Petition: The Return of Heritage Steam Trains in Brisbane and Beyond....

[ozbob]

The Return of Heritage Steam Trains in Brisbane and Beyond....

>> https://www.change.org/p/the-return-of-heritage-steam-trains-in-brisbane-and-beyond?recruiter=1275689888

Since 1957 the Australian Railway Historical Society - QLD Division has operated Heritage Rail trips on the rail network in Queensland in pursuit of our aim of promoting an appreciation of railway heritage in Queensland. These trips have been undertaken with the support of Queensland Rail through their Heritage operations enabling our passengers to travel in traditional wooden carriages many of which are more than 100 years old being hauled by a range of Steam Locomotives on the railway lines our parents and grandparents travelled in years gone by. Over the last few years Queensland Rail have made it increasingly difficult for both the ARHS and other organisations to access the Heritage Fleet to provide these unique trips. This situation has now reached a point where Queensland Rail are not providing any Steam Charters for operation on the mainline in Brisbane and beyond. It is our position that as a Government owned entity, Queensland Rail are the custodians of the Heritage Railway assets and further have a responsibility to the people of Queensland to resource their Heritage Operations both in the preservation and operation of Heritage Services. In stark contrast to the lack of Heritage Rail operations in Queensland both NSW and Victoria are increasing the number of Heritage Train trips as well as implementing a program of restoration and return to service of additional Locomotives and Rollingstock. This level of operation is as a result of a genuine commitment to Railway Heritage from all the organisations involved along with the financial support of the NSW and Victorian Governments. There is absolutely no reason why we in Queensland should not have access to similar levels of Heritage Rail operations. We are calling on the responsible Ministers being the Honourable Cameron Dick MP, Treasurer and Minister for Investment and the Honourable Mark Bailey MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads to direct the Board of Queensland Rail to oversee the necessary urgent action for the return of Heritage Rail Operations to the mainline in Queensland and to ensure appropriate resourcing ensuring that the people of Queensland can continue to enjoy travelling on Heritage Rail trips on the Queensland mainline network.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1566148019304951808

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Posted on behalf of Australian Railway Historical Society - QLD Division Petition: The Return of Heritage Steam Trains...

Posted by RAIL - Back On Track on Saturday, 3 September 2022

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2022/1004-2022.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1004
Asked on 12 October 2022

MR T WATTS ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise why a permit was not granted and a Queensland Rail owned steam train
not provided or permitted to run trips from Brisbane to Toowoomba on the 17 and 18 of September
to coincide with the Carnival of Flowers?
ANSWER:
I thank the Member for Toowoomba North for the question.

Queensland Rail was proud to support this year's Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers by providing
the popular Toowoomba to Spring Bluff train shuttle services—operating two return train services
per day for customers between 17–24 September 2022. These services were a great success
and operated at full capacity, selling 4773 tickets.

Due to an ongoing safety investigation, the heritage wooden carriages were hauled by diesel
locomotives rather than steam engine.

Queensland Rail also partnered with Southern Downs Steam Railway to run steam shuttle
services using rollingstock—owned by Downs Explorer—under controlled circumstances,
between Toowoomba and Wyreema for the first weekend of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.