Since about 2018 there has been several estimates as to the cost of converting the unused rail corridor into a full operating rail corridor. The initial cost estimates were in the $1 – $2 billion range and widely promoted on the likely cost to build a totally new rail line in an upgraded corridor.
Trains North Inc embarked on determining the cost and realised that there was a strong case to reinstate the existing corridor and repair the track and infrastructure to a serviceable standard.
The first stage was to determine the state of the existing corridor, track including rails, sleepers and bridges etc. This work was slow but gradually enforced the concept of repair. The degradation study and cost estimates are currently being finalised
The AEC Report, prepared to support the Rail Trail Proposal for Armidale Regional Council determined that the cost of reopening the rail line would be almost $500m.
In 2023 Rick Banyard determined that the cost would be in the order of $450m using extrapolation data from a similar project. This cost would include making stations and sidings serviceable.
In December 2023 the Lismore Telgun degradation study was published and Rick Banyard extrapolated that data to derive costings for the reestablishment of the Armidale to Wallangara Rail line. A range of costs for the 208 kms was $ 210 million to $ 388 million.
| Section | Distance | Full restoration | Cheap restoration |
| Wallangarra to Deepwater | 98kms | $233,600,000. | $102,200,000 |
| Deep Water to Glen Innes | 37 kms | $52,560,000 | $37,960,000 |
| Glen Innes to Black Mountain | 45 kms | $58,400,000 | $35,040,000 |
| Black Mountain to Armidale | 28 kms | $43,800,000 | $35,040,000 |
| Total | 208 kms | $388,360,000 | $210,240,000 |
In September 2024 Northern Regional Railway Company Pty Ltd (NRRC) and New England Railway Incorporated (NERI) completed a costed degradation study for Stage 1 – Armidale to the New England Highway rail crossing at Stonehenge. The report presents a range of costings of between $52m and $94m. To this the cost of making stations serviceable is needed plus the cost of the final section to Glen Innes and ultimately the total cost of Stage Two from Glen Innes to Wallangarra.
Rail Line routine Operation Costs
It is proposed that the rail line will operate on a self-funded basis with the revenue exceeding the expenditure on an annual basis. Any funds provided by the State or Australian Government will be considered as revenue.
A quarterly budget will be produced and strictly followed.
< Insert of draft budget needed >
Ongoing Line Maintenance Costs
A program of works will be prepared annually to cover the cost of emergency repairs, routine maintenance and progressive upgrades.
< Insert of draft budget needed >
Rick Banyard
Project Director
New England Transport Plan
11-may-2025
