Victorian Rail Freight Plan – FTA/APSA Calls for Commercially Competitive Rail

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

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Who does this notice affect?

Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, rail freight operators, intermodal terminal operators, logistics providers, port users and other stakeholders involved in the Victorian freight supply chain.

FTA / APSA Submission Calls for

Commercially Competitive Rail

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) have lodged a submission in response to the Victorian Government's targeted consultation on the proposed Victorian Rail Freight Plan 2026–2036.

FTA/APSA supports the objective of increasing rail's share of the metropolitan freight task. However, achieving this outcome will require more than infrastructure investment alone. Rail must also be commercially competitive with road if meaningful mode shift is to occur.

Reflecting extensive member consultation, FTA/APSA's submission focuses on several key priorities, including:

  • improving the policy and commercial settings needed for rail freight to compete more effectively with road transport servicing the Port of Melbourne;
  • establishing a permanent and transparent support framework to offset the structural disadvantages associated with the absence of direct rail access to Webb Dock as its container task continues to grow;
  • strengthening accountability for metropolitan rail network impacts on freight operations, including recognition of constrained path freight trains;
  • progressing Action 20.1 of the Victorian Freight Plan by establishing a Port Rail Access Coordinator to bring together rail terminals and network managers and facilitate more efficient and productive rail freight operations to and from the Port of Melbourne; and
  • ongoing engagement with industry throughout implementation of the Plan.

A central theme of the submission is that increasing rail's share of the freight task will only be achieved where policy settings address the commercial realities facing operators, importers and exporters.

This includes reducing interface costs, improving network access and providing greater certainty for long-term rail investment.

FTA/APSA appreciates the Victorian Government's engagement throughout the consultation process and will continue to advocate for practical reforms that improve freight productivity and deliver a genuinely competitive rail freight network.

The full FTA/APSA submission is available HERE.

Sal Milici - Licensed Customs Broker
General Manager Trade Policy & Operations - FTA / APSA

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