The Carroll Labor Government is planning for Victoria’s growing freight network to help drive investment, support new freight facilities and encourage more business to move their goods on a fast and safe rail freight network.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne today launched Freight on Track: The Victorian Rail Freight Plan 2026-2036, providing long term planning and support for this critical industry.
The Victorian Rail Freight Plan has been developed in partnership with industry, recognising the collaborative efforts between industry and our government when it comes to creating an integrated transport network.
The need for a Victorian Rail Freight Plan was identified in the Victorian Freight Plan, released in August 2025, reflecting the importance of rail freight to Victoria’s competitiveness and liveability.
It outlines measures to improve the capacity, resilience and efficiency of the rail freight network, while helping cut emissions.
The Labor Government has invested almost $600 million in Victoria’s regional rail freight network, supporting heavier axle loads, increased speeds, improved reliability, new and extended passing loops and increased capacity on key rail freight routes.
Victoria’s freight network is expanding at Dandenong South, where Salta Properties will start construction of its Inland Freight Terminal in 2027.
The Dandenong South terminal will become Melbourne’s south-east hub for the Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments’ $58 million Port Rail Shuttle Network.
Since 2025, the network has moved containers by rail from Somerton to the Port of Melbourne – taking trucks off the road, cutting emissions and costs for businesses.
Regional freight trains transport more than $2 billion worth of freight annually, delivering agricultural products, paper products and mineral sands.
Some very good aspects to the article that highlights when you read and read the rail plan nothing has changed for years and this is just another plan with the outcomes years away. Could be another empty election promise.
Melissa Horne as achieved very little in her time with the major projects the state desperately required remaining undelivered.
Also see the wonderful progress being made for the Port of Fremantle.