A tourist voucher scheme will apply to Tasmania’s West Coast to offset the temporary closure of the Wilderness Railway for maintenance in the aftermath of a recent derailment.
Strahan’s service has closed already, while the Queenstown section will do the same from June 5, with a view to be fully operating again in the peak summer tourism season.
Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson making assurances the attraction is here to stay.
“We’ve provided $16 million to West Coast Wilderness Railway and the future vision that I have is a vibrant railway that operates right round the year from both Queenstown and Strahan with locomotives that have been upgraded and tracks that are safe and reliable.”
Labor leader Rebecca White finding workers at the Wilderness Railway are reportedly blindsided by its temporary phased closure.
“It was a real shock to the workers, nearly 100 people are employed on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.”
