Update on the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program Review

[ozbob]

Update on the Australian Government's Infrastructure Investment Program Review

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Joint planning for Queensland's rail future

The Australian and Queensland governments have released joint project updates for the Port of Brisbane rail freight links and Toowoomba to Brisbane passenger rail business cases.

Port of Brisbane planning investigations included exploring opportunities to improve freight rail connectivity to the Port of Brisbane.

It found forecast freight demand may warrant upgrades to the existing rail network in the coming years, but that a dedicated freight corridor is a longer-term opportunity. ...

[ozbob]

Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/toowoomba-to-brisbane-passenger-rail-strategic-business-case

Current status

The Australian and Queensland governments have finalised the Strategic Business Case which included the first 2 stages of the Queensland Government's Project Assessment Framework, namely the Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements and Preliminary Evaluation. 

The Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Summary Report outlines the finding of the Strategic Business Case and next steps.

Report > https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/c9d86df828a3472d916ecf0dcdf9283f.pdf?rev=d88aaf076c1144878369db29ec906e31&sc_lang=en&hash=E34DAABB48D7478BDAB9F86A0BAFBACB

[ozbob]

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101551

Joint planning for Queensland's rail future

30th September 2024

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
The Honourable Bart Mellish

The Australian and Queensland governments have released joint project updates for the Port of Brisbane rail freight links and Toowoomba to Brisbane passenger rail business cases.

Port of Brisbane planning investigations included exploring opportunities to improve freight rail connectivity to the Port of Brisbane.

It found forecast freight demand may warrant upgrades to the existing rail network in the coming years, but that a dedicated freight corridor is a longer-term opportunity.

Building on the freight demand analysis undertaken to date, investigations are now underway for potential short, medium and longer-term improvements to the freight rail network between the proposed future Inland Rail intermodal terminal at Ebenezer and the Port of Brisbane..

The Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Business Case explored opportunities for improved passenger transport between Toowoomba and Brisbane.

It found the future delivery of Inland Rail in Queensland provides an opportunity to integrate better passenger rail services with future freight operations on Inland Rail infrastructure.

The next stage of planning, which may include a detailed business case, would be undertaken closer to the time of Inland Rail delivery in Queensland.

As announced this week, the Australian and Queensland governments are also continuing to work together to progress planning and corridor protection for the Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail project.

The recently released Salisbury to Beaudesert Summary Report identified heavy rail as the optimal transport mode to address forecast passenger demand for the Salisbury to Beaudesert corridor.

Joint work is also continuing on the South-East Queensland Inland Rail Intermodal Terminal business case.

For more information visit https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

 "The Australian Government is committed to funding the development of major project business cases and engaging with stakeholders on strategically significant projects.

"We continue to work with the Queensland Government to consider passenger and freight needs in the corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert and investigate efficient and reliable freight access to the Port of Brisbane.

"It is also important we do the planning work necessary to ensure the entire Queensland rail network maximises the benefits of Inland Rail over time, which may include exploring opportunities for improved passenger transport between Toowoomba and Brisbane."

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish:

"High quality public transport infrastructure will play a critical role in servicing growing and new communities in South-East Queensland.

"Together with the Australian Government, we have undertaken planning and confirmed heavy rail is the optimal transport mode to connect communities between Salisbury and Beaudesert, with the next step being for government to consider corridor protection.

"The Queensland Government has worked collaboratively with the Australian Government to explore opportunities for improving passenger rail between Toowoomba and Brisbane building on the opportunity provided by the Inland Rail project.

"In partnership with the Australian Government, we are also continuing to undertake investigations to ensure efficient and reliable freight rail access to the Port of Brisbane."

[kram0]

More reports and no action or timelines.

[HappyTrainGuy]

More reports and no action or timelines.

Can't blame them. Damned if you do damned if you don't. There's no real incentive for passenger traffic on its own. No incentive for dedicated rollingstock on a small corridor. Upgrading existing infrastructure. The western system already has its own problems with access charges. It only has grain, cattle and coal traffic. Plans for new coal mines didn't materialise so there are no incentives for line upgrades (inland rail corridor/plans actually piggy backs off these plans). Theres no incentive to put freight onto rail as you need rollingstock, operators and facilities. Then you have the feds coming in offering to pay for big upgrades that makes its viable but there is no timeline on when it will happen.

And the POB/freight sector has a history of BS ideas - usually for some type of political gain.

[Jonno]

But only because the Govt choose to let the situation be that way.  Takes leadership to make change!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yes and no.

And lobby groups will keep governments from making change. Such as the trucking industry trying to maintain power and share.

https://www.truck.net.au/media/media-releases/clarion-call-industry-deregulation-safety

https://www.truck.net.au/media/media-releases/clarion-call-industry-deregulation-safety

It all comes back to cost unfortunately. And unfortunately a human life/injury can be justified for not doing anything - as much as whoever may claim. Since the railways are expensive to upgrade you need justification on the large expenditure but it's simply not there. The state sold off its freight arm. Private operators don't see those freight contracts as profitable and cancel them/make more money selling rollingstock/property. If the state wants to get back in the game they need to buy locos, wagons, mtce facilities, yard facilities and the list goes on. Less trains means more capacity available which further limits the reason to justify duplication/realignment. A few passenger services isn't a justification to upgrade the line either.

The other problem is even if the NCL was dual 160kph track there is still the very high risk that there would be zero extra rail freight services. And that's because the rail network has lost its freight facilities and local shunters. Elimbah, Caboolture, Petrie, Zillmere, Normanby, Roma Street etc etc. All made way for passenger upgrades/development. Same with rollingstock. No more QLX/QLXP wagons (QLXP were the freight wagons you saw on lander services).




Gone are the old days of express freight services and platform drop offs. If you have freight at Caboolture that needs to go to Rocky you have to truck it to the Southside of Brisbane before it then gets marshalled and sent north past Caboolture a few hours later. By the time it goes past Caboolture again a truck could already be ready to drop it off in Rocky. You could try to argue for an elimbah facility but that's still not going to work as it relies on a sole operator (PN or Aurizon - remember aurizon fright is Linfox train and they only provide a locomotive. Interstate to port is different but the majority of Queensland ops is a hook and pull contract. QUBE has no assets. SCT has no assets).

So it begs the question who is going to operate and run all these fancy freight facilities and yards that keep appearing in government brouchers and marketing material eg Elimbah.

You then have people here wanting increased passenger services and banning freight trains which further hurts scheduling. So now you have a freight bypass corridor through Brisbane... it's a never ending cycle.