<p>A single national regulatory regime for rail safety is a key objective for the Australasian Railway Association’s (ARA) rail policy action agenda for 2002-04.</p> <p>The ARA said it is supporting regulatory reform to "streamline the plethora of regulatory hurdles that stand in the way of efficient rail operations". </p> <p>The association advocates replacing the existing six state-based regimes but does not want the creation of seventh regime that would merely duplicate the state systems. </p> <p>Another focal point in the ARA agenda is an examination of infrastructure access pricing across all modes of transport to ensure pricing principles are consistent.</p> <p>This would mean heavy trucks paying for the "real cost" of road damage, accidents and pollution they caused, ARA said.</p> <p>"The ARA’s action agenda builds on rail’s role as an integral part of an efficient, competitive and sustainable transport network that lowers transport costs for all producers and consumers, while improving Australia’s environment and international competitiveness," ARA executive director John Kirk said.</p> <br />
