While Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC (Rail corridors up for grabs with new bill) is working hard to try and stop the state government introducing legislation that will allow the government to give itself discretionary powers to destroy unused rail lines across the state, including the valuable Casino to Murwillumbah rail line, and sell off the land to developers, some uninformed people are actively helping the government in their dastardly activities.
Dr Faruqi is also an engineer who knows a thing or two about the cost and value of train services.
Are people really suggesting that all Australian train (and bus) services should be shut down as they run on diesel and have no EIS? That would cause riots in our cities.
It’s a mystery where these people get their information from. According to the Climate Change Authority’s review of vehicle emissions 2014, 57 per cent of transport emissions come from cars and light vehicles, (those stuck on congested Ewingsdale RD for hours) 18 per cent comes from trucks, and an amazing 3 per cent of emissions come from trains! People who drive many thousands of kilometres in their cars every year create the most pollution.
While ever the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line sits wasting away not being used it remains under threat from vested interests The only way to save the line and get the train service this region has needed for many years, is to get trains on it.
They will have to be diesel trains, but the technology is being developed to allow more environmentally friendly options in future. But if we have no train line there’ll be no trains of any kind, just a tsunami of traffic increasing every year.
Byron Shire residents are really looking forward to that.
Louise Doran, Ocean Shores
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
