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Grain Rail Campaign to Assist Road Safety
Preventing more than a quarter of a million trucks from being added to traffic on our roads is the focus of an industry campaign launched today.
The campaign to upgrade the State’s grain freight rail network was launched today by WestNet Rail, with the support of Cooperative Bulk Handling, Australian Railroad Group and the Western Australian Local Government Association.
WALGA President Cr Bill Mitchell said that without immediate action to upgrade the grain freight rail network, an additional 300,000 trucks per year would be added to the road network with a devastating effect on roads in regional areas and those feeding into ports, as well as local communities.
“A single 600m train is the equivalent to 50 trucks on the road,” Cr Mitchell said.
“If the thousands of kilometres of rail lines currently in use are forced to close, local communities will bear the burden with grain laden trucks streaming through rural, regional and metropolitan towns.
“The increased traffic will have a marked effect on the condition of local roads, and ultimately impact upon road safety and the amenity of local communities.
“When you consider there is already a shortfall of $112m per annum to preserve local roads in their current condition, additional traffic of this size without additional funding will be almost impossible for Local Governments to manage.”
Cr Mitchell said that the same level of funds would need to be spent investing in road infrastructure to accommodate grain freight as would be spent upgrading the rail system.
“Given that an investment of $400m is required to accommodate grain freight on either rail or road, and the additional costs to road safety, greenhouse gas emissions and community amenity in pursuing freight on the road network, a failure to invest in rail will be incredibly short-sighted,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Industry is ready to commit its $133m towards investment in maintaining the rail network, now it is up to both State and Federal Governments to step up and demonstrate their commitment to nation building infrastructure projects, as well as the safety and amenity of local communities."
To find out more on the campaign, visit www.grainonrail.com.au
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