Melbourne–Brisbane Inland Rail Alignment Study Final Report July 2010 Melbourne–Brisbane Inland Rail Alignment Study Final Report July 2010 Photos in this report are included only as illustrations. They do not imply that operating companies whose trains are depicted would use the inland railway. Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Terms of reference ................................................................................................................ 3 1.2 The three stages of working papers ...................................................................................... 4 2. Approach to the study ................................................................................. 7 A. Market take up .......................................................................................... 8 3. Demand for Inland Rail ................................................................................ 9 3.1 Freight in the inland railway corridor (all modes) ...................................................................... 9 3.2 Modal analysis methodology ................................................................................................ 10 3.2.1 Price and service attributes assumed........................................................................ 11 3.3 Capacity constraints in the base case .................................................................................. 15 3.4 Demand results .................................................................................................................... 15 B. Route development and costing ........................................................... 26 4. Performance specification and design standards ....................................... 27 4.1 Higher standard ................................................................................................................... 27 4.2 Current Class 1 standards.................................................................................................... 27 4.3 Future proofing .................................................................................................................... 27 4.4 Design and performance standards for the inland railway ..................................................... 28 4.4 Single track .......................................................................................................................... 29 4.4 Track categories ................................................................................................................... 29 5. The route ................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Inland Rail route options ....................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Identification of the outer ...................................................................................................... 31 5.2.1 Evaluation of route options........................................................................................ 33 5.2.2 Determination of an end-to-end route ....................................................................... 37 5.3 Analysis of the short-listed routes ......................................................................................... 39 5.3.1 Evaluation of deviations ............................................................................................ 39 5.3.2 Comparison of the routes ......................................................................................... 40 5.4 Developing the final alignment .............................................................................................. 40 5.4.1 Refining the alignment .............................................................................................. 40 5.4.2 Track duplication or dual gauge ................................................................................ 40 5.4.3 The route approaching Brisbane ............................................................................... 41 5.4.4 Summary of proposed alignment .............................................................................. 42 6. Environment and planning ......................................................................... 45 6.1 Preliminary environmental assessment ................................................................................. 45 6.1.1 Development of the proposed alignment................................................................... 45 6.1.2 Environmental risk assessment ................................................................................ 45 6.1.3 Environmental assessment methodology .................................................................. 45 i ARTC . Melbourne–Brisbane Inland Rail Alignment Study – Final Report 6.1.4 Key environmental impacts ...................................................................................... 45 6.2 Planning approvals strategy ................................................................................................. 46 6.2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 46 6.2.2 Approvals delivery framework ................................................................................... 46 6.2.3 Key strategies ........................................................................................................... 48 6.3 Corridor reservation ............................................................................................................. 48 7. Delivery program and capital cost .............................................................. 51 7.1 Staging options .................................................................................................................... 51 7.1.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 51 7.1.2 Operation via Werris Creek ....................................................................................... 51 7.1.3 Staging of upgrades and Illabo to Stockinbingal deviation ......................................... 51 7.1.4 Toowoomba termination ........................................................................................... 51 7.1.5 Outcome .................................................................................................................. 51 7.2 Delivery program .................................................................................................................. 52 7.3 Capital cost estimate ........................................................................................................... 53 7.3.1 Capital cost model .................................................................................................... 53 7.3.2 Base estimate ........................................................................................................... 53 7.3.3 Land acquisition ....................................................................................................... 54 7.3.4 Risk assessment....................................................................................................... 54 7.3.5 Capital cost .............................................................................................................. 54 8. Operating cost of infrastructure .....................................................................57 8.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 57 8.2 Infrastructure costs .............................................................................................................. 57 8.2.1 Operating costs ........................................................................................................ 57 8.2.2 Signalling system ...................................................................................................... 57 8.2.3 Maintenance costs ................................................................................................... 57 8.2.4 Total infrastructure costs ........................................................................................... 58 8.3 Track access revenue .......................................................................................................... 58 9. Above rail operational benefits ................................................................... 63 9.1 Train operations ................................................................................................................... 63 9.1.1 Journey time results .................................................................................................. 63 9.1.2 Passing loops ........................................................................................................... 63 9.2 Inland Rail train operating costs ........................................................................................... 64 9.2.1 Crew costs ............................................................................................................... 64 9.2.2 Rollingstock maintenance costs ................................................................................ 64 9.2.3 Fuel .......................................................................................................................... 64 9.2.4 Train operating