Shell switch from carting petrol by rail to road risks lives and the environment

Shell Australia plans to start transporting petrol from Parramatta to Canberra, Dubbo and Tamworth by b-double fuel tankers instead of rail – risking accidents and more pressure on the environment and NSW roads.

Shell will close its regional rail depots and Parramatta Rail Gantry and transfer to road on a staged basis from November 2009. (Leaked email to Pacific National employees explaining this below.)

The Rees government cut its 1.2 cents per litre 'Fuel by Rail' scheme in November 2008. The subsidy is for fuel transported across the Blue Mountains to Western NSW by rail. This was a separate scheme established when FreightCorp was sold, commencing 1 July 2002 (Ministry of Transport Annual Report 2003). The subsidy was worth $1.6 million annually, and the cut saves the government at least $5.1 million over the next three years (Mini Budget A-10 http://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/bp08-09/2008-09_mini-budget).

In the case of Dubbo, BP Australia shares a train for deliveries so this decision may also see BP send fuel by road, forcing more trucks through the dangerous Blue Mountains Great Western highway system. It is reported that the local Dubbo BP depot owner estimates this will see at least four more b-double tankers on local roads a day.

There are three fuel trains a week to Canberra running up Monday, Wednesday and Friday and back on Tuesday Thursday and Saturday. The cessation of the Canberra fuel trains means there will be no regular rail freight services into Canberra. The only freight on the Goulburn-Canberra line will be the refuse container trains from Clyde to Crisps Creek, just south of Tarago.

Estimates vary of the number of truck movements this would mean. One report puts it at 1,000 tanker deliveries a year to Dubbo. One million litres of fuel a week travels through the Mountains to Dubbo. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/04/2645578.htm
 
Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Transport Minister David Campbell to step in to stop Shell Australia's plans to start transporting petrol from Parramatta to Canberra, Dubbo and Tamworth by b-double fuel tankers instead of rail.

Ms Rhiannon says Shell should exercise some corporate responsibility and outline to local communities what roads it intends to use, how many additional truck movements will occur and what emergency safety plans it has in place in the event of an accident.

"Shell's decision to move petrol by road not rail creates unacceptable public safety risks and will put additional pressures on the natural environment and NSW roads," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Transport Minister David Campbell has adopted his usual hands off approach to Shell's announcement. But his government must take responsibility for a decision that is largely driven by his government's neglect of NSW rail infrastructure over the last decade.

"Petrol trucks are a highly inflammable bomb in the event of an accident, risking more accidents and deaths.

"The move will also see higher greenhouse gas emissions and pollution and cost far more in road infrastructure wear and tear.

"Big petrol trucks on city and country roads are a massive safety risk given their highly inflammable contents. Only this June a truck leaving Shell's Parramatta terminal collided with a gate, leaking 7,000 litres of ethanol.

"Figures show that the average cost of accidents involving articulated trucks is twenty times higher than that involving rail.

"Shell's decision to turn its back on rail is disappointing in an age of climate change and peak oil. Rail is far more energy efficient when it comes to moving bulk liquids. As oil prices climb in years to come Shell, the government and the public will look back in dismay at this decision," Ms Rhiannon said.

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