THE Federal Government has endorsed a plan for two new independent intermodal terminals connecting to Inland Rail in Melbourne – one at Beveridge, the other at Truganina.
Debate in recent years centred on the two proposed intermodal freight terminals, with the State Government backing the Truganina site as a priority.
But following the release of an independent review of the Inland Rail project, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King announced on Thursday that the Federal Government would support a two-terminal approach in Victoria.
Under the government’s plan the 24-hour service of double-stacked trains up to 1800 metres in length would not travel beyond Beveridge.
Ms King said the Federal Government would work with the Victorian Government to settle funding and delivery arrangements.
The review, led by Dr Kerry Schott, recommended the two terminals in Victoria be developed concurrently.
“Beveridge should be available as soon as practical and the second … at Truganina, should in due course expand and become the larger operation,” the report read.
“Both terminals should be operated by independent operators providing open access to all rail freight operators.”
“Somewhat surprisingly the project has commenced delivery without knowing where it will start or finish,” Dr Schott said.
Ms King said the government would take a staged approach to delivering Inland Rail, prioritising its delivery from Beveridge to Parkes, New South Wales – improving supply chain productivity between Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle, the Illawarra and Adelaide.
“Australia’s investment in Inland Rail is critical to help us move more freight as our population grows. Inland Rail can reduce our transport emissions and make our roads safer, but it comes at a significantly higher cost,” she said.
“Australian Rail Track Corporation, ARTC, will prioritise the delivery of Inland Rail sections between Beveridge and Parkes, while we continue to affect change across the program, improve governance and risk management.”
Recommendation 12 in the report addresses when Inland Rail bisects regional towns: “The disruption that additional train traffic causes should be addressed by appropriate modifications to limit noise and enable adequate cross town access if that not already been done. As Inland Rail train traffic increases significantly the possibility to bypass the town should be investigated and easements protected for a new bypass corridor.”
Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell welcomed the news and said the government was taking decisive action to get the Inland Rail project back on track.
“I know our community will welcome the announcement that Beveridge is the prioritised point in Melbourne for the first section to Parkes in NSW because it will open up the economic potential of this area,” he said.
Intermodal precinct details
THE National Intermodal Corporation, working with the Victorian Government, will lead the delivery and operation of the planned state-of-the-art intermodal precinct at Beveridge.
National Intermodal chief executive James Baulderstone said the Beveridge terminal would enhance the resilience of the national supply chain, creating a critical piece of the Inland Rail Melbourne to Brisbane journey.
“The recent [memorandum of understanding] entered into with Aurizon to become Beveridge’s foundation customer demonstrates increasing industry demand for new interstate terminal capacity, accelerating the construction of new sustainable, state-of-the-art intermodal precincts to service Inland Rail as well as existing freight corridors,” he said.
“The greater the number of rail operators and logistic service providers that can be encouraged to use rail as their first choice for interstate freight transport, the greater the flow on benefits to the Australian community.
“Having a dedicated rail freight precinct in Melbourne’s north will mean less trucks on roads, more jobs on the doorstep of Melbourne’s growing north and improved competitiveness of Australia’s supply chain.”
