The Australasian Railway Association has supported the Federal Government’s $7.9 billion rail investment announced in Tuesday’s budget, but says skills development will be needed across the rail workforce if the significant pipeline of projects is to be delivered.
ARA boss Danny Broad said the budget demonstrated the Turnbull Government’s commitment to both passenger and freight rail in cities and regions.
But he stressed that work was needed to prepare Australia’s workforce for the planned volume of rail work.
“With this significant pipeline of work over the next decade, it is imperative that Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments work collaboratively with industry to identify the long-term labour skills required, ensuring training methodologies are leading edge, as well as enhancing traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities and capabilities,” Broad said.
“This is exactly what we have been advocating for since September 2017 in our National Rail Industry Plan. If we do not get this right and invest now in the skills needed tomorrow, we will be putting the cart before the horse, resulting in projects not being delivered on time, delays and congestion to our networks – ultimately not solving the problems we are there to fix.”
Overall, Broad said the budget’s rail spending would be “good for our economy, jobs, and our cities”.
He specifically welcomed a $400 million injection to ease congestion around Sydney Airport, through the duplication of tracks on the line to Port Botany.
“Every single additional train with containers along this rail line will take 50 trucks off the road, creating 150 jobs during construction,” he said.