Diesel Traction Tasmania board member Clynton Brown said they have developed plans that envisions a side-by-side rail trail and tourist railway, which he said has been successful elsewhere in Australia. 

“Where the rail trail is now, part of our business plan was to join up with that and to make it part of the trip,” he said. “We’d take people out on bikes and they’d ride from Scottsdale out to Legerwood, back on the train a few hours later and those that don't want to do the rail trail can just spend a few hours in Scottsdale.”

Mr Brown said when he approached the rail trail group they were not open to the idea.

North East Rail Trail chair Sarah Hirst said as far as she is aware the rail trail is the only option that is fully costed and operationally ready.

“We’ve met with groups and we’ve talked to lots of people and those conversations will continue, but we’ve not seen another fully costed proposal on the table at this point,” Ms Hirst said. 

Mr Brown said the rails are in good condition, and to remove them for a rail trail would be short-sighted. 

“As a line it would be a really good one for tourist trains to get onto because to bring it up to standard wouldn't be so hard,” he said. “To remove that for a rail trail is a bit silly ... as far as we’re concerned.”

Mr Brown wants to work together with the rail trail to provide different options for tourists to maximise the return to local communities.