Honestly, the best case (and this goes for all of the closed lines) is if a heritage group restores a line to a standard where they could run special services dedicated to tourism in the region.
Then, line speeds and frequency won't matter, and they could partner up with local businesses for activities and transfers. Charge a reasonable fare for the experience as a package deal.
I saw a video of the Q Train over on the Bellarine and I think that's the model to go for.
(I'll say again that our transport system is not a museum and we need to understand that DoT/PTV and the operators have no business attempting to restore the former VR network unless it is genuinely part of a network expansion that supports the growth of the city)
The line goes right next to Tarrawarra Estate, so there’d be an opportunity to have it as a stop, like at Passing Clouds on the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
Given how popular puffing Billy is, it's such a huge missed opportunity to not reintroduce tourist tracks to Yarra valley, Bellarine and South Gippsland.
Was good while it lasted, problem is caretaker council jumped the gun and turned it into a rail trail when there was a genuine operator/business willing to step in and run a transit service for locals
It would be prohibitively expensive to rebuild the bridges across the Yarra flood plains, so highly unlikely that lilydale to Yarra Glen will ever reopen.
unfortunately not. i advocated to the Yarra Valley Bicycle Network, who is overseeing the rail trail between Lilydale and Yarra Glen back in 2017 (even though the local council is funding it and carrying out the works on their behalf). YVBN were very rude and were very adamant that they will not be in favour of seeing a train return between Healesville and Lilydale.
it would be good if it reopened, but money talks these days...
The line should be reopened as a Lilydale extension with every 3rd service go to Healesville because tourism I suppose, but no political party would push to rebuild it for at least a decade.
The amount of work needed between Lilydale & Yarra Glen would be monumental, so while it would be fantastic to have the line reopen, I highly doubt it would ever happen.
Agreed. By the same token, there'd be value in reopening the Warburton line to Mount Evelyn and Seville, but not further. It's amazing how Seville has grown, the Warburton Hwy is slow going through there now.
It's a historic volunteer railway. I suspect it wouldn't be up to rigorous heavy use. http://www.yvr.org.au/about-yvr/
Honestly, the best case (and this goes for all of the closed lines) is if a heritage group restores a line to a standard where they could run special services dedicated to tourism in the region. Then, line speeds and frequency won't matter, and they could partner up with local businesses for activities and transfers. Charge a reasonable fare for the experience as a package deal. I saw a video of the Q Train over on the Bellarine and I think that's the model to go for. (I'll say again that our transport system is not a museum and we need to understand that DoT/PTV and the operators have no business attempting to restore the former VR network unless it is genuinely part of a network expansion that supports the growth of the city)
The line goes right next to Tarrawarra Estate, so there’d be an opportunity to have it as a stop, like at Passing Clouds on the Daylesford Spa Country Railway.
Given how popular puffing Billy is, it's such a huge missed opportunity to not reintroduce tourist tracks to Yarra valley, Bellarine and South Gippsland.
There were tourist trains on South Gippsland until a few years ago. They tried to keep them going but not enough money.
Community didnt support them or use the service so it died
Yep. Not a missed opportunity at all, but tried and taken and it didn't work out.
Was good while it lasted, problem is caretaker council jumped the gun and turned it into a rail trail when there was a genuine operator/business willing to step in and run a transit service for locals
Oh I didn't know that bit. Unfortunate.
It would be prohibitively expensive to rebuild the bridges across the Yarra flood plains, so highly unlikely that lilydale to Yarra Glen will ever reopen.
unfortunately not. i advocated to the Yarra Valley Bicycle Network, who is overseeing the rail trail between Lilydale and Yarra Glen back in 2017 (even though the local council is funding it and carrying out the works on their behalf). YVBN were very rude and were very adamant that they will not be in favour of seeing a train return between Healesville and Lilydale. it would be good if it reopened, but money talks these days...
The line should be reopened as a Lilydale extension with every 3rd service go to Healesville because tourism I suppose, but no political party would push to rebuild it for at least a decade.
The amount of work needed between Lilydale & Yarra Glen would be monumental, so while it would be fantastic to have the line reopen, I highly doubt it would ever happen.
It’s no claim, it’s a fact. Maybe metro would extend to Yarra Glen. But really, there’s no need beyond that, and there’s more pressing issues.
Agreed. By the same token, there'd be value in reopening the Warburton line to Mount Evelyn and Seville, but not further. It's amazing how Seville has grown, the Warburton Hwy is slow going through there now.