Full Steam Ahead for Iconic Railway - 18 April 2013

The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have signed a formal funding agreement to restore and reopen the Abt Railway, one of the nation's most iconic heritage attractions.

Under the terms set out in the agreement signed in April, the Federal Government will contribute $6 million to bring the rail line back up to an appropriate and safe standard, with the Tasmanian Government charged with finding an operator and underwriting its ongoing operational costs for the next four years.

Since re-opening in 2002, the Abt Railway has carried more than 400,000 passengers, created 33 direct jobs, and injected some $10 million annually into West Coast communities.

The signing guarantees the upgrades needed to give the operation a safe and sustainable rail line for years to come. The State Government is committed to seeing the Abt Railway back up-and-running by the next summer tourist season.

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