Inland MeIbourne-Brisbane railway would save money - study

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

Inland MeIbourne-Brisbane railway would save money - study
   CANBERRA, Nov 10 AAP - Federal Transport Minister John Anderson 
today backed a private inland railway between Melbourne and 
Brisbane after a study showed significant economic benefits.
   The Bureau of Transport Economics (BTE) analysis indicated that 
every dollar spent on the Australian Transport and Energy 
Corridor's (ATEC) project should generate benefits of between $3.60 and
$8.50.
   That aded up to a total economic benefit of at least $5 billion 
over the life of the asset.
   Mr Anderson commissioned the BTE study using data from ATEC's 
pre-feasibility study.
   "The pre-feasibility study and the subsequent work we are now 
doing, including through the BTE, shows that an effective inland 
rail linkage between Melbourne and Brisbane is economically 
attractive," he said in a statement.
   "It is clear that this proposal has the potential to provide 
benefits to Australia as a whole.
   "It is an important project for regional Australia and in 
particular for the many primary producers, businesses and 
communities who might eventually access such a railway.
   "Further work developing the proposal is being undertaken by 
ATEC and its commercial partners, including the Commonwealth's 
Australian Rail Track Corporation, who are now developing a 
business case for the proposition.
   "I am very pleased that this major infrastructure is looking so
promising."
   The release of the BTE analysis follows the recent announcement 
of a $30,000 contribution to a market study on extending the 
proposed railway from Toowoomba to Gladstone and Emerald.  
AAP fh/daw/wjf/br