You are here: = Roads, = ports and=20 freight > Freight > Rail Freight Support Package

Rail Freight Support Package

In February=20 the State Government announced a $20 million package for Victoria's rail = freight=20 industry. The two year package will = provide a=20 temporary rebate for container freight carried on rail services from=20 Warrnambool, Horsham, Mildura and Shepparton/Tocumwal. The package will = also=20 extend a new rail access fee rebate for domestic grain to include export = grain.=20

Information on this = page=20

Eligibility criteria=20
How to apply for a rebate payment =
About the Support Package=20
Rail Freight Access reference = charges=20
Media release

Eligibility criteria=20

To qualify as a candidate = for a=20 rebate payment, a shipper must meet the following criteria:

Have used train services to haul bulk = grain from=20 whatever source location, typically being a country silo fed by road = hauliers,=20 to:
1. one or more domestic user locations, = or
2. one or more recognised intermediate = distribution=20 points, or=20
3. one or more export terminals. =
be able to provide adequate evidence = of having=20 paid for the transport services in question.

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How to apply for a rebate payment=20

A shipper can apply for a = rebate by=20 completing an application form and submitting it to DOI.

= Application form (PDF,=20 17 KB, 2 pp.)=20
= Application form (Rich=20 Text Format, 28 KB)

The form=20 is to be accompanied by a copy of the train operator=92s manifest, one = for each=20 individual consignment or origin/destination movement, together with a = copy of=20 the train operator=92s invoice for the services provided and a tax = invoice for the=20 amount of rebate claimed.

You = can use=20 this spreadsheet (Excel file,=20 81 KB) to calculate the = rebate payment a=20 shipper may be entitled to. Enter your details into the shaded cells. = Note: This=20 spreadsheet is provided for information purposes only. Your actual = rebate will=20 be calculated by DOI at the time your application is=20 processed.

Applications should = be sent=20 by email or by post=20 to:

John Clarebrough =
Director
Freight &=20 Logistics
Department of = Infrastructure=20
Level 11
121 Exhibition St
Melbourne 3000=20

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About the Support=20 Package

In recognition of = the economic=20 and environmental advantages of rail transport over road haulage for = bulk=20 commodities, the Victorian Government is seeking to encourage the = movement of=20 freight on rail where it is practical to do so.

In order to support the continued carriage of bulk grain by = rail and as=20 an initial response to recommendations contained in the Rail Freight Network Review Report, the Government has introduced a scheme under which = rebate=20 payments will be made to shippers of bulk grain.

The scheme is available to shippers who contract for the = carriage of bulk=20 grain by rail which is either moved to terminals for export or is = destined for=20 users within Victoria, being the domestic market.

The rebate scheme will be administered by the Department of=20 Infrastructure. For Domestic grain the scheme will operate for 12 months = from 1=20 January 2008. For export grain the scheme will operate for 2 years = commencing 1=20 July 2008.

The rebate to be = paid to=20 shippers will be equivalent to the difference between the current access = charges=20 for use of the rail track, as published by V/Line and paid by the rail = operator,=20 and access charges modelled on those being levied by the Australian Rail = Track=20 Corporation (ARTC) on lines it manages within Southern NSW. These = reference charges are=20 set out below.

After receiving = the=20 documentary evidence specified by DOI, showing the movement claimed for = has=20 actually taken place, the Government will provide a rebate directly to = the=20 shipper concerned.

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Rail Freight Access reference=20 charges (exclusive of GST) =

The Southern NSW =93ARTC=94 rate of = $3.567/=92000GTK=20 & $0.458/train km in respect of grain trains travelling on the = following=20 lines:=20
1. Shepparton =96 Tocumwal=20
2. Toolamba =96 Echuca=20
3. Korong Vale =96 Boort=20
4. Inglewood =96 Wycheproof=20
5. Dunolly =96 Inglewood=20
6. Gheringhap =96 Ballarat=20
7. Melbourne Freight Lines=20
8. all lines (other than those set out = paragraph=20 1(a)-(g), 2 and 3) which are predominately used for passenger = traffic.=20
Maroona =96 Portland grain trains at = the ARTC rate=20 for Maroona =96 Geelong of $2.62/=92000GTK & $1.64/train km. =
The Southern NSW =93ARTC=94 rate of = $2.244/=92000GTK=20 & $0.458/train km in respect of grain trains travelling on the = following=20 lines:
1. Wodonga =96 Bandiana=20
2. Benalla =96 Oaklands=20
3. Shepparton =96 Dookie=20
4. Echuca =96 Deniliquin=20
5. Barnes =96 Burraboi=20
6. Swan Hill =96 Piangil=20
7. Boort =96 Robinvale=20
8. Wycheproof =96 Kulwin=20
9. Eaglehawk =96 Inglewood
10. Mildura =96Yelta=20
11. Ouyen =96 Panita=20
12. Murtoa =96 Hopetoun=20
13. Dimboola =96 Yaapeet=20
14. Maroona =96 Portland=20
15. Warrnambool =96 Dennington=20
16. Moolart =96 Marybrough=20
17. Ballarat =96 Dunolly (via = Maryborough)=20
18. Dunolly =96 = Mildura

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Media release

26=20 February 2008

Brumby Government = supports Rail=20 Freight in = Victoria

Some documents on this = page are=20 presented as PDF files. Visit the Adobe = website to download the free Adobe = Reader.

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Site map Contact us Help Privacy statement Copyright and disclaimer =20

Copyright =A9 2001-2008, Department of=20 Infrastructure, State Government of Victoria, Australia.

Page = last=20 reviewed on 02/04/2008

This Department of Infrastructure webpage is subject to = copyright=20 restrictions. To locate this page electronically, simply visit the DOI = Internet=20 site www.doi.vic.gov.au and type the page title of this document into = the search=20 box.