The true value of rail

In launching The True Value of Rail report, Lance Hockridge, chairman of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and chief exectuive of QR National, called for governments to address Australias transport challenges.

“The report provides a very telling commentary on the results of slow, sometimes misguided transport reform in this country over recent decades," Hockridge said.

“This manifests not only in extra cost and lost production but also in poorer outcomes for health, safety and liveability.

“The report details the true benefits of rail, compared to other transport modes, in alleviating congestion, reducing our carbon footprint and improving the health and well-being of Australians.”

The report underlined that all relevant costs and benefits of each transport mode must be weighed up when making decisions on infrastructure investment.

According to ARA chief exectuive Bryan Nye The True Value of Rail report confirms that it is time to end Australias love affair with the car.

“Since 1985, governments have invested more than $293bn on roads. This has brought us many challenges and hidden costs such as traffic congestion, carbon emissions and road fatalities that impede our standard of living and the nations productivity,” Nye said.

“Continuing our irresponsible spending on roads will lead us no-where. Governments must consider the true costs and benefits of each transport mode when making investment decisions and developing transport policies.

The study shows that:

• One passenger train takes 525 cars off the road. In one year, one trainload of passengers is equal to removing more than three million vehicle kilometres of traffic from our roads.
• One freight train in place of trucks between Melbourne and Brisbane reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as a household of three going without electricity for 46 years.
• One trainload of passengers travelling by rail instead of car for one year reduces accident costs by an amount that could fund 130 hospital visits, 505 hospital beds per day, or 6 doctors for one year.

According to  Nye, rail has much wider benefits than it receives acknowledgment for.

“If we are to genuinely realise these benefits, strong political leadership is essential. Our Governments need to consider the impacts of each transport mode when making investment decisions or developing transport policies,” he said.

The True Value of Rail study was commissioned by the ARA to better inform the community and governments of the financial, social and environmental benefits that rail travel provides.

“We must take a truly national approach and recognise that state borders and regulations are no longer relevant. We must have a National Transport Plan, a plan that will allow each mode of transport to play to its strengths," Nye said.

“This is a challenging task but it must be done. We urge governments to step up and make bold long-term decisions for the nation. No more reviews, no more committees, just actions.”

The report is available at www.ara.net.au

The AusRAIL PLUS edition of the Rail Express magazine, to be launched at the conference, will feature a detailed analysis of the True Value of Rail report.