Melbourne to Brisbane Freight Rail Corridor Overview

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Melbourne to BrisbaneFreight Rail
Corridor(Overview)

• North-South Rail Corridor Study
• Food Bowl Rail Freight Option

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North-South Rail Corridor

• Study by Ernst Young for DOTARS (2006)
• Comprehensive examination of the future freight
  demand and capacity options for the vital
  Melbourne-Brisbane Rail Corridor

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CorridorStudy Area

• Sub Corridors
• Far Western
• Coastal
• Central Inland
• Hybrid
• All routes can be linked to Melbourne either via
  Albury or Shepparton

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Key Study Findings

• All four geographical corridors were examined
• Freight flows are set to double over next 25
  years
• Rail has strong prospects of picking up freight
  growth and market share
• Growth on the existing Coastal Route will become
  capacity constrained by around 2019
• The Far Western sub corridor requires less
  capital investment for major upgrade
• Transit time from Melbourne to Brisbane will be
  20.6 to 21.3 hrs (110 km/hour)

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Commercial Financial Analysis

• The Far Western Corridor is the most cost
  effective
• A Shepparton alternative would gain more regional
  freight and has better financial results however
  this is off-set because
• The route requires new construction verses the
  already established Albury route which is
  operable as a Class 1 freight rail line
• Will require full track construction together
  with associated approvals (environmental
  planning)

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Creation of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland
Rail Alliance

• An alliance of Councils within the Far Western
  Rail Corridor was created on 25 Sept 2006 at a
  Forum in Parkes NSW - (MBIRA)
• Aim To achieve a funding commitment to the
  scoping and construction of the Melbourne to
  Brisbane Inland Rail via the Far Western Corridor
• MBIRA includes representation from Victoria, NSW
  and QLD
• Meetings held in three states, lobbying of senior
  Ministers including Opposition. Well received.

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15m Scoping Study

• 15/06/2007 Minister Vaile announced
• The Far Western Corridor is the most cost
  effective - a detailed study will be undertaken
  to review alignment, capital costs
• Australia needs an inland railway from
  Melbourne to Brisbane the amount of freight on
  our transport system is forecast to double by
  2020 Coastal route will become hopelessly
  congested unless we go ahead with our visionary
  plan The Hon Mark Vaile

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Shepparton Route - Evaluation

• An analysis of Ernst Young findings was
  undertaken on behalf of Greater Shepparton City
  Council (MAUNSELL/AECOM)
• Outcome
• Cost likely to be 300m in excess of Albury route
  (not 500m)
• Travel time is 8 to 16 minutes longer via
  Shepparton (not 45 mins)
• A Food Bowl alignment has a 742m better NPV
  (almost 1b better if the 300m cost difference
  is considered)
• Obvious benefits of a regional Food Bowl
  alignment-
• Alternative emergency route for Melbourne to
  Sydney
• Eases track capacity constraints between Seymour
  Junee
• Benefits of a Shepparton rail bypass
• Gauge standardisation for Shepparton/Tocumwal

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Food Bowl Inland Rail Alliance

• The FBIRA was formed on July 19th 2007
• Aim to promote the rail alignment from
  Melbourne to Junee through Australias Food Bowl
  the Goulburn Valley, Riverina and the
  Murrumbidgee regions.
• Alliance executive comprising Victorian and NSW
  Councils - Greater Shepparton, Moira, Berrigan,
  Jerilderie and Narrandera.
• Membership includes Griffith, Leeton, Murray,
  Campaspe, Strathbogie, Whittlesea, Melbourne and
  the Alliance for Rail Freight Development.

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• Alliance Councils
• Berrigan
• Campaspe
• Greater Shepparton
• Griffith
• Jerilderie
• Leeton
• Murray
• Melbourne
• Moira,
• Narrandera
• Whittlesea

Proposed Food Bowl Route
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• Heinz Wattie - Echuca
• Riverside Meats - Echuca
• Nestle Echuca
• Cedenco Echuca
• Simplot - Echuca
• Murray Goulburn
• Nestle - Tongala
• HW Greenham - Tongala
• CopRice Feeds - Tongala
• SPC-A (IXL) Kyabram
• Amcor Cans - Kyabram
• Heinz - Girgare
• Fonterra (Bonlac)
• Tatura Milk Tatura
• Snow Brand - Tatura
• Unilever - Tatura
• Oz-Taste Nagambie
• Kraft Strathmerton
• Murray Goulburn Cobram

The GV has a high concentration of food
processing and related industry stakeholders
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Strengths Food Bowl Route

• The construction of a new Food Bowl fast rail
  freight route via Shepparton
• Provides cooperative operation of two rail
  freight routes (Shepparton and Albury)
• Supports State Policies for Rural regional
  Development including Victoria Growing
  Together, Make it Happen in Provincial
  Victoria and the Rural Industry Investment
  Program
• Provides an alternative route which eases
  congestion and increases reliability of rail
  service as a long term solution

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Strengths (Continued)

• Supports Victorian and NSW state policies as a
  generator of rural economic development
• Increased fast reliable freight capacity
• Recognition of continuing regional foodbowl
  growth capacity
• Rail Line security
• Long-term North/South transport infrastructure
  capacity
• Capacity to serve on-track terminals including
  the GV Freight Logistics Centre

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Strengths (Continued)

• Provides improved freight options for producers
  in the Foodbowl regional development area
• Improved transport options to export ports and
  major metropolitan markets.
• The Food Bowl Route will contribute to the
  facilitation of further development and a
  strengthening of regional agricultural production
  in areas with high export potential

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Ongoing Activities - Food Bowl Rail Alliance

• Final development of a comprehensive Strategy
  Plan which outlines actions in the areas of
• - communications
• - research
• - marketing
• - lobbying
• - engagement of key stakeholders

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Melbourne to Brisbane RailSome closing thoughts

• The Scoping Study is about to commence
• The construction of a standard gauge high speed
  rail route within the Far Western Sub-Corridor
  via Shepparton will clearly enhance and build on
  the Vision for Modernising the Goulburn Murray
  Irrigation District
• Major infrastructure investment in this corridor
  is an essential component in our ongoing regional
  development and is vital to the development and
  expansion of our Foodbowl freight catchment

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