In response to Jo Faith’s recent letter (Echo online edition 23.3.24), it’s definitely not all over for train services in our region!
The recent completion of the first on-the-ground study of our tracks in 20 years has shown that it will cost a fraction of what has been touted till now, to fix the tracks and bring train services back!
We are also surveying locals and finding that over 90 per cent want railway services to return!
No real community consultation has ever occurred in any of our shires about what the people really want: trains or a bike path, or both!
Local railway companies are working hard to extend services from the current Byron Solar Train, the first in the world, to Mullumbimby and then up to Bangalow.
Then extending to Billinudgel to service 7,500 residents in Ocean Shores, South Golden Beach and New Brighton and on to Yelgun (it may help Splendour come back).
Then on to Lismore from Bangalow, via Eltham and Bexhill. Lismore needs some of the 2.4 million annual visitors to Byron Bay. They will be able to visit our region’s towns, safely and in comfort, and support our local economies.
Our roads are more congested than any other region in NSW. The Northern Rivers has also recorded some of the highest drink driving rates, as there is no option but to drive if you want to go out for a drink!
The train tracks are the best route for restoring early movement of people and produce, as part of an evacuation plan, in times of flood. They become accessible, well before roads are cleared.
For so many reasons we need to save our tracks from being any further destroyed, for the future sustainability of the Northern Rivers! We can have both train services and a bike path within the current railway corridor.
For more information and to donate go to www.northernriversrail.com.au.
Lydia Kindred, Secretary, Northern Rivers Railway
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