THE incoming Labor government’s stated commitment to getting the Inland Rail back on track has been received with support the nation’s largest private rail freight operator.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a speech last month that he had, in the early stages of the project, expected the Inland Rail to “underpin decades of economic prosperity and growth”.
“Nearly a decade later, it is clear Inland Rail is not being delivered properly,” he said in April.
“The truth is that the route is not finalised. It does not actually terminate at the port of Brisbane, but 38 kilometres away at Acacia Ridge.”
Pacific National CEO Paul Scurrah said the company has welcomed the Labor government’s commitment to providing greater oversight of the project.
This oversight reportedly extends to the location of future intermodal terminals.
“Intermodal terminals must be positioned in a location to secure a shift of freight from road to rail to deliver reduced emissions, traffic congestion and road accidents,” Mr Scurrah said.
“Shoring up investment confidence in the freight and logistics sector, particularly at a time when the national supply chain is under intense cost pressures and capacity constraints, is also imperative.”
Pacific National reportedly hopes to see independent infrastructure advisor Infrastructure Australia play a greater role in enhancing the safety and productivity of the national supply chain.
According to Mr Scurrah, this would include track upgrades to build greater resilience in the interstate rail network.
“In a competitive global marketplace, Australian import and export businesses can ill afford to have major railways shutdown for extended periods of time due to sub-standard track infrastructure,” Mr Scurrah said.
He said he expects the new Prime Minister’s background in infrastructure and transport to give him a deeper understanding of the rail industry’s infrastructure needs.
