The iconic Zig Zag Railway in Lithgow will be brought back to life five years after it was badly burned during the State Mine bushfire in October 2013.
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The NSW Government has committed $2.3 million towards restoring the much-loved tourism railway.
Zig Zag Railway carriages, tracks and infrastructure suffered significant damage during the 2013 bushfire that destroyed 210 homes and damaged 150 others across the Blue Mountains in October 2013.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who was on hand for the announcement on Thursday as part of the NSW Cabinet’s two-day tour of Bathurst and Lithgow, said the Zig Zag Railway was an important link to the state’s rail history and this funding would open up the attraction to thousands of new tourists each year.
“Zig Zag was one of our state’s greatest engineering feats, providing passage across the Blue Mountains and opening up regional NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The redeveloped Zig Zag railway is expected to attract over 60,000 tourists to Lithgow each year. By helping restore this iconic railway, the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is supporting jobs in Lithgow, boosting tourism across the Blue Mountains and strengthening the local economy.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro also welcomed the funding.
“I am excited to see Zig Zag Railway to reach its potential as a premium regional tourism destination when carriages start rolling on the tracks again next year,” Mr Barilaro said.
“When visitors come to our regional towns to see the attractions on offer, they stay in local accommodation, buy souvenirs from local shops and dine in local eateries.
“From train and history buffs, to families with young children heading for a great day out, the Zig Zag Railway will once again be celebrated as a part of our heritage well into the future.”
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the revitalisation of the Zig Zag Railway, the last of its kind in Australia, would keep attracting visitors to the Central West.
“Zig Zag is set to return as a local drawcard that will have people heading further over the mountains for an authentic steam era experience,” Mr Toole said.
Opened in 1869, the Zig Zag replaced animal-drawn carts, creating trade and commerce opportunities by reducing freight transport times from days to hours.
The $2.3 million of NSW Government funding will build on existing co-contributions of $5.1 million to restore and bolster the railway from Transport Heritage NSW and Zig Zag Railway.
