Infrastructure Australia delivers a five step action plan for the Trans Regional Amalgamated Infrastructure Network (TRAIN)
December 14, 2010
Infrastructure Australia (IA) has delivered a five step action plan for the Trans Regional Amalgamated Infrastructure Network (TRAIN)
The plan will step up development planning for the project following its inclusion in Infrastructure Australia’s June Priority List.
A recent meeting between IA, NSW and Queensland local and state governments, industry and investors paved the way for the agreement which will see increased consultation to align the two states’ transport plans and growth management strategies.
TRAIN involves the progressive upgrade of the Summerland Way.
It comprises a second bridge crossing over the Clarence River at Grafton, a bypass at Casino and Kyogle and
a deviation east of Mount Lindesay.
TRAIN will also include an upgrade of the Mount Lindesay Highway between Woodenbong and Killarney and the construction of the Cunningham Rail Link connecting Warwick and Bromelton.
It is expected to take the pressure off the congested Pacific Highway by making the inland freight route from Coffs Harbour to the proposed multimodal port at Bromelton and the Port of Brisbane a more attractive proposition for heavy transport companies.
Nation Building Australia’s Dave Cooke is leading the project. He says in order to cope with increasing population growth over the coming years, planning and investment for infrastructure and sustainable communities needs to start now.
“TRAIN is a long-term vision and is all about managing population growth in the fastest growing area of Australia (northern NSW and southeast QLD),” he says.
“It’s not just a freight corridor we are looking at. It’s also a development and service corridor.”
Cooke says major winners from closer cooperation between the states will be companies and jobs that rely on freight and logistics.
“At the moment increasing traffic congestion is set to cost Australian businesses and families more than $20 billion a year by the end of this decade,” Cooke says.
“Investment in infrastructure in this important cross border region will open up a new intermodal freight corridor that will reduce congestion, improve road safety, cut the cost of goods and deliver lower carbon emissions.
The TRAIN project has won the support of 13 local governments as well as State and Federal politicians over the last five years.
“TRAIN has developed a compelling vision for a truly integrated multimodal transport corridor between the Port of Newcastle, Warwick and the Port of Brisbane,” Cooke says
According to Cooke, regional products including timber, grain, meat and other raw materials from areas such as Casino, Kyogle and the Southern Downs along the corridor currently have to rely on poor infrastructure to get to domestic markets or the Ports for export.
“TRAIN will enhance interstate rail and road freight links, while also underpinning future residential and industrial growth hubs with the essential infrastructure for the next 20-25 years.”
Consultation between IA, representatives from the three tiers of government and industry leaders will roll out in the beginning of February 2011.