Why Do we Oppose the Current Plan for Rail Trail by Armidale Regional Council?

Dear Supporters,

A crucial meeting of Armidale Regional Council will be held on Wednesday 26 August 2026, when councillors will consider a progress report on the New England Rail Trail planning process.

The report outlines the work completed to date, the tasks still to be undertaken, the expenditure of approximately $2 million on preliminary planning and approvals, and the timeline for the remaining work required to make the project construction-ready. It also states that Council intends to submit its application to the NSW Government under the NSW Rail Trails Framework by November 2026, with the outcome expected in early 2027. Although funding for construction has not yet been secured, Council is continuing to advance the project through the planning and approval stages. More recently, it completed a community consultation process.

From our perspective, however, several important questions remain.

Is spending  $2 million from Council funds, on planning for a rail trail the best use of scarce public resources at a time when essential services such as water security, road maintenance and other community priorities are under increasing pressure?

Is it wise to plan the removal of the railway line between Armidale and Ben Lomond (67 km) to build a recreational cycling trail within the rail corridor? Should tourism aspirations take precedence over preserving long-term transport opportunities for our region? What will future generations think if we permanently lose the opportunity to reconnect New England with population centres to the north and south?

Council argues that the NSW Government currently has no plans to restore the railway north of Armidale and that the corridor should therefore be used for a rail trail. It also argues that if the Government ever requires the corridor again, it would be returned for rail use, as required under legislation.

This reasoning is based largely on the draft Regional Transport Plan for New England North West, which states that the Government has no current plans to restore the line north of Armidale. However, what if the final transport plan includes initiatives not currently proposed? What if, within the next five or ten years, changing economic, freight, defence, environmental or regional development priorities lead State and Federal Governments to reconsider the value of this strategic rail corridor? If that occurs, will the expenditure of millions of dollars on planning an on-rail-corridor rail trail have been a wise investment?

Over several years we have proposed constructive alternatives to Council. Most recently, when we met with the Mayor and councillors in March this year, we suggested:

convening a round-table meeting of all stakeholders to identify common ground;
investigating a rail-plus-trail option, where a recreational trail could be developed alongside the railway rather than replacing it; and
seeking funding to prepare a proper business case for restoring the railway.
Unfortunately, none of these proposals has been adopted. Instead, Council has continued to pursue its preferred option despite continuing community opposition.

Our concerns are shared by many people. My Change.org petition opposing the New England Rail Trail has attracted more than 5,500 signatures, while a second petition organised by Lynda Gasbarri has gained more than 450 signatures in just a few weeks.

Wednesday's meeting is another important opportunity for us to remind councillors that many residents want a long-term vision for the region—one that includes better transport connections, not fewer.

Our future cannot depend entirely on private cars and air travel. Businesses increasingly rely on efficient freight networks, and regional communities need better transport links to remain competitive and connected. Around the world, governments are investing in modern rail infrastructure because they recognise its economic, environmental and social benefits. We should be planning for the future, not closing off future transport opportunities.

If you share these concerns, please attend the Council meeting and show your support for preserving the rail corridor for future generations while encouraging Council to investigate alternatives that unite, rather than divide, our community.

Lynda Gasbarri and I will address Council from 3.30 pm on Wednesday. The Council meeting itself begins at 4.00 pm.

We encourage all supporters to arrive early, as seating in the Council Chamber is limited.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr Siri Gamage
Regional Rail Advocate
Coordinator, Armidale Regional Train Advocacy Group (ARTAG)