Background:
Rail must have sufficient
understanding of environmental and economic issues such as
the use of future fuels, the
possibility of further electrification, and dealing with the need
for rapid technological
change in the rail sector.
Objective:
The general aims of the project
are: to understand the pre-conditions for a substantial modal shift
and upgrading of Australian rail transport, especially in the
context of high global fuel prices and a carbon price; to estimate
the economic, social and environmental benefits arising from these
two changes; and to assess the policy options, funding models and
the corporate responses required for these changes to occur. The
project will also prioritise issues for future
research.
Project scope:
The project will
identify areas for concern, provide timely response on these
issues, and signal directions for ongoing research.
Benefits:
It is envisaged that the project will map out
future research directions, while providing the industry with
continual updates regarding climate change themes that can be used
to formulate informed policy positions regarding these important
issues.
Expected
outcomes:
The project aims to provide the following
deliverables:
- An
analysis of the external economic and social costs and benefits of
rail and road use, and hence of the benefits of a modal
shift
-
Descriptive analysis of the Australian transport sector, with
special emphasis on modal issues, energy issues and greenhouse gas
emissions
-
Definition of the likely operation of an Emissions Trading
System, and its impact on the transport sector
-
Review of infrastructure and related issues affecting the
distribution of the freight task between road and rail, and of the
options for addressing them
-
Review of the issues involved in passenger movements in the
major cities, and of the options for major changes (including an
assessment of changes in Perth)
- A
review of recent and prospective technology developments relevant
to transport, and the extent to which they could be implemented in
Australia
- An
analysis of the companies and agencies involved in rail transport
in Australia, and of the issues and incentives they
face
-
Definition of policy options, and modelling of their net
economic, social and environmental benefits
-
Prioritisation of issues for future research
Project timeframe:
01/06/08 – 30/09/09
Project Chair:
Brett Hughes, Director Policy, Australasian Railway
Association
Project Leader:
Prof. Neal Ryan, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Southern
Cross University
Tel:
02 6620 3719
Email: neal.ryan@scu.edu.au
Return to
original page
