The news that the grant application for the ‘trail without the rail’ has been knocked back is good news for all those who want and need safe, regular, climate-friendly, non-road, public transport throughout our region.
The local and regional railway companies who have spent five years and over $300,000 so far on finalising the required reports for UGL Regional Linx and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) are still on track to extend train services on the 72 km of line between Lismore and the border of Byron and Tweed shires.
This is in spite of a huge, well-resourced campaign to undermine this process.
We need to reiterate that we have always supported having both rail with a bike trail where feasible within the 32 metres of railway corridor, as the best outcome for all.
It seems that those using a bike trail do not want to pay a fee, saying that would be unfair, whereas train services are user-pays!
NSW regional communities deserve public transport infrastructure that will create productive jobs, strengthen transport networks, and provide measurable long-term returns.
Rail trails have not shown me, in any unbiased studies, that they have significantly benefitted local economies.
These recreational projects have a high chance of becoming taxpayer-funded white elephants.
With a united project, rail services would give even more impetus for people to ride or walk on the path, knowing they can get the train back!
Vital transport infrastructure needs to be restored across the region, but this seems to be overlooked by councils, who have never actually asked residents, and even visitors, what they really want, as we have, and found overwhelming support for rail services!
At a recent high level tourism conference, developing submissions for government, based upon solid real data and business input, rail trails and bike trails came on the agenda and the discussion was all about the problems, the lack of viability and the tourist dollars that they don’t generate.
There are inherent permanent financial problems and obligations associated with creating, operating and maintaining a rail trail, which has been noted by a Lismore councillor with great concern, about the ongoing maintenance costs of what they have already built.
Perhaps this needs to be more seriously considered by Byron councillors!
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. 
