The government of New South Wales (Australia) has launched a tender process to reopen a freight rail line that has been shut since 2007, the Cowra Lines.

The contract will grant exclusive rights to restore, operate and maintain the Cowra Lines under a fixed term licence. The Cowra Lines are owned by Transport for NSW.

Duncan Gay, the Minister for Roads and Ports, stated:

Industry response to our registration of interest process in late 2013 was promising and resulted in our decision to now move to open tender. With this tender, we have proposed an innovative, market-based model which will mean the private sector will fund the Cowra Lines and manage the risk of this investment. This commercial approach will help ensure there is sustainable demand for freight on these lines.

The tender opened on 24 March 2014. Interested parties must submit their proposals on or before 25 July 2014. Transport for NSW will also host a public briefing for prospective tenderers on April 8th.

The non operational Blayney to Demondrille and Koorawatha to Greenthorpe railway lines are part of the Country Regional Network. It includes 175 km of class three lines between Blayney and Demondrille and an additional 25km of class five lines between Koorawatha and Greenthorpe.

See tender notice:

https://tenders.nsw.gov.au/?event=public.rft.show&RFTUUID=D331A166-CCAA-46D5-A827BD769850E949