This paper is based on a pre-feasibility study undertaken by Maunsell Australia for the Victorian Department of Infrastructure and the Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services. The objective of the study, titled ‘Double stack access in south eastern Australia – financial, economic, social and environmental evaluation’, was to determine whether the potential operating cost savings of double stack rail operations were likely to be sufficient in the foreseeable future to justify the additional cost of continuing to provide double stack clearances on new infrastructure. It was intended that, if double stack access was found to be viable, a uniform set of clearance standards would be implemented on a corridor-by-corridor basis. If it was not viable, then consideration should be given to discontinuing the current practice of building new infrastructure to double stack clearances and avoiding the incremental cost imposition on construction of these structures. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213716.
Samenvatting