Lydia Kindred, Lismore.
The welcome announcement today by Ben Franklin of a service of ‘on demand’ mini buses to Goonellabah and Alstonville is in line with the integrated public transport plan that Northern Rivers Railway Action Group has been promoting.
Minibuses would be a complementary addition to the introduction of rail services again onto the Casino – Murwillumbah line, picking up from trains and dropping passengers off to outlying areas.
They have been trialling this on demand service in Sydney recently, to great success.
Rail services are wanted and needed by so many in the northern rivers for everyday commuting, travelling for education, shopping, health and recreation.
The traffic on our roads is growing at such a rate that in a few years’ time we won’t be able to move beyond a snail’s pace, which is already being experienced in some areas.
The only logical option, for social, environmental and economic reasons, is to reintroduce rail transport on our line, which is actually in better condition than many believe.
The structure of the rails are still in very good condition and we will have a survey completed soon by an accredited rail maintenance manager who has walked the whole length of the line and who attests to its overall good condition apart from some much needed bridge work.
The costs of refurbishment are nowhere near what have been promoted by the questionable ‘study’ by Arup, who have since been discredited and fined for their dodgy numbers on another project.
We firmly believe a regular commuter rail service with a once a day freight component would bring enormous benefits to our whole region.
It would increase employment greatly, spawn new enterprises and promote social equity for all members of our community and visitors, including the elderly, disabled, the youth and everyone else.
In the coming elections please vote for those candidates who support the return of rail to our very special but disadvantaged region.
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. 
