Interstate rail track upgrading options to 2014

As part of the AusLink White Paper released in June 2004, extensive funding was announced for upgrading interstate mainline track. The main aims are to reduce the transit times, increase capacity and reduce track maintenance costs. Particular attention is given to three proposed NSW rail deviations. All are designed to remove the impact of excessive curvature. The combined length of these deviations is 164 kilometre and they would replace 197 kilometre of track on steam age alignment. The benefits for a 'standard' intermodal freight train include a time saving of 84 minutes and a fuel saving of over 1000 litres of diesel. The regional benefits of track upgraded for faster and heavier freight trains may also include high-speed tilt passenger train services. The paper estimates combined benefits from the three rail deviations of about $24 million per year from reductions in train operating costs and track maintenance costs, and the potential reduction in net external costs with Sydney-Melbourne inter-city land freight. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211825.