Private sector crucial to Brisbane-Melbourne rail link

Federal transport minister Mark Vaile, used the National Party's 2006 Federal Conference in mid October, to emphasise the need for private sector investment in the proposed Brisbane-Melbourne rail link via Parkes.

Vaile said planning for the inland railway should be included in the next stage of the government's AusLink infrastructure strategy. “An inland railway would increase rail's share of the freight between Melbourne and Brisbane from 30% now to about 73%,” he said.

“It would also draw in freight from regional New South Wales, such as grain, chilled meat and cotton. The new railway will cost up to $3.6bn, but every doubled-stacked freight train will replace up to 276 semi-trailers on our highways.

“We will argue within the government that Australia needs an inland railway. The next step is for the Government to get formal advice on the future investment options for the corridor. But the private sector must be involved.”

This part of Vaile's speech mirrored one from the private sector by Toll chief executive Paul Little in September. “We would certainly welcome a high-speed Brisbane-to-Melbourne link. But the trouble is that it has a $4bn price tag and we need to have the Federal Government paying for at least half,” Little said.

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Private sector crucial to Brisbane-Melbourne rail link

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