Australian Rail

Australian Rail Transport Industry

The Australian rail industry began over 150 years ago and has evolved through the formation of a number of individual state-based systems, which have resulted in varying routes, technologies and operating standards. Since the 1950s, state governments and the Australian Government have worked together to create a standardised rail gauge linking all mainland state capitals, which comprises approximately 10,000 km of standard gauge track, allowing freight to move freely between all capital cities and other key locations.

The final link in this network, the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway, was completed in 2003.

Over the past 15 years rail has undergone a period of significant change and reform. In 1991 the National Rail Corporation was established under state governments’ and the Australian Government’s ownership to operate the interstate rail freight business.

The implementation of the National Competition Policy in 1995 let to the establishment of national arrangements for access by all operators to the interstate rail network. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) was also established to own and operate a large section of the interstate rail network and to provide access, under a new open-access regime, for rail operators to compete across traditional State and Territory boundaries.

In the past, rail development has been hampered by a lack of government investment, inefficient work practices and poor service. In more recent times, however, government together with the private sector, have been reinvesting in rail. The Australian Government’s A$2 billion investment (2004–2009) through the ARTC and the Auslink program, is the largest single investment in the rail freight industry in Australia’s history. Government are also focusing on improving the quality and efficiency of transport links to the major ports across Australia.