Victoria Government approves $125M on-dock rail infrastructure

The Victorian Government has granted approval for the construction of a new on-dock rail to be built at the Port of Melbourne.

The proposed Port Rail Transformation Project has been established by the Port of Melbourne Operations, and is projected to have a price tag of $125 million.

This development forms part of the government’s plan to improve the economic progress of the port. It currently contributes $6 billion to the state’s economy and acts as a major part of the agriculture supply chain in the state.

Brendan Bourke, Port of Melbourne CEO said, “While road transport has long done the heavy lifting when it comes to freight transport to and from the Port, as our population grows and national and international trade increases, we need rail to take a greater share of this task.”

The scope of work covers construction of new on-dock rail terminal capacity, including a new on-dock rail terminal at Swanson Dock East.

A few key facts:

• The Port of Melbourne’s trade volumes are expected to grow from 3 million containers (TEU) now, to 9 million TEU by 2050
• Moving freight by rail can move far more containers in a single trip than trucks can
• Benefits for the wider community include minimising road disruptions and travel time for Victorians, contributing to improved road safety and  reducing the needs for road repairs and maintenance

“We anticipate procurement will commence in the second quarter of this year, with construction to commence as soon as possible thereafter,” Mr Bourke said.

The project is due to be completed in 2023.