It’s full steam ahead for the West Coast Wilderness Railway, with some services on track to resume in just a few weeks.
This iconic tourism attraction was shut down in March for significant maintenance work, just weeks after a diesel locomotive derailed on its way to Strahan.
On November 21, several months after the incident, the railway will reopen with some services to resume operating from Queenstown five days a week.
Initially, two shorter heritage rail adventures will be offered, including the 1.5-hour Lynchford Express experience from Queenstown and the 2.5-hour Teepookana and the King experience from Regatta Point Station.
Additional services from Strahan will be introduced after the completion of further bridge work, with the section of the line between Lynchford and Lower Landing remaining closed over the summer as the work continues.
The railway received $16 million in state funds split over a four-year period in the 2019 budget.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said in March of this year that some of these funds were being utilised for the essential maintenance and upgrade works carried out over the past several months
“With $16 million in state funds, management have been carefully mapping out and progressively addressing the maintenance and upgrade needs of the railway and locomotives while trying to keep the trains on the tracks, but the age of the infrastructure and the work that needs to be done calls for a more intensive, programmed work plan during the quieter time of year,” Ferguson said in March.
“It means the shutdown will be during the low-patron winter season, nonetheless it was a hard decision to make, but a necessary one and strongly recommended by local tourism representatives to get the best result.”
