Rail - Benefits and Costs 

" ... historically, much of the increased demand for transport services has been met by road. The committee was informed that for Australia's freight systems to operate efficiently (and to prevent passenger networks becoming overburdened by congestion) this trend cannot be allowed to continue – particularly as populations continue to grow."
Source: Deloitte, The true value of rail, 31 August 2011, p. i. quoted  in "Australia's rail industry" a Senate report by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, 2017

These are general benefits and costs. For those specific to the GWH  go to Rolling Highway

Of all modes, rail has the lowest negative side effects and is the most efficient

TfNSW says so: 

"Throughout the world rail transport is recognised as an environmentally friendly form of transport. Did you know that rail transport is one of the most energy efficient modes of transport? In fact, greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometre for rail transport is up to five times less than that of car transport." Source

TfNSW also says 

"Freight customers value reliability, efficient travel, and certainty to maximise productivity and reduce costs and energy intensity." (Future Transport Strategy 2056, p.56)

So does the  Australian Government
"Rail is especially efficient in its use of space.  A single rail line operating at peakefficiency can move as many people as a ten lane freeway."

Comment: Rail can be more reliable and efficient and uses less energy if done properly.

Central West Transport Needs Study Finds Rail upgrade would pay for itself

see extract below 

The BCR (Benefit Cost Ratio) measures the value of a project. If it it higher than 1.0 it means that the benefits of the project would outweigh the costs.

Costs

Rail requires high "under-rail" investment as well as rolling stock and operating costs. 

They are very expensive to build - so are roads - but they last a long time (with proper maintenance). The Main West Rail Line was largely built in the 1870's: it has lasted 150 years!

What are other jurisidictions doing? 

They see the benefit of moving to rail and this is what they have done.

Freight Initiatives

Europe: "The 30 by 2030" initiative.

"A higher modal share of 30% rail freight by 2030 is a better macro-economic solution for European transport growth. The European rail freight sector is also convinced that this ambitious target is achievable, if the “way of doing business” is substantially changed, with more multi- modal solutions, and the required prerequisites are in place.  

Sweden

We could use our passenger trains for high value light goods (eg. pharmaceuticals, e-commerce) as they do in Sweden (ref: Rail Gazette 18 July 2020)­.

Trains ensure food supplies to Sweden’s supermarkets (ref: Rail Gazette 18 April 2020)­.

Norway announces rail freight support scheme (2019)

"THE Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced the launch of a temporary scheme designed to strengthen the competitiveness of the rail network pending the introduction of the freight package in the 2018 – 2029 National Transport Plan."

Victoria

Victoria is building its own trains (May 2021)
"The government has allocated A$986m in its 2021-22 state budget to fund the new trains and related improvements"

but NSW say we cant':
Labor blasts Premier Gladys Berejiklian for claims NSW 'not good at making trains'

Rail Freight Backing Emphasis in Victorian Budget the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS)

Victoria extends incentive scheme to boost rail freight transport   June 2, 2020

"The Victorian government has extended the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS) designed to shift road transport to railways. Extended until June 2021, the Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne announced a further AUD 4 million in the scheme which had a AUD 20 million investment over the past five years. The investment has removed the equivalent of 28,000 truck trips off Victorian roads each year."

Victoria also has a ‘rail freight facilitation unit’ (Government of Victoria 2013)

There are 27 Councils in Victoria which make up the Rail Freight Alliance
"The Rail Freight Alliance is made up of rural, regional and metropolitan municipalities in Victoria. The Alliance was first formed in 1997 due to growing frustration with the lack of rail connectivity both within Victoria and with the neighbouring States and the lack of investment in Victoria’s antiquated 19th century rail freight system."

United Kingdom
The UK Government has a  Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme, which has moved 800 000 truck journeys onto rail.

In NSW …. 

The Future Transport Strategy 2056 only includes the word “incentive” twice in 175 pages. A few mentions of mode shift away from private car, but nothing on a plan like the ones mentioned above.

The 2013 freight and ports strategy  had the target of doubling the proportion of container freight movement by rail through NSW ports by 2020.

Was that achieved? No!

 From 2017 to 2018 the total number of TEUs (20 foot containers) hauled by train fell by about 5 per cent.

Why is this happening?
"There is a negative ideological climate (and hence a policy vacuum) surrounding regional rail freight under the prevailing socio-technical regime in Australia. The idea that rail is only suited to longer distances, ignoring the density factor, pervades the industry and its political environment". (Gray, Laird, Montague, 2015) 

Passenger Initiatives

Are there any?