The  upgrade  of  the North Coast Rail Line will help alleviate pressure on the  Pacific  Highway  as  more  freight  move  onto  rail  as  a result of improvements  in  the productivity of the interstate rail network according to Deputy Prime Minister and Lyne MP, Mark Vaile.

Mr  Vaile  made the comment following the announcement by Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss that the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) had awarded  a  contract  to  Transport Express Alliance to undertake upgrading work along the North Coast Rail Line.

"The  contract,  worth  more than $200-million, will result in the renewal, rehabilitation  and  enhancement of the North Coast Rail Line and builds on $134-million  worth  of upgrading work currently underway on the signalling system between Sydney and Brisbane," Mr Vaile said.

"The  investment  is part of the Government's $12.7-billion AusLink package which  will  see  ARTC spend more than $1.4-billion on the interstate track between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane."

Mr  Vaile said that following further investment on the longer Melbourne to Brisbane route, ARTC expected time savings of more than nine hours.

"With these time savings, that only make rail much more attractive in terms of its competitiveness with road transport," Mr Vaile said.

Camden Haven Courier