Rail Express Blog

The crazy things people say — by Kristen Hulsey — last modified Oct 19, 2011 12:17 PM

The rail industry is not the only provider of “easy target” stories for the media, but it often seems that the smallest story involving rail attracts more than its fair share of negative and unsubstantiated comment.

Government still ignoring benefits of rail — by Kristen Hulsey — last modified Oct 19, 2011 12:37 PM

It has been obvious for many years that rail has the most to offer when it comes to providing the best transport solutions with the potential to alleviate carbon emissions and improve our quality of life, but unfortunately the message still does not seem to be getting through to our politicians.

Infrastructure Australia & rail in 2011 — by Kristen Hulsey — last modified Oct 19, 2011 12:11 PM

In Part 2 of this Special 2-Part Series, Mark Carter continues to examine the rail projects that made Infrastructure Australia's 2011 Infrastructure Priority List and looks at the issue, where will the money come from to fund them?

Infrastructure Australia and rail in 2011 — by Kristen Hulsey — last modified Oct 19, 2011 12:07 PM

Infrastructure Australia’s annual report to the Council of Australian Governments has emphasised the urgent need to reform the financing of major infrastructure projects across Australia.

High-speed sustainability — by Mark Carter — last modified May 18, 2011 11:07 AM

Opponents of high-speed rail (HSR) have been given a boost by news reports filtering out of China that the HSR program there is in trouble. Do they have a point or is it just opportunistic ranting to undermine a technology that conflicts with their own particular ideology?

Viewpoint: Going loco in our old age — by Rail Express — last modified Apr 13, 2011 10:51 AM

At a recent Grain Logistics conference in Melbourne hosted by Informa, Australasian Railway Association (ARA) chief exectuive Bryan Nye highlighted the ageing nature of Australia’s locomotive fleets, but are things really as bad as they seem?

Where there is optimism, there are bound to be challenges — by Rail Express — last modified Mar 16, 2011 12:00 PM

There are a plenty of positives around the rail industry for us to look forward to a bright future, but as several recent issues show, the industry needs to be ever vigilant in order to capitalise on its strengths and successes, writes Mark Carter.

Viewpoint: Running with or against the grain? — by Rail Express — last modified Dec 01, 2010 10:54 AM

Not so long ago it would have been safe to assume that close to 100% of the annual grain harvest would be moved to port by rail, but numerous changes within the rail and grain industries have turned the task into what some are now calling a “logistics nightmare”.

The growing cost of road dependency — by Rail Express — last modified Sep 22, 2010 09:38 AM

The Australasian railway Association (ARA) has called for government to consider the high costs associated with Australia’s transport use when making decisions on future transport networks. Will government listen?

Government support crucial to rail safety reform — by Rail Express — last modified Sep 07, 2010 02:08 PM

Australia’s rail industry is concerned that maintaining the current good progress on rail safety regulatory reform is proving to be a major challenge for both the commonwealth and state and territory governments, writes Phil Sochon*.

Getting our priorities right — by Rail Express — last modified Jul 07, 2010 12:22 PM

Projects that did not make Infrastructure Australia’s latest priority infrastructure list for federal funding are of more interest than those that did, according to Mark Carter.

Public perception off the rails — by Rail Express — last modified Jun 09, 2010 11:57 AM

A couple of pretty negative rail stories have passed across my desk recently, so I thought it was about time to revisit a particular hobby horse of mine – the perception of the rail industry in the broader community.

High-speed rail: the Green alternative — by Rail Express — last modified Jun 09, 2010 12:02 PM

In between salary cap breaches and tax reviews, for a brief moment the Australian Greens managed to gain a few column inches in the media with their call for a $10 million study into the future viability of high-speed rail in Australia.

Queensland miners and government square off over sale — by Rail Express — last modified Apr 21, 2010 10:38 AM

As predicted last year in this column the anticipated public float of Queensland Rail (QR) is starting to get a little messy with the current dispute between the coal miners and the state government attracting some strange bedfellows.

City Metro scrapped –all change in New South Wales — by Rail Express — last modified Feb 24, 2010 10:39 AM

Back in October, my column focussed on the ad hoc and inconsistent approach to public transport planning in New South Wales, exemplified by the ‘on again, off again’ North West rail link and planning for a Sydney City Metro no one seemed to want. Five months on and New South Wales has yet another new premier; the City Metro is now history; and you wouldn’t have guessed, but New South Wales has yet another transport plan.

The big news for 2010 – the Queensland rail IPO — by Rail Express — last modified Feb 02, 2010 02:47 PM

Despite some big issues on the agenda as we move into 2010 such as positive moves towards the setting up a single regulator for the industry and plenty of talk about high speed trains and inland rail routes, this year’s biggest story will be the Queensland government’s sale of its freight business and the below rail infrastructure serving the coal industry, and the issues that will surround it.

Postcard from the UK – high speed rail test — by Rail Express — last modified Jan 12, 2010 01:11 PM

The severe blast of cold weather that has England in its grip has once again severely tested the rail and transport network’s here, though latest reports suggest other parts of Europe more suited to the cold are faring little better.

Breaking down the barriers of over regulation — by Rail Express — last modified Dec 09, 2009 10:23 AM

One of the recurring themes at last month’s AusRAIL PLUS event held in Adelaide was that of the plethora of regulatory, technical and physical ‘breaks of gauge’ that continue to hinder the progress and productivity of the Australian rail industry.

Melbourne – ringing in the changes — by Rail Express — last modified Nov 10, 2009 03:15 PM

With new operators, new trains and new infrastructure, Melbourne’s suburban rail commuters could be in for a wild ride over the next few years. However, it will be some time before it becomes clear as to whether these developments will be sufficient to cope with the rapid growth in patronage and Melbourne’s predicted population expansion.

Something rotten in the State of New South Wales? — by Rail Express — last modified Oct 13, 2009 03:19 PM

No doubt many readers of this column watched the recent ABC Four Corners programme, ostensibly covering the public transport crisis in New South Wales.