The FONR is a voluntary organisation formed in 1989, when it led the campaign to save the passenger train service to Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and to Moree on the north-west line. Our trains were axed in February 1990. We got them back again in November 1993.

In December 2003, the FONR celebrated with other groups the successful defence of the Xplorer passenger train after the NSW state government had once again proposed to deprive this region of a vital and popular service.

Browse the archive of the 2003 campaign to Keep the Train. See a map of north NSW railways.

Other FONR papers and documents including our submission to AusLink and conference papers.

Links, including other railway lobby groups.

Browse our photograph archive.

The Friends of the Northern Railway continues to work for growth in freight and passenger rail. Our statement of purpose is: "To undertake activities relating to the restoration, maintenance and expansion of satisfactory rail services in northern New South Wales and also throughout Australia."