It’s a piece of infrastructure that often lurches backwards and forwards like a locomotive in a shunting yard, but the possibility that the Blayney-Demondrille railway line could reopen has taken steam following a funding announcement by the state government.
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The defunct Maimuru to Demondrille rail line will re-open after Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay announced a $5 Million investment by the NSW Government at Young Train Station.
The Blayney Demondrille lines, also known as the Cowra lines, comprises 200 kilometres of non operational lines between Blayney and Harden and Koorawatha and Greenethorpe.
The 56-kilometre section of the line is the first part of what Mr Gay described as a pilot program for the government’s $400 Million Fixing Country Rail program.
“The NSW Government is determined to shift more bulk freight on to railway lines to ensure we get produce from paddocks to ports as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Mr Gay said.
“The freight transport network is the backbone of country NSW and we need to improve its efficiency to take more freight off our local roads.
“I am the first minister in 20 years to be able to re-open a branch line which was closed.
“This announcement is the first stage of the program for the rail line between Cowra and Blayney.
Blayney Mayor Scott Ferguson said that the announcement was a positive step towards the reopening of the central west line.
“Blayney Shire Council was very pleased to support this integral Stage 1 project, being the Demondrille to Young portion of the Blayney to Demondrille line.
“This is a very positive step towards reopening of the central west line, which junctions at Blayney.
“The support from the NSW Government for this project signifies the return of a productive and efficient rail freight transport network and this particular rail corridor Blayney to Demondrille, will move thousands of tonnes of highly valuable mining, agricultural and manufacturing produce.
“When reopened, the Blayney Demondrille rail line will enable this freight to move from western and regional NSW; via the central west, into southern NSW and national ports at Wollongong and Sydney.
“Currently this transport is having to compete with passenger lines along the busy Lithgow/Blue Mountains line which directly affects the states regional development opportunities.”