Feasibility tender to explore a new NT home for The Ghan, opens up new transit opportunity

A tender exploring a new NT home for Australian icon The Ghan has also opened up potential for a major transport opportunity.

PALMERSTON could ­become the new home of The Ghan and potentially the NT’s first public rail system, with a tender out for a feasibility study into relocating the Darwin Passenger Railway Terminal (DRT).

The tender, released in August, requests quotes for a relocation feasibility study and concept design to move the DRT to Palmerston and allow The Ghan to station ­either at Tivendale between Tiger Brennan Drive and Kirkland Rd or Archer south of Catalina Drive.

The study will explore ­requirements to meet rail track treatment and rail station infrastructure, design ­requirements for bus, taxi and private carparking, and car train loading facilities.

A suitable site would ­require serviceable land 2km long without road crossings to allow The Ghan to park, have sufficient move to ­manoeuvre and be serviced.

The current DRT is in ­industrial precinct East Arm and is subleased by the ­Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

The tender states the East Arm site is sub-optimally ­located, is not compliant with the Disability Discriminations Act standards and is far from public transport.

It also states property owner Land Development Corporation intends to use the site for greater industrial purposes.

The tender is expected to be awarded toward the end of 2021 and completed mid-2022.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the project would allow for more economic ­opportunities.

Following questions from the NT News, Ms Lawler confirmed the project could allow for the potential development of a public rail system.

“A new rail terminal will provide long-term certainty for the rail operator and, ­depending on the preferred site, it will also have the ­opportunity to integrate future transit systems between Palmerston and Darwin,” she said.

A statement from The Ghan operator Journey Beyond said it supported the plans. “The current terminal is not ideally located close to town,” it read.

“We are supportive and will work closely with the NT Government as they consider terminal relocation to an area more conducive to tourism.”

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the relocation aligned with Palmerston’s recently released local economic plan.

“Relocating the railway terminal to Palmerston would provide opportunities for our community through local jobs in infrastructure and tourism, as well as increase traffic resulting in more trade for our local businesses,” Alderman Pascoe-Bell said.

“It is an ideal location that is accessible by public transport, and in an area close to numerous amenities.”

Originally published as Feasibility tender to explore a new NT home for The Ghan, opens up new transit opportunity