Freight Study Calls For Rail Network Boost
September 25th, 2008
More pressure is being put on the Govt to further boost its investment in the rail network. The National Freight Demands Study released by the Ministry of Economic Development says the rail network needs significant investment to boost its carrying capacity and efficiency in order to remain competitive with road transport and to meet the growing freight task nation-wide projected out to 2025.
Heavier Rail Needed. Top of the study’s recommendations is a move towards a 25-tonne axle loading on the busiest sections of the network, up from 18 tonnes at present. It notes Ontrack is actively looking at boosting the axle loading on the Auckland to Hamilton line so it can carry 20 tonne axle loads and eventually 22.5 tonne loads but it says this will not be sufficient. The Midland line between the West Coast and Lyttelton also needs upgrading to a similar standard to cope with rising coal volumes.
Locomotive Restrictions. While such work will be expensive with all rail and some sleepers along the affected routed needing to be replaced, it says all future infrastructure upgrade work can be adjusted to allow for higher axle loadings for relatively little cost. “It costs relatively little to design and build bridges for heavier loads, so code reviews are currently taking place so that new bridges will be built to carry 25 tonne axle loads.” Without the axle load upgrade the report also warns modern diesel electric locomotives will not be able to operate on NZ’s rail network. The latest generation freight locomotives designed for NZ’s 1067mm track gauge weigh up to 120 tonnes but in NZ locomotive weights are restricted to just 108 tonnes.
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