The Willans Hill Miniature Railway’s first price rise in 10 years has not deterred passengers, according to the Wagga Society of Model Engineers.
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Society publicity officer Jim Weeden said the ride in Wagga’s Botanic Gardens still had people lining up despite the price increasing from $2 to $2.50 at the start of the year.
Mr Weeden told The Daily Advertiser that the non-profit club needed to increase prices to match rising fuel costs, as well as incidental expenses such as graffiti removal and replacing dying trees.
“Last August we decided at our annual general meeting to increase the price as everything has gone up; the cost of fuel and the cost of maintenance,” he said.
“We had to put it up because our bank balance was going down and being a non-profit organisation, we raise our money through rides.
“It’s going back into the club and occasionally we have a special run to support a local charity.”
The railway has opened five times for rides on Sunday mornings and afternoons since the price rise.
Miniature railway fans who spoke to The Daily Advertiser said they were not put off by the 25 per cent price increase.
Wagga’s Jason Wells and Jess Pokoney visit the railway a few times a year and often purchase 10 tickets for rides for their children and relatives.
“It’s still reasonable; I’d pay it,” Ms Pokoney said.
“I didn’t really notice that they put the price up and the kids love it.”
Mr Wells said there “wasn’t much else you could buy in Wagga for $2.50”.
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Miniature railway’s 1.7 kilometre of track runs through the Botanic Gardens and features landscaped areas, a spiral, tunnels and bridges.
“We have had no complaints,” Mr Weeden said.
“Everybody is so happy with it. The first opening we had with the new price had 1000 people come through and nobody has objected.
“A lot of people said ‘it’s about time you woke up and put it up’.”
The society spent $30,000 on a new train last year and its older carriages have spent more time out of service due to requiring more maintenance.
Mr Weeden said the price changes would also make it easier to deal with the cash proceeds as most people bought tickets in multiples of two, which would now involve a lot more notes than coins.