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Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway to close
’ can’t say I’ve ever seen an advert that enticed me to visit “beaut…insert your own lauditory descriptive terms…Tasmania,” but tourist industry components which probably will suffer when such an intriguing lure goes inert will regret their weak support an advertizing.
Was there any word on how close the service came to meeting the cost of operation?
Have been fortunate to have travelled this railway a few times, including from steam footplate, diesel cab, in back of an inspection vehicle and as a paying customer in a carriage. It is a fantastic way to see Tassie’s rainforest and wilder areas and is essential for attracting tourist dollars to this region. My opinion is that the use of ‘used’ sleepers, rail etc when rebuilt around 2000 has now come back to bite the state and federal govts. The lessees have tried hard to make a go of it. When this news hit the press this week, ‘she who must be obeyed’ insisted we ride it again - just in case closure does actually occur, so we are off to do it again this weekend…if I must.
If the Swiss insisted that fares pay for their lines’ upkeep, tourists worldwide would come to Switzerland for wonderful rides through the Alps on buses and rented cars.
If the Swiss insisted that fares pay for their lines’ upkeep, tourists worldwide would come to Switzerland for wonderful rides through the Alps on buses and rented cars.
“Oh No!” my wife said when I told her. We rode the line in 2009 instead of taking a boat ride to an abandoned penal colony. We were on a Holiday Vacations tour of Australia and New Zealand. Riding the Wilderness Railway was a highlite of the 27 day trip for both of us. Very sorry to see it go.
Sad to learn that this interesting line is to cease operation. You Aussies have a good thing with this RR. Find the money and keep the RR going & properly maintained. It is a state treasure.
It must be put in perspective, that the Tasmanian government accrues substantial monetary benefits from the gaming revenue paid by the Federal group’s casinos and resorts. (Hence the support given to Federal in the first place to run the Wilderness Railway)? Possibly totalling many times over per annum, than the funds needed to repair the railway?
I feel that the government should consider releasing some of the gambling revenue back to repair the railway. Leasing the railway to Federal allows them to continue to draw tourists to Tasmania. Which employs many local people and businesses.
After all, the Government’s grant to the Racing industry each year is over $27,3 million (increasing yearly) It is doubtful if the racing industry contributes any more to the economy or tourism, than all of Federal hotel’s ventures within the state?
Every other tourist railway operator in Tasmania is doing it tough, with no mainline excursions welcomed or allowed on Government rail lines. So why should the Government let Federal hotels out of a 20 year lease that gave them “exclusive” use of a Government asset?
My wife and I rode the train in 2009 and it is a treasure but a very costly one and in the current financial climate even in OZ I’m not surprised at this news. The location is very remote which limits the number of potential visitors. Tasmania has also lost many tourists due to the extreme costs of taking a caravan over the Bass Strait and, of course international visitors are down in numbers due to the high exchange rate with the Aus $ and other financial factors worldwide.
So glad we saw it when we did and have the dvd to remind us. R.I.P.