AN INTERMODAL freight terminal at the township of Beveridge north of Melbourne will happen, Freight Victoria chief executive Garry Button says.
Speaking at an industry briefing at the Victoria Hotel in Yarraville, Mr Button said the terminal (or BIFT) was important for Melbourne’s long term freight growth, particularly with new projects like Inland Rail coming online.
“We are working on the interstate freight terminal business case, the WIFT, that’s our preferred option, but I’ve got to say the business case isn’t done yet,” Mr Button told delegates.
“We’re also not precluding the BIFT – the BIFT will happen,” he said.
“At the moment it’s WIFT first at Truganina and then BIFT.”
Mr Button also touched on several other themes, including the short distances that freight was typically moved from the Port of Melbourne.
“That is part of the challenge for rail, because rail normally works for longer distances,” he said.
“We need to figure out ways to make rail work – shorter trains, suburban terminals.
“Those trains need to perform on a network that is dominated by the passenger task.”
The industry session was organised by the Container Transport Alliance of Australia.
