Harvest crunch time for branch lines: NSW farmers

<p>The New South Wales Farmers’ Association has demanded that dilapidated branch lines be sorted out before the upcoming harvest.</p> <p>The call follows the closure of the Gwabegar line in northern NSW, the association said.</p> <p>"It started with a log and stop sign blocking part of the line and the excuse that the ‘line isn’t closed, you just can’t use it’," association chairman Angus Macneil said.</p> <p>A wheat train derailment had also occurred on the line, which led to $400,000 worth of new sleepers being put down to free the wagons, Mr Macneil said.</p> <p>But the work could not pass the first rail safety regulator inspection and little progress had been made since, he said.</p> <p>"The wheat wagons are still hopelessly stranded and with Rail Infrastructure Corporation now out of money, the future of the Gwabegar line is on the brink, officially labelled as ‘closed until further notice’," Mr Macneil said.</p> <p>This year’s harvest will begin in six weeks.</p> <br />