The future of Australian rail freight is at a \u201ccritical juncture\u201d, the industry says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transporting cargo generally relies on diesel-powered trains, and with no plans on the horizon to electrify the vast sections of tacks connecting Australia\u2019s largest cities, the sector is worried operators will have little choice but to reinvest in diesel locomotives, ultimately harming its ability to decarbonise in coming decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) is launching a report on potential decarbonisation on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That report, developed by engineering consultancy GHD, says there has been a lack of planning from those in charge of rail infrastructure. It says without action, the rail freight sector could lose further ground to trucking, putting it at odds with Australia\u2019s climate target commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sending freight by rail is now a competitively sustainable option \u2013 generating up to 16 times fewer emissions than trucks and being only slightly less clean than domestic shipping. But this edge could disappear if the industry and governments don\u2019t commit to a decarbonisation plan while the rest of the economy and transport sector pursues that path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite its sustainability advantages, rail freight has lost significant market share to trucking in recent decades, with the sector blaming governmental underinvestment in regional rail and high track access fees compared with what it sees as road charges for trucks<\/a> that don\u2019t cover the true cost of damage the industry does to roads and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B-Doubles can also perform more direct deliveries and sending freight by rail is frequently slower \u2013 and blows out significantly when tracks are flood-damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n