Public transport is not something we have a lot of here in the Northern Rivers, with many hinterland areas not serviced by any public transport at all, and some towns barely accessible with limited bus services, at best.

We have community transport, we have school buses, but we don't have regular bus or train services connecting our towns and cities. This is something the Northern Rivers Rail Ltd is looking to change, if it is what the community wants and needs.

They have issued a request, far and wide, for members of the community, from teenagers to people in their twilight years and everyone in between to take their short survey, to find out if this is something that the community wants, or not, as a part of their process of making a train network in our region a reality.

Byron has a short section of train, a solar train, which runs from Bayshore Drive near Elements Resort, and Sunrise, to Byron town itself. Whilst this is only a 3km section and a service which was highly aimed at some of the 2.4 million tourists who frequent the Byron Shire each year, Lydia Kindred Secretary of Northern Rivers Rail Ltd told the Lismore App "a lot of locals do now use it, as they can park for the day, in unpaid parking, and not have to battle finding a park or racing the clock for parking meters in town."

During a Transport round table meeting with Janelle Saffin MP of Lismore, earlier this year, it became apparent that public and community transport options were not adequate for our region, which leaves disadvantaged people, people who are differently abled and required suitable access and safety on transport, as well as young people or the elderly who don't drive, or people who wish to consume alcohol, with little to no options, if they live in outlying areas especially.

Northern Rivers Rail Ltd is seeking community input to guide future plans and to better understand how our community may wish to use a rail service.

Click here to answer their Community Survey.

Northern Rivers Rail Ltd says "The ultimate goal being to provide our Northern Rivers communities and visitors with a daily timetable of climate friendly, affordable and pleasurable public transport between Casino and Murwillumbah linking up its towns and villages along the way."

"We are working with stakeholders to extend the Climate Friendly Train Service, currently running from Byron Bay CBD to Bayshore Drive.  First stage of planning is to extend the service from Byron to Mullumbimby."

"Thank you for your time and support to establish a Northern Rivers, Climate Friendly Rail Service." 

For more information or to volunteer contact Lydia at:

Email: admin@northernriversrail.com.au 

Website: www.northernriversrail.com.au