The two-car 660 series 100 seater diesel railmotor which is being restored for the Byron Bay 3km rail project between a resort and the township. Photo Contributed

The two-car 660 series 100 seater diesel railmotor which is being restored for the Byron Bay 3km rail project between a resort and the township. Photo Contributed Contributed

ELEMENTS of Byron are progressing with their plans to reinstate a train along the 3km of track between Sunrise Beach and Byron township, they have said in a letter to local residents.

Elements have sent a letter to property owners close to the track to inform them of current plans, and said they intend to commence work on the track in June.

This is to coincide with the former Club Med/Becton/Byron Beach Resort/North Byron Beach Resort, soon to be known as Elements of Byron, on Belongil Beach.

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The resort has received approval is for 193 individual one and two bedroom villas of which 94 villas, along with the central resort and leisure facilities, are due for completion by Christmas 2015.

Byron Shire Council put their support behind the proposal for the light rail service to run between the town and the resort at Belongil back in 2013.

This week, Elements said they are currently restoring a two-car 660 series 100 seater diesel railmotor in its heritage colours in Lithgow - a train which was built at the end of the Second World War and operated by Cityrail on the Hunter Valley line for most of it's former life.

The track work is set to take some months, with Elements having said they plan to have the train running on the tracks before Christmas, in time for the opening of Elements of Byron resort.

The train will be available for use by the general public at a fare of around $3 for a one-way journey.

While they are yet to determine a timetable for services, they have said there will be two train stations - one where Bayshore Drive crosses the existing track near Bayshore Bungalows and another at the top end of town behind the Caltex Service Station and NRMA in the rail corridor.

For residents worried about noise, Elements said the two-car railmotor is relatively quiet at the speeds it will operate, especially on a straight track, however there would be a "suburban whistle" used at the Kendall Street level crossing.

The team said they have been in continual discussion with those formulating the Northern Rivers Rail Trail plans, and said the corridor has "plenty of capacity for the rail trail as well as the train."

The track will continue to be owned by the State Government, with an access licence allowing Elements to use this section of the rail corridor, however, not exclusively.

Elements said they can be contacted for any queries on enquiries@northbyronbeachresort.com.au or on 6685 6561.