Below Rail Infrastructure, Freight Rail, Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation

Parts of rail do like the Budget

Hockey Budget Photo: Youtube / Joe Hockey MP

While most of the news and opinion concerning the rail industry following Tuesday’s Federal Budget has been negative, there are at least two key stakeholders who have found things to like.

TasRail on Thursday bucked the trend by welcoming the Budget.

The state-owned operator thanked the Abbott Government for a $59.8 million investment, which will be matched by the Tasmanian Government, to create a $119.6 million Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP).

TasRail chief executive officer Damien White said the funding would deliver further improvements to the safety and reliability of the network and provide an increased level of certainty for TasRail’s customers.

“It’s certainly good news for our customers as well as those currently considering a shift from road to rail,” White announced.

A prioritised program of works has been developed to support the investment, which TasRail will funnel into its Rail Revitalisation Program.

“We’ve been working constructively with the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Tasmanian Department of State Growth to prepare appropriate documentation in support of the investment,” White explained.

Works to upgrade prioritised sections of the Western Line, the South Line and the Melba Line could commence within weeks, subject to weather.

The funding will also provide for selected re-railing, re-sleepering and drainage works on the Fingal, Bell Bay and Derwent Valley Lines, TasRail said.

“Investment in infrastructure upgrades and new assets, combined with TasRail’s focus on business excellence, has helped to achieve a turnaround in the performance of the rail freight business,” White continued.

“The rate of derailments has halved, operating costs have reduced and we’ve seen a step change in the efficiency and productivity of our operations.

“All of this translates to an ongoing increase in freight volumes on rail, growing customer confidence and the attraction of new business opportunities.”

 

Another industry member to praise the Federal Budget was Inland Rail Implementation Group chair, John Anderson.

Shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday wrote in Rail Express that since the Coalition promised to get on with Inland Rail prior to the election, this was the second Federal Budget where no extra funding (aside from the original $300 million) had been committed.

But Anderson, who was the leader of the National Party throughout the first half of last decade, welcomed the Budget “and its continuing commitment to deliver Inland Rail”.

Anderson said there was no need for extra funds until his Implementation Group had finished putting together a report for the Government.

“While additional funds will be required for further development and construction, they are not required immediately,” Anderson reasoned.

“There are sufficient funds presently available for the pre-construction work to continue, which is being ably led by the ARTC on the Government’s behalf.

The Implementation Group’s report is expected to Government in mid-2015, he said.

“The Implementation Group’s report will provide Government with the advice it needs to release further funds for construction in next year’s Budget.

“Inland Rail is a bigger project than expected. It has required significant additional work to develop the business case and delivery plan, and to ensure that it is robust.

“There have also been delays in the work undertaken due to the change in government in Queensland.”

Anderson said work undertaken to date has been “the most detailed of any work on Inland Rail,” and puts the Government in a good position for the implementation.

“I look forward to benefits that Inland Rail will provide to the national freight task,” Anderson concluded.