NSW Freight Policy Research Program: Modules 4 & 5

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is delivering a Research Program that seeks to improve the evidence base for freight policy reform in New South Wales. A key initiative that the improved evidence base will support is the Freight Policy Reform Program (FPRP), currently being undertaken by TfNSW.

In support of this program, TfNSW have partnered with the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) and the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre to deliver two modules of the Research Program.

Participants

• Transport for NSW
• National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO)

Project background

The NSW Government has had a long-standing goal of increasing rail mode share for the Port Botany IMEX freight task, and TfNSW is exploring possible improvements to the current policy settings to increase the use of rail.

At present, rail faces cost and service quality deficiencies compared to road that challenge the goal of improving rail’s market share to secure public policy benefits.

The Research Program consists of several research modules. The following two are delivered through this project:

• Module 4: Indicators of financial sustainability for export-oriented Intermodal Terminals (IMTs) in regional NSW; and
• Module 5: Impact of digital train control technologies/systems on the timing/need for a separated freight network in metropolitan Sydney.

Project objectives

MODULE 4: Indicators of financial sustainability for export-oriented IMTs in regional NSW

The last comprehensive study of indicators for financial sustainability for regional IMTs in NSW appears to have occurred in 2004. It found the key indicators of financial sustainability were:

• Threshold volume of 10,000 containers per annum.
• Rail trip distance to port of greater than 300 km, and more likely at least 500 km.
• Whether the IMT site is a greenfield or brownfield site – that is, the level of startup capital investment required.
• Must offer lower aggregate cost than the direct road alternative.
• Terminal capacity and asset utilisation.
• Seasonality – smooth volume across the year is preferable to seasonal peaks.
• Catchment size for financial sustainability.

The purpose of Module 4 is to validate and update the existing evidence base. Outputs will be used to determine if policy options may be required to influence the optimal locations and scale of regional IMTs for best achieving an appropriate level of modal shift to rail. This will also potentially inform heavy vehicle access planning.

MODULE 5: Impact of digital train control systems on the timing/need for a separated freight network in metropolitan Sydney

Conventional signalling systems remain a constraint to increasing train service frequency and capacity. Digital train control systems are a major change over conventional systems, offering capacity, safety and reliability advantages.

For the Sydney Metropolitan Rail Network (MRN) the European Train Control System (ETCS) has been selected as the preferred digital train control technology for deployment. Digital train control systems are expected to create additional capacity on existing mixed-use networks, potentially allowing the operation of additional freight services. However, many factors would come into play into how additional capacity may be allocated between passenger and freight services.

The purpose of Module 5 is to improve the evidence base for understanding how the successful introduction of a digital train control system on the mixed-use Sydney MRN will affect freight capacity.

A key consideration is the extent to which successful deployment of the technology may factor into considerations of the need and timing for a dedicated rail freight network in metropolitan Sydney.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!