The quiet Lismore railway station will become a ‘musical express’ hub this Saturday, when local musos take part in a pro-rail event that organsiers say “won’t be radical.”

In fact, all seven railway stations along the Casino to Murwillumbah railway track will have musicians performing from 11am to 1pm – in a show organised by not-for-profit organization Northern Rivers Rail Limited.

Event organiser Lydia Kindred said having trains on tracks hasn’t been forgotten about. She has a vision to see solar-powered trains back on tracks.

“We want to show we have a lot of support in this region for the rail to return,” she said.

“Even though some of the rail tracks have been pulled up in Tweed and Richmond Valley, the Lismore and Byron tracks are still there.

“There’s also a solar train that runs in Byron, from Bayshore Drive into Byron and it arrives every half hour.

“So, we are working with the rail company in extending the solar train to Mullumbimby and Bangalow."

Lydia said if the existing 3km solar train route in Byron was extended to Mullumbimby and Bangalow, big traffic jams on Ewingsdale Road could be alleviated.

Olympic plans

“The line could also be connected to the Queensland Government’s planned light rail extension from Queensland to Coolangatta and Tweed,” she said.

“The Olympics in 2032 are coming and all governments are getting rail service up again,” she said

“When it’s extended to Tweed, there’s only less than 20 m between that and Murwillumbah - it will encourage tourism into the area.

“It’s just madness to pull up the rail corridor in the fastest growing area in the region - with lots of tourism and youth who are stuck, with no public transport and only privately owned buses.”

Jobs

Lydia said part of the Northern Rivers Rail Limited vision is to utilize the creative minds and artists in the local region, once the light rail industry is reinstated.

“We can incorporate local music on trains and have local food being served in cafes or food stalls on the side of the route - and artists can be involved.

“We can also have community-based projects working on landscaping on corridors.

“We want people in the community to decide what needs to happen.”

The event

You can come along to Lismore railway station on Saturday morning and listen to Thrillbilly Stomp and Keith Bale play their music.

Lydia said you can also become a member of Northern Rivers Rail Limited on the day or donate money to the cause.

“We need to show we haven’t given up on trains in the Northern Rivers yet,” she said. 

For more information, visit http://www.northernriversrail.com.au 

Musical Express event details

When: Saturday 20th August,

11am When: – 1pm

Where:

Lismore – Thrillbilly Stomp and Keith Bale

Casino – Black Train

Eltham – Paul Dorahy and Des Sheridan

Bangalow – Barry Ferrier

Byron Bay – Soul Fish

Mullumbimby – ‘Hubcap’ Stan and friends

Murwillumbah – Bill Jacobi & Scrubby Pete