Standing Committee on Communications, Transport and Microenomic Reform

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Standing Committee on Communications, Transport and Microeconomic Reform
Tracking Australia: An inquiry into the role of rail in the national transport network

Contents

[Report media release] (PDF format)
Preface (PDF format)
Terms of reference (PDF format)
Abbreviations (PDF format)
Executive summary (PDF format)
Recommendations (also available in PDF format)

Chapter 1 (PDF format) Introduction

Background to the inquiry
Conduct to the inquiry
Role of rail in the national transport network
Rail in decline
Support for rail
Rail summit 1997
Structure of the report
Availability of the report
End of the inquiry

Chapter 2 (PDF format) Effective and efficient use of rail

Introduction
National track
Commonwealth role
National strategy
Infrastructure
Safety
regulatory framework
Accreditation
Access
Community service obligations
Integration
Environmental issues
Quality of service
Innovations
Conclusions

Chapter 3 (PDF format) Opportunities for participation by the private sector

Introduction
Rationale for priave sector participation
Reasons for
Reasons against
Opportunities
Impediments/incentives
Economic benefits and costs
Size and number
Safeguards
Conclusions

Chapter 4 (PDF format) Access and utilisation

Introduction
National access perspective
Hilmer reforms
Commonwealth access regime
Part IIIA access arrangments
Part IIIA relevance to rail
State access arrangements
Pricing access
Pricing approaches
Pricing issues
Competing with road transport
Community service obligations
Cross subsidisation
Transparency and accountability
Other factors affecting access
Regulatory requirements
Availability of pathways
Structure
Interstate rail access
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Utilisation
Cost of underutilisation
Scope for increased utilisation
Intermodel links
Rail corridors
Conclusion

Chapter 5 (PDF format) Effective investment and ownership arranements

Introduction
Rationale for investing in rail
Urgency
Rail investment to date
Historical context
Public rail deficit
Commonwealth investment
State investment
Private sector investment
Major issues affecting investment
Rail and road
Rail and road infrastructure invesment
Rail and road charges
Evaluation criteria for rail and road investment
Other issues affecting investment
Need for certainty
Incentives for private investment
Condition of existing infrastructure
Future investment in rail
Integrated approach
Assessing rail inestment needs
Developing priorities
Sourcing investment
Effective ownership arrangements
Separation of above and below rail operations
Public versus private
Partnership arrangements
Conclusion

Chapter 6 (PDF format) International best practice

Introduction
International models
International benchmards
Models for benchmarking
Performance indicators
Conclusion

Appendices

Appendix 1 (PDF format) List of submissions
Appendix 2 (PDF format) List of exhibits
Appendix 3 (PDF format) List of witnesses
Appendix 4 (PDF format) List of participants in inspections
Appendix 5 (PDF format) References
Appendix 6 (PDF format) Access case studies
Appendix 7 (PDF format) Inquiry process References

Figures

1.1  Public hearings
1.2  Inspections
2.1  Australian railway system
2.1  Australia's rail network
3.1  Proposed private rail routes
5.1  Rail deficit
5.2  Government investment in new fixed rail assets
5.3  State and local government investment in new fixed rail assets
5.4  Private sector new fixed capital expenditure for the transport and storage industry
5.5  Australian domestic taxes and charges on transport

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