New research by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has confirmed that the rail industry is at a critical juncture in its efforts to decarbonise its operations.
In the next eight to 13 years, about half of the nation’s diesel-powered rollingstock will need to be replaced, with the next generation of locomotives to have a lifespan well beyond 2050.
While the industry has progressed a range of trials in new technologies to replace diesel-powered trains, low and zero emissions rollingstock are not yet commercially available in Australia.
The ARA’s Rollingstock Decarbonisation Critical Path, released in July, found that a shared, national strategy developed in partnership by governments and industry is urgently needed to confirm the policy, regulatory, skills and infrastructure settings required to support this transition.
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