Geelong to Melbourne Fast Rail
02 April 2019
Fast rail funding, new corridor assessments and planning authority welcomed
ARA CEO Danny Broad welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister that $2 billion would be allocated for fast rail between Geelong and Melbourne and $40 million for detailed assessments of five additional fast rail corridors.
“Fast Rail reduces travelling times, facilitating decentralisation of
major cities, and revitalising regional centres through effective
integrated transport options. It allows commuting like never before.”
“Other key benefits include easing of
road congestion, and reduction of
road maintenance costs, carbon and other polluting emissions.“
Mr Broad also hailed the commitment to create a National Fast Rail
Agency to guide the projects, determine priorities, examine financing
options and work with communities.
“With the Federal Opposition’s policy for a High Speed
Rail Planning Authority, we appear to have bipartisan support for a
national agency dedicated to long term planning of faster rail
initiatives. This is a welcome development,” he said.
“Rail projects in Australia have historically been in the province of
state governments, resulting in a disjointed and uncoordinated approach
to rail investment and decision-making. The difference in rail gauges
today is typical of some of our challenges.”
“A National Agency will allow long term planning, and corridor
acquisition that can work towards fast rail and High Speed Rail being
realised in Australia.”
“Significant rail infrastructure needs long term planning and robust
economic, and technical assessment that extends beyond the political
cycle. We are beginning to see this bearing fruit.”
“Governments around the country have already committed to over $100
Billion of rail projects nationally over the next 10 years, consisting
of city metros,
light rail and
Inland Rail,” Mr Broad continued.
“These announcements complement existing rail investments.”
However Mr Broad also warned that the Australian, State and Territory
Governments need to address critical skilled labour shortages impacting
rail construction, operations and maintenance.
In November 2018 ARA released the report Skills Crisis: A Call to
Action, prepared by BIS Oxford Economics that warned that unless urgent
action was taken to address market failure, rail projects would blow out
of budgeted costs and timeframes.
“Just as we need leadership in committing to high value projects, we
also need leadership to reform our approach to rail education and
training to provide the workforce to build and operate these systems.”
“A common approach from government and industry is needed. That’s why we
are advocating for a high level
--ENDS--
Source: Australasian Railway Association (ARA) - www.ara.net.au
Contact: Mal Larsen 0423 783 667
External Links: Skills Crisis: A Call to Action, https://ara.net.au/sites/default/files/18-11-26 BOE Report Final.pdf
Recent news by: Australasian Railway Association