That was a slogan our railways, used in past years. Our forefathers had vision and planned for a rail system covering the State. It was a simple concept, the creation of our rail system which was capable of transporting everything and everybody, to their destination, by giving regular services across the State.

And the rail system worked very well until after WWII.

Then our party politicians believed they had a better idea. Provided they did it by degrees, they could over time, do away with that once sound rail system. So our politicians set about removing our rail services.

They still required the rail to be able to move the grain and coal, also it was so much cheaper by rail. The livestock transport industry took off as the railways dropped that service. Passenger services were reduced after they became increasingly unreliable and we stopped using them. Track work now had precedent over regular rail services for the tax payer. Of course the politician and public service staff could fly or drive at tax payer expense. Our freight system around the State was fast and efficient. They closed that.

Now there are very few branch line services. If only the rail was the only transport available to everyone the railway would pay.

Oh well, global warming and its spin off, carbon trading may eventually bring the rail services of old back to life. But that would require extensive planning and longterm vision which our forefathers had. A deliberation that our politicians and their parties, today seem hardly capable of undertaking as they are so busy scoring political points instead of governing the State.

George L Archbold

TAMWORTH