It has been 45 years since Tasmania’s last passenger train service ran. Could it make a comeback.
The Tasmanian government has been adamant for years that buses are the only affordable transport solution for a disused rail line that runs from Hobart CBD deep into the city’s northern suburbs. But a dedicated group of train enthusiasts are just as committed to restoring passenger rail services on the corner. The government recently released more detail about its rapid bus plan, but the light rail advocated aren’t giving up.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Passenger rail operated in Tasmania for over 100 years.
00:05It was renowned as probably being the most luxurious train in Australia for most of its life.
00:11It had a hostess on it, plus waitresses and people that worked in the buffets to prepare meals.
00:19We had meals on board.
00:20Train enthusiasts are determined to return passenger trains to the rail line that runs along the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor.
00:27Of course, it's needed and it's ridiculous not to have it.
00:33So the Hobart Rail Action Group was formed in 2009
00:37and we have been campaigning for a return to passenger rail on the Hobart Northern Suburbs Railway since that time.
00:44One of the two railway lines was removed decades ago and turned into a cycleway.
00:50The Rail Action Group wants a light rail service to run on the remaining line
00:55with passing loops and 13 stops between the CBD and the outer suburb of Bridgewater.
01:00The benefits for rail are quite considerable.
01:04It's a much more smoother ride, more comfortable ride.
01:07It's much more environmentally friendly.
01:10But the Tasmanian government argues creating a light rail service would be too expensive.
01:15A 2020 report estimated light rail would cost $685 million to install
01:21while turning the corridor into a busway would cost $512 million.
01:26Does everybody like the idea of light rail? I think so.
01:30The question then is do they like the potential cost that it will be to the taxpayer?
01:36Not so much.
01:38Last week, the government released a growth strategy for the corridor based on rapid bus transit.
01:44The remaining rail line would be removed and replaced with a road for rapid buses within five years.
01:50Five stops would be built between Glenorchy and Newtown.
01:54But there's still a slim chance for light rail.
01:57As a government, we haven't ruled light rail out, but we are very conscious of how expensive it is.
02:03Our preferred option is rapid buses.
02:07Leaving a glimmer of hope for the light rail advocates.
02:11The government definitely needs to revisit its decision.
02:14With the future of Tasmania's public transport system still uncertain,
02:18only time will tell if rail will ever make a return to Hobart.