Rail provides solution to shaping our cities and our regions
28 November 2017
ARA: Today at AusRAIL PLUS 2017 the
Australasian Railway Association’s (ARA) Chief Executive Officer, Danny
Broad launched the Value of Rail Report, a report prepared by
Deloitte
Access Economics.
“It is my absolute pleasure today to launch the Value of Rail Report,
which highlights the contribution of
rail to Australia, said Danny
Broad, CEO, ARA.
“We know that Australia’s population increases at a rate of 370,000
people every year. By 2060, both
Sydney and
Melbourne will have grown by
approximately 3 million people each.
“As Australia’s population increases, so too does
congestion and the
demand for improved
transport solutions.
“To manage these challenges, Australia will have to develop its multi
modal transport solutions with light and heavy rail as its spine to
provide the solutions that Australia needs in shaping our cities and our
regions into the future.
“The story with growth in freight traffic is even greater – a potential
88% increase in kilometres travelled by 2050, and an increase of some
2.5 million trucks and light commercial vehicles on our roads.
“This growth in freight underscores the need for an efficient supply
chain and for a heavy vehicle pricing framework that accurately captures
the cost of
road infrastructure provision and the negative externalities
of road usage, such as congestion, vehicle emission and accidents – a
point which is reinforced in the report.
“It is precisely for these reasons that the ARA has been engaging with
Commonwealth, State and Territory governments on the benefits of our
National Rail Industry Plan.
“The cost-benefit analysis is clear, rail makes a significant
contribution to the Australian economy. We inject around $26 billion
into the national economy, contributing 1.6% of GDP and a key enabler of
exports.
"We create over 140,000 jobs in our cities and our regions, provide
safe, efficient, environmentally and socially beneficial modes of
transport.
“We ask governments to get on board and implement our National Rail
Industry Plan to provide the rail industry and the broader Australian
community with long-term certainty of improved transport solutions for
the benefit of all.
You are able to download the highlights, summary or the full version of the Value of Rail Report at www.ara.net.au/value-of-rail.
--ENDS--
Source: Australasian Railway Association (ARA) - www.ara.net.au
Contact: N/A
External Links:
Full Report: https://ara.net.au/sites/default/files/u647/ARA-Deloitte_Value%20of%20Rail_full%20report.pdf
Highlights: https://ara.net.au/sites/default/files/u647/ARA-Deloitte_Value%20of%20Rail_2%20pager.pdf
Summary: https://ara.net.au/sites/default/files/u647/ARA-Deloitte_Value%20of%20Rail_summary.pdf
Recent news by: Australasian Railway Association