Rail line riddle sparks stoush

THE mystery over the removal of rail lines from Macquarie Point has deepened, with confusion over which lines have been removed and who authorised their removal.

Rail groups are angered by the removal of rail line from Macquarie Point to the Hobart Regatta Grounds, saying the infrastructure could have been used for the proposed light rail public transit scheme.

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation said the rail line was lifted at the request of TasRail, but a TasRail spokeswoman said it was not their call.

“The lines in front of the Regatta Pavilion are within the Macquarie Point land footprint, for which TasRail is no longer responsible,” she said.

“TasRail has reserved the rail line into Macquarie Point for future use as required.”

Rail advocate Ross Harris yesterday said not only had a 150m section of the main south rail line been removed but also all rail lines within the main Macquarie Point site. “The [corporation’s] claim that ‘the historic South Line remains in situ’ is not correct,” he said.

“There is no railway track left intact within any corridor between McVilly Drive and Macquarie Wharf, sections of track may be seen on the wharf apron but most has been covered over under [the corporation’s] and TasPorts’ auspices.”

In State Parliament yesterday, Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said the main rail line remained intact between Hobart and Burnie.

“These rail lines are the property of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and I am advised that the lines that have been removed were shunting lines that were not required,” he said.

Labor transport spokesman Craig Farrell said the decision to remove the rail was “shortsighted”.