Consider the Following Points When you Upload submisions to SRITP -New England Nothwest.

Prioritising Extension of Passenger Rail Services to Guyra and Glen Innes over the Convesion of rail corridor to a rail trail(bike trail in the rail corridor)

1. Purpose

Recommend that the Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) prioritise the staged extension of passenger rail services from Armidale to Guyra and Glen Innes as a first-stage strategic infrastructure project, ahead of corridor conversion to a recreational rail trail.

2. Strategic Issue

Two councils in New England have plans to convert the rail corridor north of Armidale to a bike trail(rail trail). However, conversion of the corridor would remove or significantly compromise the option of restoring productive rail infrastructure.

The decision before government is therefore strategic and long-term:

Invest in mobility-enabling economic infrastructure (rail), or
Convert a strategic transport corridor to recreational use.

3. Why Rail Extension Should Be Prioritised?

A. Stronger Economic Return Over 20+ years.

Rail restoration generates compounding economic benefits through:

Labour mobility and employment access
Increased regional productivity
Visitor economy growth
Property and private investment confidence
Reduced household vehicle operating costs

Unlike a rail trail, rail services support daily economic participation rather than discretionary seasonal recreation.

B. Wider Economic and Social Benefits

A staged extension to Guyra and Glen Innes would:

Reduce long-standing transport disadvantage north of Armidale
Improve access to health and tertiary education
Support demographic retention of youth
Strengthen regional integration
These benefits align with NSW Government objectives on regional equity and economic resilience.

C. Intergenerational Equity

Removal of rail infrastructure imposes long-term opportunity costs and substantially increases future reinstatement expense.

Preserving and upgrading existing rail assets protects strategic flexibility for:

Future passenger expansion
Freight potential
Cross-border connectivity
Disaster resilience redundancy

Infrastructure decisions made now will shape regional opportunity for decades.

D. Staged, Low-Risk Delivery Option.

A phased approach (Armidale–Guyra. first, followed by Guyra–Glen Innes) would:

Manage capital exposure
Allow patronage testing
Enable incremental funding
Support potential Federal co-investment
This reduces fiscal risk while preserving long-term strategic value.

4. Comparative Assessment

Criteria

Productivity Gains.

Rail Extension - High.

Rail trail Convesion - Low.

Criteria.

Labour Mobility.

Rail Extension - Yes.

Rail Trail Convesion - No

Criteria.

Daily Economic Activity.

Rail Extension- Yes.

Rail Trail Conversion - No

Tourism Potential.

Rail extension - Strong & year-round.

Rail Trail Conversion - Seasonal.

Corridor Protection.

Rail Extension - Preseved.

Rail Trail Convesion - Compromised

Long-term Strategic Value.

Rail Conversion - High.

Rail Tail Convesion - Limited.

5. Alignment with Government Priorities.

Rail extension supports:

Regional economic development
Transport equity
Climate and emissions reduction objectives
Net Zero transport transition
Integrated cross-border connectivity
It is consistent with nation-building infrastructure principles.

6. Recommended Actions

Identify extension of passenger rail services to Guyra and Glen Innes as a strategic priority within SRITP.
Commission a preliminary economic appraisal (including Wider Economic Benefits).
Defer any irreversible corridor conversion decisions pending full evaluation.
Explore staged delivery and intergovernmental funding pathways.

7. Conclusion.

The extension of rail services to Guyra and Glen Innes represents productive infrastructure investment with multi-sector benefits over a 20–30 year horizon.

Converting the corridor to recreational use would foreclose higher-value economic opportunity.

Strategic regional planning should favour mobility-enabling infrastructure that enhances productivity, equity and resilience for future generations.