Rail
Rail services
While local government does not own or operate rail services, they can have a significant effect on some local communities.
- Some regional freight lines (and a few rail passenger services) provide important transport links in regional areas.
- Rail freight may be a factor in keeping heavy trucks off some rural local roads, with lower maintenance outcomes for councils. Where grain movement is switching from rail to road (mainly in NSW, WA and SA) there needs to be much better recognition of resulting local road damage and compensation to local councils.
- The proposed East Coast Inland Rail Link could boost regional economies and has the potential to reduce problems associated with heavy vehicles in Sydney by diverting container traffic to rail.
- Some state local government associations have been involved in developing the National Railway level Crossing Safety Plan.
ALGA liaises with the Australasian Railway Association, the national rail industry representative body, on national rail issues affecting local government.
