Why Rail?
Grain on rail is the most cost effective, most environmentally friendly and safest transport option.
A Government commitment to upgrade grain lines and keep grain on rail would be a clear demonstration of its stated intention to support regional communities and to invest in critical infrastructure in these challenging economic times. Grain on rail fulfils commitments to our communities.
Investing in our grain rail lines ensures growers will have freight options. Without grain on rail, growers will be forced to choose road transport as their only option. Grain on rail provides growers with choice.
Shifting Western Australia’s grain task without keeping grain on rail will see an additional 300,000 heavy truck movements on our roads each year. That’s 300,000 road train trips through small communities, along country roads and through congested port towns. Grain on rail means safer roads.
As an example, without grain on rail, residents of Kwinana would be sharing the road with an additional 500+ truck movements PER DAY during the peak of harvest. Grain on rail is good for urban and regional communities.
The cost to Government of upgrading and maintaining roads to meet the freight task should the grain rail network cease operating would be around $350 million – nearly $100 million greater than if the Government invests to keep grain on rail. Grain on rail makes perfect economic sense.
Keeping grain on rail reduces carbon emissions by up to two-thirds compared to those emitted by trucks. Grain on rail makes sense for our environment.
The WA grain rail network is a critical link to the export ports avoiding significant congestion issues around ports (Kwinana, Albany, Geraldton and Esperance) and potentially dangerous traffic black spots (e.g. Greenmount Hill). Grain on rail makes road safety sense.