Industry report backs national approach to rail procurement

Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Trade Tim Ayres will launch a new report today which details how adopting a more nationally coordinated approach to rail procurement could help grow Australia’s rail industry. The report estimates states could have saved $1.85 billion over the past 10 years had they better harmonised their heavy rail passenger rolling stock policies. Assistant Minister Ayres said the BIS Oxford Economics report, commissioned by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), confirms that a more integrated approach to rail procurement will deliver significant economic benefits and job creation opportunities. “We know the different approaches by the states and territories to rail procurement and manufacturing leads to capabilities being duplicated,” Assistant Minister Ayres said ahead of today’s launch. “This pushes up costs, exacerbates skills shortages, and constrains investment. “By working together to build and maintain modern passenger trains, Australia can reduce procurement costs while boosting manufacturing capability and creating high-skilled jobs in regional and outer suburban Australia.”

https://www.miragenews.com/industry-report-backs-national-approach-to-rail-968499/