Re: The Non level playing field becomes even less level.

[David Langley <del@ancc.com.au>]

Hear, bloody, hear!!!
David Langley.

Maurie Daly wrote:

> Article from Rail Directions.
> Australian Transport Ministers have just agreed to allow an increase in
> maximum weight limit for heavy trucks from 42.5 to 44.5 tonnes.
> Apparently trucks today are more road friendly ,(whatever that means).
> The estimated cost of strengthening road bridges around the country to cope
> with the increased mass limits is $1 Billion , of which none will be paid for
> by the Trucking Industry.
> The poor mug motorist will be obliged to fund these improvements out of petrol
> excise.
> It also seems that of the $250 million allocated to ARTC in the 1997/98
> financial year,only $35 million has even been allocated to any Rail projects.
>
> This insanity will continue unless the existing Rail Operators stop competing
> amongst themselves for an ever declining share of the freight market,and do
> what the Road freight Industry did over 20 years ago, form themselves into a
> unified lobby group,and  start cooperating with each other rather than
> fighting each other.
> It would also help a lot if we got some cooperation from the various State
> owners of the infrastructure,who currently dont seem  to give a stuff,about
> the declining role of rail in land Transport.
>
> cheers
> MD
>