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Sensible approach needed on rail maintenance: ARA

The rail industry has called upon federal and state governments to look at the bigger picture when considering the ongoing operation of rural rail lines. 

Chief of the Australasian Railway Association Bryan Nye said viable grain and other agricultural rail lines right across are being forced to compete with other transport modes, which he says do not pay their fair share of infrastructure maintenance costs.

Nye explained this leads to situations where impasses over maintenance costs can cause rail lines to close unnecessarily. 

Nye said governments need to decide whether they want more trucks on the road, stating that rail held many advantages over other transport models.

He said an average freight train takes 110 trucks off the road, reducing truck movements by around 49.7 million truck kilometres a year.

The ARA said rail operators deliver the cheapest transport option in many markets around the country, even with high upfront maintenance costs for new rolling stock.

However it says a lack of consistent funding threatened operations on otherwise viable rail lines.

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