More than just a train ride? Resident Survey

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Three future operating options

The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a heritage Abt rack and pinion railway running 34.5 kilometres between Queenstown and Regatta Point at Strahan, through the King River Gorge and the cool temperate rainforest of Tasmania's west coast. It was built in the 1890s to carry copper from the Mount Lyell mines to the port at Strahan and was designed and operated as a single continuous line from one end to the other.

Restored and reopened as a tourism railway in 2002, the West Coast Wilderness Railway remains one of Australia's most significant heritage rail experiences and the anchor visitor attraction for Tasmania’s west coast. The railway has operated in different configurations over its time as a tourism experience. These have included a full-length service running the complete line between Queenstown and Strahan, and the current service in which passengers travel a return journey from each end. Over recent years, sections of the line have progressively closed and the service offering has been scaled due to ageing assets and available funding.

The Tasmanian Government is now considering how the railway should operate in the future. Regardless of which option is pursued, ongoing State funding would be required to support railway operations and maintain the relevant sections of track, bridges and other infrastructure. The annual funding commitment would differ between the options, reflecting the different lengths of railway operated and the assets that would need to be maintained. The options are set out here so the value that visitors and the community place on each can be assessed.

Passengers travel a return 3-hour journey from each end of the line. From Queenstown, the train climbs to Rinadeena via the Abt rack and pinion section, with stops at Lynchford and Rinadeena. From Strahan, the train follows Macquarie Harbour and the King River to Lower Landing, crossing the Iron Bridge at Teepookana and including a stop in the rainforest.

The Strahan return 3-hour journey to Lower Landing continues as in Option 1. From Queenstown, the return journey is extended to a 4-hour experience travelling through to Dubbil Barril at the centre of the line, taking in the full Abt rack section, Lynchford, the King River Gorge and the historic turntable at Dubbil Barril.

Passengers can choose either return journeys from Queenstown or Strahan to Dubbil Barril, or a full-line journey between Queenstown and Strahan. The full-line journey travels the entire railway, including the Abt rack section, King River Gorge, Dubbil Barril, the Iron Bridge at Teepookana, and the route alongside the King River and Macquarie Harbour. Passengers are bussed back to their embarkation point or can choose to stay overnight at their destination point.

Whichever option is pursued, the West Coast Wilderness Railway holds a value that reaches beyond ticket sales. It is a working piece of Tasmania's mining and engineering heritage, a source of identity and pride for the west coast, and a drawcard that supports tourism, employment and local business across the region.

As a thank you for participating, respondents can choose to enter a draw to win two tickets for the West Coast Wilderness Railway.