Rail in Australia is growing at a substantial rate, with passenger journeys increasing by 84 million over the past four years.
The 'Australian Rail Industry Report', commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and with contributions from 22 rail operators, has quantified rail's transport task, its energy usage and locomotive profile for 2012, bringing to light new statistics on just how much the industry as a whole is increasing in its activity.
Chief executive officer of the ARA Bryan Nye said he was encouraged by the statistics outlined in the report, with activity in passenger, light rail and freight all increasing on the previous year.
"This report has shown that passenger journeys on rail increased by 15.4 million in one year, taking the total annual figure up to 784.2 million journeys," said Mr Nye.
"If you look back to 2008, there has been a staggering increase of 84 million passenger journeys on rail, proving that Australians are seeing rail as a viable transport option now more than they ever have before.
"The average passenger train can take 525 cars off the road and reduce carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 320 hectares of trees.
"If the growing trend that this report indicates continues, Australia will be on right on track to a greener, efficient and more productive future through the utilisation of rail," said Mr Nye.
The report also showed light rail journeys for the year on the rise, growing by 7.3 million in 2011/12 to reach 166.5 million in total.
Freight increased by over 8 per cent to 929.6 million tonnes, with ore constituting for 53 per cent of that figure, followed by coal at 33 per cent.
"This report justifies increased investment in rail to reduce congestion on roads and increase productivity across the economy," said Mr Nye.
"With only 5 per cent of freight moving by rail between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, rail has the capacity and is ready to take more freight between the capitals and free up our congested highways," Mr Nye concluded.
The 2012 Rail Industry Report is the ninth annual report of its kind commissioned by the ARA.
