In a presentation to the Asciano AGM, Chairman Malcolm Broomhead said: “This vital piece of infrastructure will reduce freight transit times, reduce congestion on metropolitan mass transit rail systems and enable the movement of larger freight volumes via rail by making longer and double stacked trains possible’’.

Mr Anderson said the Inland Rail service offering, which will connect Brisbane to Melbourne via regional south-east Queensland, inland New South Wales and rural Victoria, had been designed in close consultation with industry.

“Inland Rail is designed to deliver what industry needs - a road-competitive service based on transit time, price and reliability, intended to prompt freight forwarders to take more Melbourne to Brisbane freight off the road and put it on rail,” Mr Anderson said.

“Mr Broomhead’s support for Inland Rail shows the Australian Government’s initiative will deliver.”

The Australian Government has committed $300 million to Inland Rail, directing the Australian Rail Track Corporation to deliver pre-construction activities such as detailed corridor planning, environmental assessments, community consultation and commencing land acquisition.

Speaking at the Asciano AGM, Mr Broomhead said: “With the right investment, rail can be the most economically efficient mover of goods, while at the same time contributing to social amenity by reducing carbon emissions, reducing congestion in our cities and by improving public safety through the removal of trucks from our highways.

“We should continue to pursue the development of an inland rail route to connect the major cities on Australia’s east coast.

“This vital piece of infrastructure will reduce freight transit times, reduce congestion on metropolitan mass transit rail systems and enable the movement of larger freight volumes via rail by making longer and double stacked trains possible