❓ The question seeks information on disused railway lines and reserves in WA, including management, usage requests, and dates of disuse. The answer provides data on disused and non-operational lines, their management, and a jab at the opposition's past actions.
AnsweredQoN 598Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to disused railways and railway reserves and ask for each regional development commission region: (a) How many railway reserves currently exist; (b) How many railway lines are currently not used; (c) For all lines not currently used: (i) Who manages the line; and (ii) When was the government notified the line was disused; and (d) Please list any organisations who have asked the State Government to use the line for heritage, tourism or any other uses, the date they asked and whether permission was granted by the State Government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 November 2022
Responded by
Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports
Response time
8 days
(a) As per Schedule 4 of the Rail Freight Corridor Land Use Agreement (Narrow Gauge) and Railway Infrastructure Lease , the railway network is broken down into line sections; of which there are 94.
(b)-(c) Railway lines currently not in use are classified as either disused or non-operational.
All non-operational lines are managed by Arc Infrastructure (Arc), while disused lines are managed by the Public Transport Authority (PTA).
Region
Disused
Non-Operational/ Partially Non-Operational
Goldfields – Esperance
0
0
Great Southern
0
2
Mid West
1
5
South West
5
6
Wheatbelt
1
5
Peel
0
1
The status of private freight railway lines in the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley is not managed by the PTA and cannot therefore be reported on.
Disused lines ceased operation during the 1980s, while the Tier 3 lines became non-operational between 2010 – 2012 after the Liberal-National Government allowed these to close.
(d) Requests to use non-operational lines are directed to Arc Infrastructure.
In May 2022, Rail Heritage WA made a request to Government with a proposal to rejuvenate a section of the non-operational freight line between Boyanup and Busselton. They were advised to contact Arc.
Given the Liberals and Nationals’ record of closing rail lines in regional WA, it is ironic they have asked a question on this topic.
(b)-(c) Railway lines currently not in use are classified as either disused or non-operational.
All non-operational lines are managed by Arc Infrastructure (Arc), while disused lines are managed by the Public Transport Authority (PTA).
Region
Disused
Non-Operational/ Partially Non-Operational
Goldfields – Esperance
0
0
Great Southern
0
2
Mid West
1
5
South West
5
6
Wheatbelt
1
5
Peel
0
1
The status of private freight railway lines in the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley is not managed by the PTA and cannot therefore be reported on.
Disused lines ceased operation during the 1980s, while the Tier 3 lines became non-operational between 2010 – 2012 after the Liberal-National Government allowed these to close.
(d) Requests to use non-operational lines are directed to Arc Infrastructure.
In May 2022, Rail Heritage WA made a request to Government with a proposal to rejuvenate a section of the non-operational freight line between Boyanup and Busselton. They were advised to contact Arc.
Given the Liberals and Nationals’ record of closing rail lines in regional WA, it is ironic they have asked a question on this topic.
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