Thank you for a most informative video. I came here from the "Dorrigo Rail Museum" fiasco, via Glenreah Mountain Railway. Its a crying shame these rail lines let fall into disrepair. !

I live 100 metres away from Murwillumbah station and it pisses me off that there's no longer a rail service to this town anymore. It's a major regional town and it's absolutely insane that Murwillumbah doesn't have a railway service... Not only that, the line services so many other towns as well...

Politicians never question the cost of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong rail

Access to transportation is the single-most important factor in an individual's ability to escape poverty.

The state of our political system where it is right now Federally and Statewise is disgusting. All over the world, train tracks are being relaid and being fully supported by their travelling public. The beautiful Border region deserves it's own rail.

Thank you so much for this video. It really makes me so angry to this day and why our regional rail has reduced to almost nothing. I think one the problems was the lack of education about railways and trains in schools, I know this because I was the only student at my school that had an interest in rail with around 1000 or more other students. The Pacific Highway upgrade in recent decades was an indication of our pollies having no interest in rail as they are more interested in their cars because they would to travel in privacy. Also, no passsenger rail means it's an enormous disadvantage on the disabled because I have Asperger's Syndrome and can't drive a car for long distances because it requires a lot of concentration and I have difficulties judging distance when it comes to lane changing. Also, while I don't mind the buses, however, I remember a long time ago I was travelling in one on a journey of around 800 km and it was really uncomfortable and I even got sick on one journey. The European countries of Cyprus, Malta and Iceland lost their passenger rail as it was not economically reliable, I don't want Australia to follow in their footsteps. I want NSW to get their rural rail back as much as possible, even if the cost is against it.

Trains and railways should be supported and subsidized in the same way roads and airports have public support. It would be a beautiful scenic railway and a tourist attraction. It could also haul some freight if needed.

The line should be re opened and put thru to the gold Coast since roma st station is going to be pulled down and made into a underground station..

The NSW State Government of Gladys Berejiklian deserves to be thrown out of office and into prison for the wanton vandalism they've inflicted on our state railway system, and not *JUST* Berejiklian, but previous Premiers of NSW as well, both Liberal *AND* Labor have contributed to the deterioration of the NSW State Railway network!

Rail Motor Pair 621(powered half) & 721(Trailer half) are part of the collection of the *Rail Motor Society* based at Paterson NSW.

Absolutely EXCELLENT!!! This is why I moved back to the area after growing up here!

I was actually only last year looking if the train line was still open to put my car on like it was before... and wow closed line for many years... I remember traveling this line as a child and it was amazing in the sleeper and I really hope the line is re opened...

25:20 CPH-class *Tin Hare* Rail Motors(Service years 1923 to 1985) are also a part of the *Rail Motor Society* collection at Paterson NSW. These two are CPH1 and CPH7.

I have met hordes of international tourists who regularly visit the Tweed/Northern Rivers. They all love what this region has to offer - world-class surfing, ancient rainforests, historic villages etc. They can't understand why the train line was closed down - they have said the only thing that would make this place even better than it is already, is if they didn't have to face the gruelling bus trip and instead catch the train. As long as we have puppets of road lobbyists and fossil fuel companies in our public office, there will be no sustainable future for public transport in the Northern Rivers. Get out and vote on 23rd March for your voice to be heard!!!

A train going only from Murwillumbah to Sydney wouldn't get enough passengers, and a commuter train groing from Casino to Gold Coast/Brisbane would never be funded because of competing state governments. Oh the joys of living by the border

You can thank Nick grieners axing of the regional services that there is now no trains to Murwillumbah and no trains to Mudgee

Great movie Neale

Yes get it electrified and you have a major no polluting rail service for both goods and passenger services. Connect it to the gold coast to Brisbane line and there is an alternative service from northern NSW to Brisbane!!!

Well it's soon becoming a Bicycle track from M'bah to Mooball isn't it.. Even M'bah train station is a Bike shop now. Get used to E bikes and Teslas folks. These train days are gone.

Beth, it's good to hear you pronouncing Murwillumbah correctly. I'm sick to death of hearing it said by all and sundry, including news reporters, as being MurWOOLumbah!!!!!! It gets my goat!

Well said, Railways in Australia are disgusting compared to world standards.

They could build a bike track that parallels the line about 25-30 metres away from it... It can be "win win" for both parties.....

I have heard they sadly have deemed it fully closed. And it’s such a beautiful line and I miss it.

It cost $2.875 billion for 12 kms of the parramatta light rail. Thinking they can restore the Murwillumbah line for $330,000 per km is totally delusional and nonsense.

Good news that we could have both - a regular rail commuter service AND the rail trail. Two wins.

part of which was built by my husbands Great Uncle and Grandfather GC Willcocks and R Willcocks

You could build a community/train solar farm, business plan, with private Rail company

The coalition lied about bringing the line back, if Victoria can do it then NSW can do it too

I'd recommend electric locomotives, for your private train company, their going to be far cheaper in 5-10 years

We have been lied to and it is time we let the government know we want our trains back. and to continue to Gold Coast Airport.

I'd recommend you form your own 'community based' private Rail company, go into business, the Grafton to Lismore, rail company, prove you can form your own company, for the people, you may get noticed by the government, if not your in business, good luck!!!

Interesting video. What's missing for me is a sense of modelling patronage and operating costs. Referring to historic usage of a vehicle transport service doesn't seem a good indicator of current demand, especially with the motorway upgrade. Nor would a twice daily service to Sydney meet the needs of the local region. Has there been any analysis of patronage and service patterns, beyond asking people if they think the train is a good idea? I'd love the train to run, but also recognise there's a big difference between what people would like, and how they actually act. At 16:32, I'm also not sure that a standard disclaimer on a report is indication of political interference. It feels like a political cheapshot, rather than substantiating a cost difference with an alternative report.

Australia should have more rail lines run through Australia I'm from Armidale nsw 2350 we have a rail line from Armidale nsw 2350 to Wallangarra Queensland the rail line has been closed for 30years the people of the community want the rail line reopen.

WHEN YOU NEED AN EXCUSE TO NOT SOMTHING !! EXPENSE IS THE FAVORITE 'BOOGEYMAN' !! IT'S ONLY AS EXPENSIVE AS YOU WANT IT TO BE !! A DISGRACE !!

How is this going to reduce the trucks on the roads exactly?

Be innovative, the Griner days, probably was changing from community service to private enterprise, and highway's were, innovative and big business,, So government is waiting for you, or someone to be enterprising, innovative, and take care of it all yourself!!!

Apparently there is a possibility that the railway line from heading north from Armidale may be re-opened to Glen Innes. With talks of extending it all the way back to Wallangara on the Qld/NSW border.

Didn’t the Libs/Nats promise to reinstate the line at the last NSW and Federal elections? I’m guessing that was yet another syndical promise quickly broken upon reelection. Cross River Rail due for completion in 2024, and the Queensland government has a slew of new lines and extensions waiting for the green light including the Coolangatta Airport extension, so perhaps there’s still hope. Never stop lobbying for rail!

5 words- Consolidated Land And Rail Australia!.. THAT'S WHY!..

Rode many times on that track beautiful trip road transport didn't want rail that's why it closed

Lobby the Queensland Govt to bring their gauge track (and higher speed) south to Byron Bay. It will be better for Northern Rivers and add courier/parcels freight service from Brisbane to achieve acceptable profitably.

When it comes down to it if there’s money to be made by private business phooey to war door or in a citizen the big business has to make the big bucks and they have to take the small person and say sweet of you

6 years later and they’ve still done nothing. Disgraceful

We've been robbed by the new government again, nice push bike track... how much did that cost? How long does it take to ride a bike to Sydney with my suit cases?

Sad sad state. Politicians know nothing about operating rail. Just get outta the way and let the guys that know what they're doing....do what they do best. By the time they make up their mind to do something half the line will be beyond retrieval.

The NSW railway network has been a political football for decades... Today, the powers to be are only interested in the Sydney rail network, which, in itself, is a total mess. The original credo of the NSWGR Railways Act was to provide a passenger and/or freight service, where possible, to all corners of the state. It was not stated in the act that these lines must be profitable. In the 1970's, that credo was changed and lines not showing a profit began to close. It closely resembled the Beeching era in England. I recall that one of the hatchet men that sliced and diced the NSW rail network was the labor politician, Carl Scully. I attended a meeting where Scully laid out his plans to rationalize the rail network. The bloke was a total goose. It was obvious that the road transport companies were pushing him to kill off rail freight operations in favor of using trucks. Scully was forced to resign in 2006, but the damage he instigated to the NSW rail system was already done. Statistically, rail is a far safer, economically viable and more environmentally friendly option than road transport is. Transporting dangerous goods such as, fuel or chlorine, should hauled by rail not by trucks. I live in Cowra, which is roughly midway on the Blayney to Demondrille rail line. The line is approximately 170lkms in length. This line was built to connect the Western main line to the Southern main line. The idea was to ease the freight traffic flow through Sydney. There were two branch lines off this line.. one to Canowindra / Eugowra and the other to Grenfell. The original plan was to later add another line from Grenfell to Forbes and then onto Eugowra. Making it a loop. That plan was thwarted by WW2. After the war, construction of this additional line was never reconsidered. The Blayney to Demondrille rail line was closed to NSWGR traffic in 1999. It remained in use by the Lachlan Valley Railway, (then based at Cowra), both as a privately operated grain freight service and a tourist operation. In 2009 the line was officially closed by the rail authority, who claimed it was unsafe. One of their arguments was a lack of safety signage along the line. They also stated that the line was unstable. Ironically, the line had been inspected, re-ballasted and tamped just prior to it's closure. A week or so before the closure, a tour train was granted permission to use the line. Today, the line is starting to deteriorate. A flood in 2010 severely damaged a large section of the line South of Cowra. Access to the two branch lines has now been permanently removed. There have been a number of attempts/proposals to get the line reopened. To date, all of these were rejected. There is currently another feasibility study being done, but I am pretty sure it will be rejected as well. Cheers Here is a video I put together of the closing of one of the branch lines... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gdGmY8-rqL-yqnU.html

Scott Morrison needs to wake up and stop wasting money and help Australian like he is meet too

I admire your ambitions but it is now 5 years since this video was put on You Tube and much has happened. Bridges have been torn down and lines ripped up in places. I visited the Murwillumbah Railway Station a few months ago to do a Fac3ebook report for Abandoned Railways of Australia. The line is gone for good and will be turned into a rail trail. I walked around the lines of the station and took many photos and a gentleman there told me the line is going to be turned into a rail trail.

DARRENR 🏠 have OK yes

Vote for a major party and get this. ~ shugs ~ Stop corporate/business political donations now.

So, you'd be happy to drive your car to the station, park it, ride the train, and get transport at the other end to get you to your destination? Come on. There aren't many people who would give up the convenience of their own set of wheels for a journey broken into two, three, or four bits with all the sitting around waiting for transport to arrive at each point. The line was closed because no one was using it - especially the locals! Trucks on the highways really annoy me sometimes, and are so dangerous, but no freight was going on this line in the end. Better to put the line to use to benefit the community - financially and with employment. Have a look at the video about the Tumbarumba NSW Rail Trail that was opened in 2020. Don't get me wrong, though - I have been a train enthusiast all my life, from a backyard model railway when I was a kid, to riding the driverless metro in north-west Sydney. What a hoot!

thanks nationals. thanks for the corruption

come on bring our train back you basteds had no right taking our train away my father and uncle worked on that line to keep our train running

Would all those who bleat about returning the train service be prepared to pay fares that would actually cover the costs of running it? Non-metro passenger rail in NSW *never* paid its way. It was heavily subsidised by freight rail, and when freight rail was sold off to private operators there was nothing left to support regional passenger rail. The Northern Rivers train is history. Get used to it!

Sounds like corruption killed it

This is a freaking joke

Do you reckon your state is bad for some services by rail, well we have absolutely ZERO country rail services in South Australia. So stop whining NSW and fight like hell to keep the ones you still have!