1.5.3  Freight rail

Freight rail networks in NSW fall into four categories:

■  the main rail lines between capital cities including Sydney to Brisbane, Sydney to Melbourne and Sydney to Adelaide/ Perth, including the Sydney Metropolitan Freight Network;

■  the nationally significant rail lines associated with mining, including those servicing the Port of Newcastle, and Port Kembla;

■  strategically significant lines to regional/ agriculture centres such as between Sydney and Dubbo, and Sydney and Griffith; and

■  regional freight networks and grain supply lines.

In terms of tonnage carried, mining freight dominates the NSW freight rail network.

Figure 55: National Land Transport Network highways and key freight routes in New South Wales 2011

  National Land Transport Network Highway

  Key Freight Route

The map shows highways identified in the Audit. Data was not available for all of these highways. 

Source: ACIL Allen Consulting (2014a)

Rail's mode share for container transport increases with distance, as rail becomes more economically competitive with road. Rail mode share can be as high as 70 per cent between Sydney and Perth, but remains below 15 per cent on the Sydney-Brisbane and Sydney-Melbourne sectors. The container volumes on the north-south rail corridor (Brisbane to Melbourne via Sydney) have declined in total tonnes and market share since 2007-08.

Figure 56: Freight rail network - New South Wales in national context

Source: ACIL Allen Consulting (2014a)

Figure 56 shows the freight rail network within NSW, in the national context.