MEDIA RELEASE
Armidale Residents Call for Roundtable on Future of Northern Rail Corridor

Armidale, 11 March 2026

A meeting of ratepayers and residents from the Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area held on 5 March 2026 in Armidale has called on Armidale Regional Council to pause and reconsider its current approach to the proposed rail trail between Armidale and Ben Lomond.

The meeting, attended by local residents and supporters of regional rail, discussed the implications of the Council’s October 2025 decision to allocate more than $1 million for preliminary works related to the proposed rail trail, including approximately $500,000 from Council’s own budget, with the work to be undertaken by NSW Public Works.

Participants expressed strong concern about the use of ratepayer funds for a project that involves the removal of existing rail infrastructure. The meeting also noted that the rail trail proposal has created significant division within the community.

Attendees pointed out that the railway corridor north of Armidale remains an important strategic asset for the region, particularly given emerging opportunities for job-creating agribusiness development in the Guyra area and the need for improved regional and cross-border transport connectivity. 

Current disruptions to fuel supplies due to conflicts in the Middle East are a stark reminder that reliance on imported oil for the transport sector is a risky practice, with implications for farmers, producers, business and consumers.
The meeting passed a series of resolutions calling for a more inclusive and forward-looking approach to decisions affecting the corridor.

In particular, residents requested that the Mayor and Council convene a roundtable meeting of all stakeholders with an interest in the corridor between Armidale and Ben Lomond. This would include representatives from business, industry, freight operators, heritage rail groups, passenger rail advocates, and rail trail proponents.

The purpose of such a roundtable would be to identify common ground and explore options that do not involve the removal of rail infrastructure.

The meeting also urged Council to recognise the long-term strategic value of the railway line for regional economic development and cross-border connectivity.

Participants further recommended that Council make a submission to the New England North West Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) requesting the NSW Government to extend passenger rail services to Guyra and Glen Innes as a first stage.

In addition, the meeting called on the NSW Government to undertake a feasibility study into restoring rail services north of Armidale to the Queensland border and to upgrade the section between Tamworth and Armidale to support freight transport.

Residents emphasised that transport planning decisions should be made in the long-term interests of the region and should consider future opportunities for economic growth, transport justice, freight movement, and sustainable transport.

The resolutions from the meeting have been forwarded to the Mayor, the General Manager, and councillors of Armidale Regional Council. Currently, we are in the process of organising an initial meeting with the Mayor and councillors to explore the opportunities available.

Media Contact:
Dr Siri Gamage
Convenor of the Armidale Meeting
E: siri.gamage1951@gmail.com

Cycle Trail or Regional Transport Asset?
The Future of the Northern Tablelands Rail Corridor
 
Garry Reynolds
 
The future of the rail corridor on the Northern Tablelands has become the subject of increasing community debate. While some councils are pursuing plans to convert sections of the corridor into a cycle trail, many residents are asking whether a strategic regional transport asset should be repurposed before its long-term economic and transport potential has been properly assessed.
 
The Tablelands economy has historically been built on agriculture, agribusiness and rural industries. Infrastructure decisions should therefore strengthen these sectors and support long-term economic growth, employment and regional connectivity.
 
There is also a new and important factor that should not be ignored: the development of the New England Renewable Energy Zone. The construction of wind, solar and transmission projects across the region will require the movement of large volumes of materials, equipment and construction supplies. In the longer term, renewable energy developments and associated industries will also generate additional freight movements.

A functioning rail corridor could help support these freight needs by providing an alternative to heavy road transport and reducing pressure on regional highways.
 
By contrast, a stand-alone cycle trail is unlikely to generate the level of commercial activity or industrial development needed to sustain the region’s long-term prosperity.
 
Successful regional centres have often prospered by investing in infrastructure that supports their economic strengths. For example, Tamworth has benefited from strengthening its transport networks and industries aligned with regional priorities.

The question for the Northern Tablelands is therefore straightforward: should scarce public resources be directed toward projects that provide mainly recreational benefits, or toward preserving infrastructure that could support freight transport, passenger services, and future regional development?
 
Decisions about the future of the rail corridor should be made carefully, with a full assessment of the region’s long-term transport and economic needs. Once rail infrastructure is removed, restoring it later becomes far more difficult and costly.
For this reason, many residents believe the priority should be to keep options open for the future of the region.