The West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania is set to undergo major upgrades over the winter to improve its reliability and resilience following a recent incident that prompted a review of operations. The $16m upgrade is expected to ensure the railway can continue to meet the growing demand for the rail experience and remain a major drawcard for the region for decades to come.
The shutdown of the railway will be phased with Strahan services remaining closed, Queenstown closed from 5 June 2023 and operations expected to recommence gradually in time for the peak summer tourism season. The shutdown is expected to have an impact on the region’s tourism operators, and in recognition of this, a $1m support program has been developed to drive continued visitation and support local operators during the winter period.
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The program will include a targeted travel voucher program to encourage Tasmanians to visit the west and enjoy all the attractions that are open during winter, coinciding with Tourism Tasmania’s Off-Season campaign. It will also feature a small grants program open to west coast businesses who wish to invest in new projects aligned to the Small Business Growth Strategy, as well as advice and capacity building.
Tasmania Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, said while the decision to shut down the railway was a difficult one, it was vital to the railway’s ongoing future. “We know that this longer shutdown of what is the region’s major drawcard will have an impact on our tourism operators and the region, and in recognition of this we have developed a $1 million support program to drive continued visitation, while also supporting our operators on the ground to invest in their businesses during the winter period,” he said.
West Coast Wilderness Railway Acting General Manager, Ian Robertson, said the decision to undertake a larger shutdown was made in the best interests of the passenger experience. “Without action, passengers may not have the highest quality journey, and this could quite quickly erode our brand and reputation,” he said. “By tackling the necessary upgrades head-on and in one go we will add decades to the operational life of the railway and the local economic benefit it brings to the west coast region.”
Anyone with tickets booked on affected services will be contacted directly and provided a full refund. Passengers booked on services out of Queenstown between now and 5 June 2023 are not affected by this decision. Importantly, all staff will be retained and the cafes located in Queenstown and Strahan will continue to operate.
Further information on the upgrade program will be made available on the West Coast Wilderness Railway website.
