In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing an inland standard gauge rail track between Melbourne and Brisbane. The paper outlines the characteristics of the current "coastal" route through Goulburn, Sydney, and Grafton, and the existing components of an inland route in NSW from Cootamundra to Boggabilla via Parkes, Werris Creek and Moree, and in Queensland from Goondiwindi to Brisbane via Toowoomba. The paper shows that development of an inland route by use of current NSW lines with minor upgrading, and substantial upgrading of southern Queensland lines, would allow for a saving in Melbourne-Brisbane freight train running times from about 28 to 21 hours, with an average speed of about 90 km per hour. However, detailed economic analysis would be needed to ascertain whether developing an inland route would be a stronger option than upgrading the existing coastal route. If the existing rail system is not upgraded, rail will be condemned to ever decreasing modal shares of interstate land freight. It is up to the rail industry to be more proactive in removing speed, weight and height restrictions of its mainline interstate track in order to improve the performance of its freight. (A)
Abstract