Article: Puffing Billy faces uncertain future

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Puffing Billy faces uncertain future

The operators of Victoria's iconic Puffing Billy steam train say it faces an uncertain future without greater financial help from the State or Federal Governments.

In a report tabled in State Parliament yesterday, the Emerald Tourist Railway Board said the train ran at a loss of more than $300,000 last financial year.

The tourist train carried a record number of passengers in that period, but running costs increased dramatically due to ageing infrastructure and flood damage.

The train's operators say they need $26 million over five years for the train to continue.

The board has been forced to hire paid staff due to a lack of volunteers, putting a strain on the railway's bottom line.

Eamonn Seddon from the Emerald Tourist Railway Board says the operation will be downsized if funding is not granted.

"I think that really if the funding doesn't come, what we'll see is a different Puffing Billy. We'll see a much smaller Puffing Billy," he said.

"As you've seen from the report, we had record numbers last year. We can't continue to run at that level of service without some additional funds to support that service."

The Premier, Ted Baillieu, has ruled out an immediate cash injection for the railway.

"My understanding is that they are looking for additional capital investment over many years, and to the extend that we can make those commitments they will be subject to a budget process," he said.

"You wouldn't expect us to do otherwise."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-14/puffing-billy-faces-uncertain-future/2898318