A future with more
freight trains ?
Fact Sheet
Current situation
The Freight Rail corridor between Adelaide and Melbourne is the busiest in Australia.
This corridor also services freight rail from Melbourne to Perth and Darwin.
Currently there are 86 freight trains per week (average of 12 per day) of 1.5 kilometers
in length that use the corridor through Adelaide.
Due to the length of the trains and slow speeds at the rail crossing points (Goodwood
Junction), there can be long delays at road level crossings. In Unley this affects
crossings on Cross Road, Unley Park/Kings Park; Victoria Street, Goodwood; and
Leader Street, Forestville.
Projected situation
It is desirable that long-distance freight movement be by rail as this reduces the number
of trucks on the roads.
The long term outlook by the ARTC (Australian Rail Track Corporation) is for an
increase in freight rail traffic. It is anticipated that it could double by 2025 (172 per week
or average of 25 per day) and potentially triple by 2040 (258 per week or average of 37
per day).
Further, the trains are designed to become 1.8 kilometers long (typical elsewhere in
Australia) and to carry double-stacked containers to move freight more efficiently. Such
trains require an upgrade of tunnels (for height), and to cater for the increased
movement, additional and extended ‘passing loops’, eg in the Adelaide Hills, to provide
for the longer and more frequent train movements.
Potential options
The Commonwealth Government funded the “Adelaide Rail Freight Movements
Study” (GHD) to investigate five options for the future management of freight rail:
 Option 1 - existing alignment upgraded, including passing loops, altered $0.7bn
tunnels and grade separations (over/under passes) of roads and
passenger rail (including Goodwood Junction)
 Option 2 - bypass the existing Adelaide Hills section from just west of Murray $2.9 bn
Bridge, to travel north of Truro and to re-join the existing alignment
near Two Wells
 Option 3 - bypass the existing Adelaide Hills section from just west of Murray $2.4 bn
Bridge, to travel south of Truro and to re-join the existing alignment
near Two Wells
 Option 4 - realignment to the south to avoid the built-up residential areas in $3.6 bn
the Adelaide Hills. Divert from Callington via Flaxley, Wistow,
south of Mt Bold Reservoir and then north near Kangarilla and
Clarendon to the east of Happy Valley Reservoir and connect with
the existing alignment just south of Cross Road
 Option 5 - combination of Option 1 and Option 3
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$3.2 bn
Existing rail route and possible options
Orange --------
Option 1 – existing alignment
Red ------------- Option 2 – Northern Bypass north of Truro
Blue ------------ Option 3 – Northern Bypass south of Truro
Purple --------- Option 4 – Southern Bypass
Option 5 – combination of Option 1 and 3
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Alignment options attributes
Current Analysis
The Commonwealth Government funded “Adelaide Rail Freight Movements Study”
(GHD) final report of June 2010 points to the ‘Upgrade of the Existing Route’ as a
seemingly superior option, particularly from the perspective of the estimate of capital
cost. The next most favourable is Option 3 - the Northern Bypass (south of Truro)
All the options improve the corridors capacity. Option 1 (existing upgraded line) roughly
doubles the existing capacity but it is reported as potentially reaching this limit by 20252030.
The Northern Bypass Options 2 and 3 nearly quadruple the existing capacity and
improve transit times. The estimated costs of $0.7bn for the upgrade to the existing line
are correspondingly multiplied to $2.4bn for a Northern Bypass under Option 3.
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The Study’s cost benefit analysis adopts a narrow ‘traditional’ approach in that it
focuses on the benefits for movement of freight. It gives insufficient weighting to
broader economic, social and environmental impacts and opportunities.
The Northern bypass would facilitate increased freight movement over the long-term,
and create potential for industry clusters and employment in South Australian regions to
northern Adelaide (Two Wells) and Monarto. The existing corridor through the Adelaide
suburbs, if free of freight trains (and impacts), will also allow for increased passenger
services, amenity for transit orientated intensive developments and enhanced
productivity through better local connection and movement. The potential of the
Northern Bypass realignment is reflected in the South Australian Planning Strategy
Greater Adelaide 30 year Plan.
The Commonwealth Government is also concurrently funding the State Government’s
(through DTEI - Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure) “Inner Adelaide
Rail Capability Study” (GHD) to investigate the existing corridor upgrading options.
This includes the grade separation of the current freight and passenger rail alignment
crossings at Goodwood Junction (adjacent to Chelmsford and Cranbrook Avenues
Millswood), or possibly at alternative locations further to the north, to improve the speed
and safety of freight trains.
ARTC is also currently proceeding with the planning for additional and longer passing
loops between Melbourne and Adelaide, including in the Adelaide Hills, to
accommodate the longer trains and to facilitate more two-way movement.
City of Unley position
The Northern Bypass (Option 2 or 3) and removal of freight trains from the existing city
alignment is the Council’s preferred position.
Both of these options will facilitate the increased freight rail movement and larger freight
capacity in the long-term. They would also support the South Australian regions to
develop inter-modal and industry hubs, thereby enhancing regional employment. In
addition the freed up capacity of the corridor through Adelaide will allow for enhanced
public transport services and intensive transit orientated residential development
growth; a platform of the South Australian Planning Strategy Greater Adelaide 30 year
Plan.
Removal of freight trains from the existing alignment also addresses the current
associated noise, disruption and safety issues, and their significant exacerbation into
the future, for local residents.
The City of Unley, along with other partners, has had a critique of the GHD analysis
undertaken and a “Brief for Strategic Assessment of Corridor Options” has been
prepared by SGS Economics and Planning. This report illustrates that the current cost
benefit analysis should be broader and longer term in order to consider the full range of
potential benefits for development of the city and regional South Australia.
The current ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to divert freight trains away from inner
Adelaide may be lost because of poor attention to a more equitable and holistic cost
benefit analysis.
Although the Northern Bypass has higher capital cost, savings are associated with
reduced transit time, a straighter and flatter route and particularly increased capacity
over the longer term.
There is a prima facie case that such cost benefit analysis would indicate significant
benefits associated with the Northern Bypass based on an integrated design approach
for employment, industry, city and township lifestyles and housing density.
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The Northern Bypass should therefore not be simply dismissed by a ‘traditional’ cost
benefit analysis based on the efficient movement of freight.
The City of Unley has joined with 64 other Councils of the total of 68 Councils in South
Australia, and resolved to campaign for the Northern Bypass (Option 2 and 3) given its
wider community and employment benefits.
The City of Unley has met with several Commonwealth and State Members of
Parliament and Ministers to voice its position. All potentially affected and involved
Commonwealth and State Members of Parliament have also been corresponded with.
The latest position from the State Government on this issue is that the “Brief for
Strategic Assessment of Corridor Options” prepared by SGS Economics and
Planning has been recommended to the Honorable Anthony Albanese, the Minister for
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and to
Infrastructure Australia, to consider the wider economic benefits in analysing the long
term need for an Adelaide Hills Bypass.
It is appreciated there may be a need for upgrading of the existing rail corridor in the
short term, but in the longer term and for the wider benefits, the Northern Bypass option
should be capitalised on sooner rather than later.
What can be done
The City of Unley, and as many interested residents as possible that are motivated by
the issue, can continue to contact Members of Parliament and Ministers to:

pursue the realignment of freight rail to the Northern Bypass;

object to the construction of a grade separation structure at Goodwood Junction;

support a more comprehensive cost benefit analysis of regional and urban
economic, social and environmental impacts;

seek their commitment in the Commonwealth budget to start implementation of a
Northern Bypass in the next 5 years.
References
“Adelaide Rail Freight Movements Study” (GHD) – 2009-2010
http://www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=RAIL
002
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Contact List
Members of Parliament
Commonwealth
State
The Honorable Anthony Albanese MP
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development and Local Government
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
[email protected]
Hon Mike Rann MP
Premier of South Australia
200 Victoria Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Member for Adelaide
161a Main North Road
NAILSWORTH SA 5083
24 June 2010
[email protected]
The Hon Patrick Conlon MP
Minister for Transport, Energy and
Infrastructure
136 North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA 5000
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
The Hon Maxine McKew MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development and Local
Government
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
[email protected]
Hon Paul Holloway MP
Minister for Urban Development and
Planning
Level 9 Terrace Towers
178 North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA 5000
[email protected]
The Hon Warren Truss MP
Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport and Local
Government
[email protected]
Ms Isobel Redmond MP
Leader of Liberal Party
Member for Heysen
14 Druids Avenue
STIRLING SA 5152
[email protected]
Senator Barnaby Joyce
Shadow Minister for Regional Development,
Infrastructure and Water
[email protected]
Mr David Pisoni MP
Member for Unley
372 Unley Road
UNLEY PARK SA 5061
[email protected]
Ms Stephanie Key MP
Member for Ashford
407 Marion Road
PLYMPTON SA 5038
[email protected]
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