Queensland Rail is committed to supporting heritage train travel, with upgrades to a rail siding at Ballandean soon to be underway.
The restored siding will enable heritage groups to run picturesque heritage train services between Stanthorpe and Ballandean once again.
Ballandean is a little village renowned for its wineries, making it a sought-after tourist destination.
The line from Stanthorpe to Wallangarra (including Ballandean) has been closed since fires ripped through the region late last year.
However, the opening of the siding at Ballandean will ensure tourist trains can operate along part of the Warwick to Wallangarra line again, allowing the services a place to turn around.
The journey will see train enthusiasts travel through Granite Belt country with stunning and rugged high-country scenery including boulders, ravines, creeks and unique timber and steel bridges.
Queensland Rail CEO Kat Stapleton spoke about the importance of reopening this siding.
“At Queensland Rail we are all about connecting communities and we continue to work very collaboratively with our heritage partners to preserve and showcase important historical rail assets to local communities wherever possible,” she said.
“While the Wallangarra branch line isn’t used by Queensland Rail customers or freight partners, we know how important it is to the community, so it’s great to now have ‘plan ‘B’ for Ballandean’ in place to support these heritage groups.
“Having Ballandean as a destination once again will help with the viability of heritage rail groups into the future and Queensland Rail is committed to supporting them.
“To demonstrate our commitment to heritage, Queensland Rail has also recently granted a heritage group use of the historic Warwick station through a long-term, ‘peppercorn’ lease to support the expansion of their business.”
The reopened siding, which has been closed to rail traffic since November 2003, means that heritage groups will be able to bus customers a short 15-minute journey from Ballandean to Wallangarra to allow for tours and meals.
Major construction will commence in coming months, with the siding expected to be reopen by the end of the year.
The remainder of the line, from Ballandean to Wallangarra, will remain closed at this time.
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