Rail
The Government recognises the benefits of transporting freight by rail and has committed to invest around $7.7 billion between 2008-09 and 2013-14 to improve and expand Australia’s passenger and freight rail infrastructure.
A competitive, safe and reliable rail network – both within and between our major urban communities – is critical to lifting national productivity, curbing the escalating cost of traffic congestion and tackling climate change by contributing to reducing carbon pollution.
The Government is investing:
- Over $1 billion towards projects on the interstate freight network through the Nation Building Program.
- $3.5 billion in public transport and ports infrastructure through the Building Australia Fund.
- $150 million towards the installation of new boom gates and other active safety measures at some 300 high risk rail crossings under the Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program.
- $1.2 billion equity injection into the Australian Government owned Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for a program of 17 projects as part of the Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan. Details of these projects can be found through the Nation Building Program website project search tool.
- A further billion dollar equity injection into ARTC to support a Rail Productivity Improvement Package of projects across the interstate frieght network.Details of these projects can be found through the Nation Building Program website project search tool.
- $70.7 million to complete the detailed planning on the Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal project in Sydney's South West and the relocation of the School of Military Engineering and other Defence units to Holsworthy. A total $300 million is committed towards the development of the intermodal freight hub.
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
With the agreement of mainland state governments, the Australian Government established ARTC in 1998 to manage and develop Australia's interstate track infrastructure as a single entity. This is achieved through ownership or long term leases of the interstate track. ARTC currently owns or leases interstate track from Kalgoorlie to Acacia Ridge in QLD.
ARTC is a public company whose shares are wholly owned by the Australian Government and operates the interstate freight rail track on a commercially sustainable basis. It is financed by a mix of fees charged to commercial operators to access the track that it maintains, revenue received from maintenance contracts, Australian Government equity, commercial borrowings and direct grants from the Australian Government.
Details of ARTC’s current investment program can be found on the ARTC website.
Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal
Moorebank, in south western Sydney, is the proposed site for an Intermodal Terminal facility planned to handle container traffic from interstate rail freight and Port Botany.
In the 2010-11 Budget, the Government announced funding to complete the detailed planning on the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal, with the staged redevelopment of the hub expected to start in 2013, subject to final approval.
The Moorebank Intermodal Terminal will provide an integrated transport solution for the movement of freight to, from and within the Sydney basin to support national productivity, reduce business costs and urban traffic congestion by a more efficient distribution of containers by rail and create jobs.
Once complete, the new facility will improve Australia’s productivity and economic performance and promote significant industry development, investment and create jobs in south western Sydney. The proposed Moorebank Intermodal Terminal will reduce road congestion and delays. The reduction in heavy vehicle traffic on Sydney’s roads will improve air quality, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and will also decrease motor vehicle accident rates.
It is expected that detailed design and approval of the Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal project will be completed by mid-2012 and, subject to planning outcomes, the staged development of the Intermodal Terminal is proposed to start in 2013.
Further details of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal project can be found on the Moorebank Intermodal Freight Terminal website.
