Lydia Kindred, NRRL Secretary, The Nimbin GoodTimes

Bringing low-emission, passenger train services back to the Northern Rivers railway line is the closest it will ever be, right now. The required reports have been lodged with UGL Regional Linx and Transport for NSW and we now must raise sufficient funds for a licence to be granted.

Northern Rivers Rail Ltd, local community-based railway company, t/as Northern Rivers Railway, has been working for four years with the Northern Regional Railway Company P/L to secure the licence to extend train services between Lismore and Yelgun, at the top of Byron Shire.

This renewable energy commuter service will be called the ‘Country to Surf Train’ (CTST). It can provide transport for passengers, plus luggage, prams, wheelchairs, bikes, light freight and surfboards, continuing to Mullumbimby from the current three kilometre journey of the ‘world’s first’ Byron Solar Train.

We are almost there, but we need your help to jump the last hurdles of raising sufficient funds, showing community support, to extend services from Byron Bay to Mullumbimby (1st stage), and up to Bangalow (2nd stage), via a new train station called Lillipilli.

Having tax-deductibility is a real plus, thanks to Mullum SEED, who support our proposed non-road, all-weather, frequent service for residents and the many visitors to our region.

You can ‘buy a sleeper’ for $200, a package of five sleepers for $1000; or make an interim pledge for a much-needed larger donation, or a loan on agreed terms, to help us bring this vision through! Our fundraising document can provide you with more detailed information.

We have done the hard yards to secure this license. If we don’t pull this together right now, having provided all required reports, we will be sacrificing the future of train services ever running again on our 72 kms of tracks between Lismore and Yelgun. This is an important chance to grab now, to move our transport options forward.

We need to protect our tracks for trains to connect our towns and villages for communities and visitors. The railway corridor can also accommodate a bike/walking path, off the railway formation.

Don’t believe it when they say it’s not possible, because it is the win/win for everyone, and the key for the future, economically, and environmentally, of the Northern Rivers!

Please make a donation: BSB 728-728, Account 22330962 (last name and contact). Or to be tax-deductible, go to: support.mullumseed.org.au/Northern-Rivers-Rail-Ltd-(NRRL)

For more information, please email: northernriversrailway@gmail.com.

This article appeared in The Nimbin GoodTimes, June 2025.