Pacific National

Rail Reform

Pacific National supports national regulation for the rail industry and a level playing field for all transport modes.

The existing multiple layers of regulation and varying funding arrangements for different modes require reform.

There are more track owners, more safety regulators, and more transport authorities than rail operators.

This adds to the cost disadvantages imposed on rail by unfair access fees, with rail forced to pay 30% of operating revenue compared to around 5% for road.

Governments have for years starved rail infrastructure of funds. Pacific National is out to reverse this by working with the rail industry, our customers, and government.

We have also taken the message direct to the Australian public.

Rail is three times more energy efficient than road transport. If fuel costs rise in the future we may see a shift from road to rail.

Pacific National will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure we have the capacity to handle the forecast growth in Australia's freight task for the next 50 years.