supported by the natural advantages
rail offers.
The reality of transporting more freight by
rail is critical for the national economy and
our future growth and we are determined
to continue driving the transfer of freight
to a mode that is safer, more efficient and
more environmentally responsible than
any alternative.
An important strategic development area
and a national freight policy priority is
around intermodal terminals.
We support the development of a national
terminal strategy because terminals are
critical to effectively and efficiently linking
road, rail and distribution functions and
this is vital to an efficient national freight
network. Modern terminals will be critical
to unlocking future freight capacity and
reducing congestion.
To this end, it has been pleasing to see
momentum continue in the development
of an intermodal terminal precinct
at Moorebank in Sydney and further
developments in Brisbane and Melbourne.
We see a role for us in promoting and
facilitating new terminal developments
to ensure that Australia develops and
preserves efficient and well-integrated
road and rail networks that link
intermodal terminals with freight hubs
and the ports.
In 2014 we also made further steps to take
the Advanced Train Management System
(ATMS) closer to operational, revenue
service activity.
ATMS is custom-engineered technology
that will transform the way freight rail
operations are managed in Australia.
We have been readying this technology
for deployment over the last twelve
months and over the next two years live
testing of ATMS will take place on an
operational segment of the rail network
between Whyalla and Port Augusta
in South Australia and then we will
prepare ATMS for deployment on the
ARTC network between Tarcoola and
Kalgoorlie. To support this, the contract
securing the partnership between us and
Lockheed Martin to deliver the first stage
of operational testing of ATMS was signed
in May 2014.
ATMS is a project that offers a genuine
game-changing opportunity for freight rail
in Australia. Another project that offers the
same kind of step-change and which has
progressed from concept to program over
the last year is Inland Rail.
INLAND RAIL
Inland Rail is the Australian Government’s
priority rail freight program and it has
committed $300million to finalise planning,
engineering design, environmental
assessments and to start construction.
Through 2014 we have has been busy
with a number of tasks related to this
project, including:
•
•
Establishing the project team to plan
and deliver the program
•
•
Assisting the Inland Rail
Implementation Group to identify the
preferred corridor and final alignment
•
•
Starting stakeholder consultation
•
•
Work on the delivery of preliminary
engineering design and environmental
assessment
•
•
Developing a staged construction
plan particularly in the context of
three identified priority projects
as identified by the Inland Rail
Implementation Group.
Inland Rail will complete the backbone
for an efficient national interstate
freight network, and provide a direct rail
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