Lydia Kindred, Rosebank
Responding to letters written recently to The Echo, some stated that it is the preference of many in the Shire to build the bike path beside the rails and, I believe, this is indeed true.
Our ‘deficit of public transport’ is well known and those who visit our region are amazed that we’re not using our rail infrastructure, which is largely in very good condition, and so needed.
The reason that ‘most people believe that the train was not going to come back to the Casino to Murwillumbah corridor’ is because of a propaganda exercise fostered by the state government and aided by a dodgy ARUP study that said it would cost $7.25 million per km to fix up the line. I believe this is obviously crazy when the Byron Solar Train only cost $660,000 per km.
The long-term diverting of funds meant for our line to the main line, as well as previously very profitable passenger and freight services being scrapped for an XPT service that only came here late at night, so that not many people used it, were major contributors to the demise of the rail service.
A new dedicated company has been registered called Northern Rivers Rail Ltd, a not-for-profit volunteer-based public company, aiming to raise sufficient funds to restore the line to allow rail services with a bike trail beside them.
For those who want rail, the time has come to support us. Join us to raise funds, volunteer, and resurrect our valuable rail corridor. Our line can be for joint usage with bike trail enthusiasts. If the tracks are demolished, as planned by Tweed Shire and Richmond Valley councils this year, the rail system will be lost forever. Contact [email protected]. Member subscription $20 per year.
As there has been no community consultation, as was required by law, we are now representing the people, as the community needs a voice! Jobs, the economy, those who need comfortable transport throughout the Northern Rivers, and the environment, will all benefit.
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. 
