TAS: PM Howard to officially open bush railway
QUEENSTOWN, Tas, April 3 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard steamed into Queenstown thismorning to officially open the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
A crowd of thousands gathered in the remote mining town to greet the Prime Ministerwho travelled by steam train from the nearby Lynchford station.
He said the railway was made possible because of the enthusiasm and support of thelocal community and cooperation between the state and federal governments.
"This railway is not only a great engineering feat ... but the concept connects therailway with the environment and the great future that I know tourism represents in thisstate."
"I wanted very much to come to this event because I know how much it means to the peopleof the west cost of Tasmania."
The 34km route from Queenstown to the port village of Strachan was first opened in1897 to transport copper from local mining operations to the coast.
Shut down almost 40 years ago, the railway was rejuvenated as a tourist attractionwith a $20.45 million injection from the Commonwealth Federation Fund and more than $10million from the state government.
In Tasmania for a two-day visit, Mr Howard was due to attend a function in Burnie inthe state's north-west this afternoon before departing this evening.
AAP las/bd/ge/de
KEYWORD: HOWARD TRAIN
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