Seven of Australia’s transporters of freight on rail and road have written an open letter to the country’s prime minister Tony Abbott to take a call on the Inland Rail project. Around A$300m ($235m) has already been allocated for this project and the companies are asking the government to allocate full construction funding to finish the job.
“The Inland Railway project is expected to improve the country’s existing national rail network and serve the interstate freight market.”
To be built between Melbourne and Brisbane through central-west New South Wales and Toowoomba, the Inland Railway project is planned to improve the country’s existing national rail network and serve the interstate freight market.
The project provide benefits in the form of new investment, jobs and reduced pressure on existing roads, essential services and the environment.
Approximately 80% of freight moving between the east and west coasts of Australia currently travels by rail, and less than 30% of freight moving between Melbourne and Brisbane travels by rail.
The project will help meet the increasing freight volumes on Australia’s east coast, which would double by 2030 and triple by 2050.
Following completion, Inland Rail will reduce train transit times and transport costs, as well as provide a reliable rail transport alternative for agricultural and mining freight.