The ACT Government has been closing down rail freight to Canberra for some years now. The cynical might think it’s related to the real estate value of the Kingston land the tracks run over.
This morning the Greens’ Amanda Bresnan has expressed concern:
“Moving to rail freight is a way of preparing for the future and challenges such as climate change and peak oil. Road freight is generally more than twice as polluting as rail freight.
“In the most recent question time, Minister Corbell dismissed Greens’ questions about improving rail freight, saying the Government was doing nothing, and there was nothing it could do.
“In fact the ACT’s own 2009 Rail Master Plan shows that there are many ways to enhance rail infrastructure in the region which would provide significant benefits, including improved opportunities for rail freight.
“The problem is just that the Government has not taken these opportunities.
“The Greens want the Government to explore options for an intermodal freight facility at a site near the existing rail line, which would allow for rail freight to transport to road freight once it reaches Canberra. The current proposal to relocate the Kingston station to Fyshwick provides a good opportunity to investigate this.
“intermodal” can be another word for “double handling”.