By JESSE GRAHAM
THE development of a railway line connecting Yarra Glen and Healesville has been bolstered by a donation of rail, which will help to create bridges between the towns.
On Friday 9 May, Metro Trains delivered a load of life-expired rails to Lilydale Station, to be donated to the Yarra Valley Railway (YVR) for the redevelopment of the tourist train line.
The rails, which were taken to Yarra Glen by truck, were given to the group at no cost, and will be recycled to form the supporting rail decking for some of the 16 railway bridges being rebuilt.
Yarra Valley Railway President, Brett Morton, said the group was extremely grateful for the donation, which he said would cut down costs and working times in re-creating the line.
“The transporting of the rail … has saved the railway on transport costs and hundreds of hours in volunteer labour,” he said.
“The Yarra Valley Railway is extremely grateful to Metro Trains for the ongoing assistance in transporting the rail for the bridges.”
The YVR recently signed off on a grant from the Federal Government for $3.5 million to help reconstruct the historic railway line.
Through that grant, YVR is receiving rail, sleepers, infrastructure and bridge beams from the Victorian Government and through the Office of the Registrar of Tourist and Heritage Railways.
Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said the government was ‘delighted’ to be assisting with the redevelopment.
“The Yarra Valley Railway’s many volunteers come from all walks of life and deserve our respect,” he said.
The rail line between Yarra Glen and Healesville is expected to open to the public around 2016-’17, and involves volunteers and contractors rebuilding eight kilometres of track and 16 railway bridges.
