Increasing the amount of grain freight on rail, where possible, presents a viable, existing way to substantially reduce carbon emissions. According to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), rail freight produces 16 times less carbon pollution than road freight per tonne kilometre travelled, valued at one cent per tonne kilometre.
ARA general manager of rail freight and heavy haul, Georgia Nicholls, said that the opportunity for rail to contribute more to the movement of grain around the country is massive.