Tripodi looks for Port Botany rail expansion opportunities

<p>The New South Wales Government is working with stakeholders in the Port Botany container supply chain to move toward a more efficient rail freight and intermodal terminal network.</p> <p>Ports minister Joe Tripodi chaired a rountable meeting of operators in the Port Botany logistics chain last month in an effort to understand coalface issues at the port. </p> <p>&#8220I wanted to know directly from industry and stakeholders whether they are interested in participating with the government to understand Port Botany’s freight logistics chain,&#8221 he said at the Associated Ports and Marine Authorities conference.</p> <p>Mr Tripodi identified passenger rail services, peak hour curfews on the movement of freight services, and limitations on value cycles as restricting rail freight growth, labelling the expansion of dedicated freight rail connections &#8220essential&#8221. </p> <p>&#8220The reliability and efficiency of the metropolitan rail freight network will be improved by increasing segregation of passenger and freight rail services, improving existing freight-only lines, and planning for new rail connections to freight-intensive areas,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>Specific areas included facilitation of the southern Sydney freight line, and improvements to and duplication of the Botany freight line.</p> <p>Mr Tripodi did not give a timeline or planning process detail for his rail freight vision.</p> <p>&#8220Sea trade, port freight and trade logistics are key issues for our government,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>&#8220The Freight Infrastructure Advisory Board has delivered advice on the design of an intermodal freight network in Sydney. </p> <p>&#8220The board’s report looks at how to improve freight distribution, the infrastructure requirements to service the network, and potential changes to work practices that can help maximise the efficiency of truck-port interfaces in this state.&#8221</p> <p>The report, now under consideration, proposes locations for the development of intermodal terminals to support the Government’s goal of moving 40% of Port Botany-related freight by rail. </p> <p>Rail moves 21% of freight entering or leaving Port Botany at present.</p> <br />