Another $55.8 million for Brisbane – Melbourne rail freight corridor

Another $55.8 million has been invested in the interstate freight corridor between Brisbane and Melbourne, adding to investments already made in a freight corridor with enormous potential for both States, eyefortransport reports.

The Australia Rail Track Corp (ARTC) has committed to finish laying more than 100,000 concrete sleepers and upgrading the communications system.

According to director David Cooke, the Trans Regional Amalgamated Infrastructure Network (TRAIN) also supports the leasing of management rights by the Queensland government to ARTC from midnight on Friday January 15th.

"Rather than freight needing to move by road through the coastal towns of northern NSW and the streets of the Gold Coast, the rail line is now receiving investment that makes it more competitive and puts freight back on the rails," said Cooke.

He added that serious money now needs to be invested in the roads between Grafton and Beaudesert to make the route truly multimodal.

"Trucks should also be using this new corridor because it will be safer, greener and will be cheaper to customers."

TRAIN has met with increasing success in promoting this new freight route between Brisbane and Sydney and in ensuring that investment in vital infrastructure is targeted and coordinated.

Source: Transport Weekly