Ida Bay Railway operator Meg Thornton pleads for funds to help with urgent track repairs

THE operator of Australia's southern-most railway is pleading for a "sliver" of the millions being poured into the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Meg Thonrton

THE operator of Australia's southern-most railway is pleading for a "sliver" of the millions being poured into the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

Leaseholder Meg Thornton says the Ida Bay Railway is in need of urgent track repairs, but she can't get the State Government to cough up funds for the work.

Ms Thornton said she's asked for $415,000 to carry out track maintenance and establish a museum on the Lune River property, to showcase the region's history.

She said because the site was owned by the State Government and managed by Parks and Wildlife Services, they should be responsible for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. It was the same argument used by former West Coast Wilderness Railway operator, Federal Group, which walked away from the venture last April.

The West Coast Abt railway will now receive $12 million in federal and state government funding over the next four years.

"We can't get any money, yet they're pouring millions into the West Coast railway and they don't even have an operator, " Ms Thornton said.

"I don't have any more [money]. I've already put my house and everything I have into [the Ida Bay Railway]."

Ms Thornton said about 8500 people travelled on the southern railway each year, with numbers up last year.

She said the operation ran on a tight budget, relying on a combination of volunteers and paid staff. She said there had been suggestions by PWS to rip up the railway and put in a walking track.

"The Premier has been down here -- she's a lovely lady but she's got no idea how this business operates," Ms Thornton said. "The fact is, I can't get regular grants because they won't give them [to a business that uses] State Government infrastructure."

A State Government spokesman said the operation had already received significant funding in recent years and that track maintenance was Ms Thornton's responsibility.

"The Tasmanian Government has provided significant funding assistance to Ida Bay Railway over the last few years, with about $360,000 in funding along with and other support and advice towards maintenance and upgrading of the railway," he said.

"A small business grant was recently provided by the Premier to Friend of Ida Bay to assist in the development of a business case. A number of options were identified through that and Parks is currently considering those options."

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