trail, investigations so far indicate the project would be a great way to utilise a corridor that has sat unused and idle for approximately three decades,” Councillor Murray said.

“It’s important to note this is not a choice between trains or a rail trail. In the approximately 30 years since rail services operated in the corridor, there has been no viable proposition to restore rail operations on that line and the State Government has firmly indicated it was highly unlikely any train services would be viable in the foreseeable future.”

The consultant’s plan states the NSW Government “has clearly indicated” the railway corridor would remain in public ownership if it was converted to a rail trail.

“Reinstatement of a railway line will remain possible as the land will stay as public land,” the report says.

“Given that a railway service has not been in operation for over 30 years, it is hard to envisage circumstances under which it would return.”

Cr Murray said: “Given that scenario, the responsible action by Council is to explore alternative uses for the incredibly scenic corridor and the wonderful assets along its route.

“That alternative should provide widespread benefit to our community and from what we have seen so far, a rail trail certainly promises to bring those benefits for many years.

“If circumstances - such as technology, population distribution or commuter habits - changed enough for a train service to be viable again in the future, the land would still be there for that purpose.”

Published on 25 Oct 2018