AN ex-Gawler resident has launched an ambitious plan to revive the Barossa Wine Train, as the State Government ponders the future of the Barossa rail corridor.

Grant McDougall – who lived in Gawler West during the 1970s and ‘80s, but currently lives in Munno Para West – has set his sights on operating a revived Barossa ‘wine train’ from Adelaide to Nuriootpa, designed to bring tourists into the region who otherwise couldn’t get there.

He said the Barossa should be open to everyone, not just those who can afford to go there by car.

“I want to get the Barossa Valley back to being a tourist spot, because there’s only one way you can get to the Barossa, that’s by car,” Mr McDougall said.

“If you’re a low income earner and you can’t afford a taxi to get from Adelaide Airport or the Adelaide Railway Station, you never make it there.

“We’ve contacted more than 220 wineries, local businesses and locals for support, and the wineries have said it would be a great idea.”

Mr McDougall, who is working with an ex-South Australian business partner to bring the plan to life, said he has the support of Barossa businesses to go ahead with the plan, which would see him privately purchase rail carts and operate the rail journeys.

His idea would see tourists hop on the train at the Adelaide train station, where they would be served wine and food on their way to the region.

The cost of transporting the rail carts from Victoria to Adelaide could be around $100,000, an amount Mr McDougall plans to raise through community fundraising.

“There’s nowhere, that I’m aware of, where a rail line goes right to the heart of a wine region,” he said.

“It will have nothing to do with government, I plan to not make any sort of profit for at least four to five years as wages and other required stuff gets paid.

“The community will benefit from a diesel mechanic employed to take care of the railcar motors, there’s employment putting money back into the Barossa.”

Current upgrade plans for the Kroemers Crossing intersection upgrade could see the rail corridor cut off at Tanunda, something Mr McDougall said would “kill” his plan.

He plans to hold a public forum in the Barossa before the end of the month to explain his idea to more local businesses.

Transport minister Stephan Knoll opened his department to expressions of interest from the public for the use of the rail corridor in August.