Derwent Valley Railway hopeful after Chigwell to granton rail lease extention

The Derwent Valley Railway is excited about the possibility of running trains back to New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley in the future, following the Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian Transport Museum's decision to extend an existing rail corridor lease from Chigwell through to Granton.

The Derwent Valley Railway has congratulated the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society on extending the lease to Granton, hoping heritage trains can one day connect and run both sides of the Derwent River.

Derwent Valley Railway Chairman Matthew Davey said: “We support the decision and support light passenger rail and historic tourism rail because it works”.

“In time there is no reason Southern Tasmania cannot have complementary heritage services running from Glenorchy to Granton on one side of the river and the Derwent Valley Line on the other with room for Statewide tours in partnership with the Transport Museum and Don River Railway".

The Tasmanian Transport Museum has held the lease for the rail corridor from Elwick Road and Glenorchy through to Mentmore Street since 2021, with heritage operations starting in 2023 and moving to train passenger services through to Berridale in December 2025.

The Granton rail corridor forms part of the State's broader railway heritage, with the former railway network playing a significant role in connecting communities, industries and agricultural districts throughout Tasmania.

The lease extension allows the Tasmanian Transport Museum to protect, restore and maintain an important section of the former rail corridor while creating potential for future heritage, tourism and community activities.

Mr Davey from the DVR went on to say. “The Tasmanian Transport Museum’s volunteers have already put passenger trains back on a section of line that sat idle for years. "Extending that lease to Granton gives them the certainty to keep going, plus work through the safety regulator to build a genuine historic tourism railway along the Derwent.”

"That only happens if governments keep leasing corridors to the volunteer groups who are prepared to do the work.”  Mr Davey said.

DVR’s own work continues on the Derwent Valley Line with the organisation holding a 3.1 kilometre lease on the New Norfolk to Boyer Rail corridor. The DVR is restoring track and rolling stock at their New Norfolk station and said they're "committed to heritage passenger services toward Westerway and Mount Field National Park as access, safety accreditation and partnerships allow it".

The Museum received formal notification this week of the rail corridor lease extension to Granton from Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent MLC, with conversations ongoing regarding the Strategic Infrastructure Corridors Act. The Museum said the lease is not yet signed, but the process is expected to take up to 12 months.

DVR thanked the Museum’s volunteers and President Jeff Bronstein, and acknowledged Minister Vincent and Building Tasmania for moving the Granton lease forward.