The state government allocated $450,000 in the 2017-18 budget, which will see the tourist railway supported upto July, 2018. 

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said the government would provide funds “as and when required” once the current allocation dried up. 

“The railway now has a strong balance sheet that means there is no need to allocate additional funds at this stage beyond June 2018,” Mr Hidding said.

“We are committed to the railway’s continued operation for the long term and we will allocate additional funds as and when required.” 

Mr Hidding said business had been “booming” since the Abt railway resumed a service for tourists in 2014.

He said passenger numbers were projected to increase by 75 per cent from 31,800 in 2017, to 55,500 in 2020-21. 

“Revenue growth is projected to more than double between the current financial year and 2020-21,” Mr Hidding said.

“The aim was always to have the railway operating sustainably and it is now in a position to do so thanks to these fantastic numbers.”

Assurance from Mr Hidding that funding will continue beyond 2018 came after Braddon Labor MHA Shane Broad expressed concern for local business owners. 

“How can West Coast tourism businesses make any investment decisions not knowing if one of their tourism icons will be operating beyond next year,” Mr Broad said.