The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has called on the re-elected Albanese Government to maintain its focus on long-term rail investment and policy reform, citing the sector’s vital contribution to the economy, emissions reduction, and liveability of Australian cities.
ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said rail contributed more than $30 billion to the national economy each year and offered a lower-emission alternative for freight movement, which is vital to achieving net zero targets.
“With increasing pressure on supply chains, investing in rail freight infrastructure is essential to ensuring the safe, efficient and sustainable movement of goods across the country,” Wilkie said.
She cited major projects such as Inland Rail, the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, and the proposed Sydney to Newcastle High Speed Rail as transformative initiatives with national logistics implications. Inland Rail in particular is expected to shift significant freight volumes off roads and onto rail, reducing road congestion and cutting transport emissions.
The ARA is also calling for further progress on the National Rail Action Plan, with a focus on standardising infrastructure and improving interoperability across the national network. Such reforms would allow freight to move more efficiently across jurisdictions, removing costly delays and enabling better integration between ports, intermodal terminals, and warehouses.
In addition, Wilkie said strengthening Australia’s local rail manufacturing base would create jobs and reduce reliance on imported rolling stock, supporting the long-term sustainability of freight operations.
“A strong rail freight sector is essential for a reliable supply chain and for the businesses that depend on it,” she said.
The ARA said it looks forward to continuing its work with government to ensure the freight and logistics sector can rely on rail as a dependable backbone for national transport.