The Times Australia
The Times News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Instead of putting more massive trucks on our roads, we need to invest in our rail network

  • Written by Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong
Instead of putting more massive trucks on our roads, we need to invest in our rail network

In recent years, the Victoria[1] and New South Wales[2] governments have both unveiled strategies to move more freight across the country by rail and ease the increasing pressure of goods moving through the two largest container ports.

The reality is, however, the numbers of containers coming and going by rail to the Port of Melbourne and Sydney’s Port Botany have been going backwards.

More massive trucks on Victoria’s highways

The Port of Melbourne moves more containers than any other port in Australia. In 2020-21, 3.3 million[3] containers passed through the port, a 30% increase from ten years ago[4].

Over this time, the percentage of containers moving by rail has fallen, reaching a low of 6.1% in 2020-21[5]. This has meant the number of trucks going to and from the Port of Melbourne has significantly increased.

Read more: Trucks are destroying our roads and not picking up the repair cost[6]

This has been assisted by improvements to the state’s roads and bridges. But the Victoria government also in mid-2021 approved[7] large “A Double” trucks being able to access the Port of Melbourne. These trucks can carry two 12-metre containers and be up to 36 metres long – much longer than the standard semitrailer at 19 metres.

'A-double' truck
An ‘A-double’ truck on the streets of Victoria. Maribyrnong Truck Action Group, Author provided (no reuse)

Large numbers of trucks accessing the ports not only add to road construction and maintenance bills, they also make our roads less safe and more congested, and add to noise and air pollution.

The recently released report[8] into the health effects of air pollution in Victoria notes the city of Maribyrnong has some of Australia’s highest levels of diesel pollution. This is mostly due to the number of trucks accessing the Port of Melbourne each day.

The report also notes the transport sector is accountable for 20% of Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions[9].

In 2018, Victoria introduced a new freight plan[10] that included initiatives to move more goods from the port by rail. One of these projects was the Port Rail Shuttle Network, a $28 million investment to connect the freight terminal in South Dandenong to the rail network. This is now underway.

Increasing the amount of freight moving by rail will not only make our roads safer and reduce maintenance costs, it makes environmental sense – rail freight produces one-third the emissions of road freight[11].

However, rail freight in Victoria is crippled by two different track gauges and tracks with too many temporary and permanent speed restrictions. Without greater investment to improve the rail system, it remains a less feasible option than moving freight on massive trucks on our roads.

A freight train passing through a level crossing in Cootamundra, NSW. Shutterstock

Read more: Transport is letting Australia down in the race to cut emissions[12]

Sydney’s situation is not much better

A recent NSW auditor-general report[13] said the volume of freight passing through Greater Sydney is expected to increase by 48% by 2036.

In 2020-21, 2.7 million containers[14] moved through Port Botany. The NSW government had planned to increase the number of containers moving by rail from the port to 28% by 2021[15]. However, the auditor-general report said this effort would fall short. Just 16% is currently carried by rail.

This means more trucks on the roads in NSW, as well. The NSW government has also recently given permission[16] for “A Double” trucks to access Port Botany.

The auditor-general report made recommendations on how NSW Transport could improve the operation of the state’s rail network to allow for more rail freight. It noted, for example, 54 trucks could be replaced by one 600-metre-long port shuttle freight train.

Rail moving less intercity freight

The rail network between Australia’s two largest cities is outdated and under-utilised. In fact, the proportion of freight moving between Melbourne and Sydney on rail has fallen to about 1% today[17]. In 1970, it was about 40%[18].

This is, in part, due to the total reconstruction[19] of the Hume Highway from a basic two-lane road to a modern dual carriageway, completed in 2013. There are now over 20 million tonnes of freight[20] moved each year on the Hume Highway, with over 3,800 trucks on the road each day (and night at Gundagai).

The result is more road trauma, higher maintenance bills and pressure for further road upgrades. Plus more emissions.

The Sydney-Melbourne rail track, meanwhile, has been left with severe speed weight restrictions and a “steam age” alignment characterised by tight curves. It is also over 60 kms longer than it needs to be.

From a national perspective

Getting more freight on rail is not helped by hidden government subsidies to heavy truck operations, which in my estimations exceed $2 billion per year[21].

It is also made harder by the current National Freight and Supply Chain strategy[22], which puts much more emphasis on increasing truck productivity with ever larger trucks.

Instead, much more attention is needed to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of rail freight.

References

  1. ^ Victoria (transport.vic.gov.au)
  2. ^ New South Wales (www.transport.nsw.gov.au)
  3. ^ 3.3 million (www.portofmelbourne.com)
  4. ^ 30% increase from ten years ago (www.portofmelbourne.com)
  5. ^ low of 6.1% in 2020-21 (www.accc.gov.au)
  6. ^ Trucks are destroying our roads and not picking up the repair cost (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ approved (transport.vic.gov.au)
  8. ^ recently released report (www.parliament.vic.gov.au)
  9. ^ 20% of Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions (www.parliament.vic.gov.au)
  10. ^ freight plan (transport.vic.gov.au)
  11. ^ rail freight produces one-third the emissions of road freight (www.railfutures.org.au)
  12. ^ Transport is letting Australia down in the race to cut emissions (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ auditor-general report (www.audit.nsw.gov.au)
  14. ^ 2.7 million containers (www.nswports.com.au)
  15. ^ 28% by 2021 (www.nswports.com.au)
  16. ^ given permission (www.smh.com.au)
  17. ^ fallen to about 1% today (pacificnational.com.au)
  18. ^ about 40% (www.bitre.gov.au)
  19. ^ reconstruction (roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au)
  20. ^ 20 million tonnes of freight (roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au)
  21. ^ $2 billion per year (theconversation.com)
  22. ^ National Freight and Supply Chain strategy (www.freightaustralia.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/instead-of-putting-more-massive-trucks-on-our-roads-we-need-to-invest-in-our-rail-network-172491

The Times Features

How to buy a coffee machine

For coffee lovers, having a home coffee machine can transform your daily routine, allowing you to enjoy café-quality drinks without leaving your kitchen. But with so many optio...

In the Digital Age, Online Promotion Isn't Just an Option for Small Businesses – It's a Necessity

The shift to an online-first consumer landscape means small businesses must embrace digital promotion to not only survive but thrive in 2025. From expanding reach to fostering cu...

Sorbet Balls by bubbleme Bring Bite-Sized Cool Spin to Frozen Snacking

A cool new frozen treat is rolling into the ice-cream aisle at Woolworths stores nationwide. Dairy-free, gluten-free and free from artificial colours, bubbleme Sorbet Balls ar...

Mind-Body Balance: The Holistic Approach of Personal Training in Moonee Ponds

Key Highlights Discover the benefits of a holistic approach to personal training in Moonee Ponds and nearby Maribyrnong, including residents from Strathmore. Learn how mind-b...

How Online Platforms Empower You to Find Affordable Removalists and Electricity Plans

When you move into a new home, you have many tasks to do. You need to hire removalists and set up your electricity.  In this article, we discuss how online platforms empower you ...

IS ROSEMARY OIL THE SECRET TO BETTER HAIR DAYS? HERE’S WHAT IT CAN DO

Rosemary hair oil is a straightforward natural solution that delivers exceptional results for anyone who wants to enhance their haircare process. It maintains its status in herba...

Times Magazine

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

Uniden Baby Video Monitor Review

Uniden has released another award-winning product as part of their ‘Baby Watch’ series. The BW4501 Baby Monitor is an easy to use camera for keeping eyes and ears on your little one. The camera is easy to set up and can be mounted to the wall or a...

Top Benefits of Hiring Commercial Electricians for Your Business

When it comes to business success, there are no two ways about it: qualified professionals are critical. While many specialists are needed, commercial electricians are among the most important to have on hand. They are directly involved in upholdin...

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

LayBy Shopping