A new report says a dedicated freight rail connection to the Port of Brisbane could take 2.4 million trucks off the road by 2035.
The ‘game-changing’ project, which would separate the existing shared passenger and freight rail networks, would provide a dedicated link from the Inland Rail project to the Port of Brisbane.
The Deloitte Access Economics paper – released today – said Queensland’s growing population and the subsequent freight task, climbing from 1.35 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent shipping container) in 2018 to around 5 million in 2050, necessitated an urgent shift from the region’s reliance on road freight.
Port of Brisbane CEO Roy Cummins said if Queenslanders wanted to protect the liveability of their region, as well as create jobs and boost export capacity, then the time was right to connect Inland Rail to the Port of Brisbane.
“If we don’t directly connect Inland Rail to the Port of Brisbane, Queenslanders won’t get the jobs, but they will get the trucks,” Mr. Cummins said.
“That’s because as Queensland’s population grows, so too that the freight task. The way our supply chain is established at present, that means a truck tsunami is heading our way.
“Currently only 2% of containerised freight comes to the Port of Brisbane via rail. The rest arrives on trucks.
“In 2018, that equated to four million truck movements. With the current rail constraints in place, that number would increase to over 13 million by 2050.
“Deloitte’s paper shows that by building a dedicated freight rail connection to the Port of Brisbane and achieving a globally competitive rail modal share, we could remove 2.4 million truck movements from the local road network.
“A dedicated freight rail connection has already been acknowledged by all levels of Government as a key priority through the SEQ City Deals proposition, and it is viewed by industry as a game-changer for the Queensland economy.
“But its greatest benefits will be for the community – more jobs, safer roads for all commuters, less congestion and fewer emissions.”
The DAE paper found a 30% rail modal share to the Port of Brisbane by 2035 could deliver:
- 2.4 million fewer truck movements
- Around $820 million in economic, social and environmental benefits each year
- An average of 1,200 new jobs each year to 2045
- $195 million in reduced congestion costs to the economy
- $155 million in reduced road maintenance costs
- $215 million in savings from reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- $210 million in increased international export value
- Savings of $130 per TEU (twenty-foot equivalent shipping container)
- A $5.4 billion increase to Gross Regional Product over the period to 2045
The DAE report can be found: http://www.portbris.com.au/Major-Projects/Dedicated-Rail-Connectivity/
