Get NSW Freight Back on Track

Over the last decade freight rail has been in decline and established freight lines have been allowed to degrade, while there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of freight moved by road.  In the 30 years to 2004, Commonwealth governments are estimated to invested over $50 billion in roads but only $2 billion in interstate rail development.

Road freight is the most energy intensive way of moving freight, and trucks are involved in a significant percentage of fatal road accidents on NSW Highways.  Trains are involved in notably fewer crashes each year and produce less greenhouse gases, which helps stop climate change.  The Greens want to make the transportation of freight safer and more environmentally friendly.  We are committed to shifting Freight transport back to the rails.

What’s the problem with trucks?

The Bureau of Transport & Regional Economics predicts that domestic freight movements will increase by 80 per cent between 2000-2020, which means that if rail freight is not extended there could be an extra 50,000 trucks on our roads!  Already there has been a threefold increase in the number of Australian B-doubles since 1997; this is no doubt a consequence of legislation that is advantageous to road freight, as well as generous government subsidies which conceal the true costs of road freight.

• B-Doubles and other heavy trucks cause noise pollution, vibration and air pollution from diesel particles for local communities.
• Between Melbourne and Sydney 90 per cent of freight is moved by trucks.
• In 2002, the government gave B-Double trucks access to the entire length of the Pacific Highway, where they share the road with heavy holiday traffic, particularly over summer.  The Pacific Highway is notorious for car accidents and passes through the heart of many small towns including Kempsey, Buladelah and Ballina.
• NSW registration fees for B-Doubles are heavily subsidised.  The annual registration cost for an 8 axle B-Double has dropped from over $11,000 a decade ago, to only $7,426 today. 
• Costs such as accidents, pollution, health and environmental damage aren’t factored into the cost of road freight – if they were, the registration rate would have to be increased by 12 per cent (relative to 2000).  Rail rates would only increase 4 per cent

Get our rail system back on track

Around NSW, major lines are in a poor condition while rural branch lines are in decay or even closing.  This is illegal – an act of Parliament is required to close a rail line.  It will cost a mere $155 million to restore 15 of the key branch lines in the Central West. This is just 10% of the $1.5 billion Costa is planning to spend on air-conditioning CityRail carriages.  Branch lines are mostly used to ferry grain, cotton and other primary crops from local areas to larger freight interchanges, but they could also transport passengers and potentially boost tourism in rural areas. A major bonus for rural and regional New South Wales could come at very little cost.
Read about our branch lines campaign...

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