Derwent Valley Railway secures extra train line

The Derwent Valley Railway (DVR) has secured a lease for 3.1 kilometres of the railway corridor between New Norfolk and Boyer.

For the first time in 20 years, the DVR will have access to this section of the railway line as the organisation plans to resume restoring and operating heritage rail services along the Derwent Valley Line.
The lease enables the DVR to access, manage and maintain the rail corridor from their base at Station Street, New Norfolk, through to Boyer Newsprint Mill, and to prepare for future operations, with the long-term vision to extend rail services back up to Mt Field National Park.
The news comes after the DVR also successfully renewed its lease at its historic Station in Westerway, which opened in 1909.
Derwent Valley Railway's Secretary Maurice Hays said the organisation remains committed to its long-term goals.

“We have not given up on our plans to run services through to Westerway and Mount Field National Park,” Mr Hays said.

“These remain key long-term objectives for the organisation.”
“We are continuing to work collaboratively with TasRail to explore pathways that will support future expansion of rail services along the corridor.”
DVR Chairman Matthew Davey welcomed the outcome and acknowledged the work of all involved in reaching this agreement.
“Securing the lease for the section of the Boyer line is a major achievement for the Derwent Valley Railway,” Mr Davey said.

“It provides us with the certainty needed to move forward with planning, maintenance, and future rail operations.
"This lease represents a foundational step in that journey, strengthening DVR’s position to progressively extend operations as infrastructure, access, and partnerships allow"
The Derwent Valley Railway is seeking volunteers to assist across a range of areas, both in its home yard and along the newly acquired lease for the Boyer Line.

Volunteer work includes painting and restoration tasks, vegetation management along the Boyer Line and within the yard, yard clean-up and general maintenance, administration and office tasks, events, media, and promotion support, general maintenance and working bees, plus other volunteer support roles across the organisation.